Jeonnam Office of Education Opens "Glocal K-Edu Center" at Troy University in the US

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The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education announced on May 7 that it has opened the "Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education K-Edu Center" (hereafter referred to as the K Center) at Troy University in Alabama, USA, and has begun full-scale operations.

The K Center was established as a follow-up project to the "Korea Glocal Future Education Expo," which was held in Yeosu in 2024. It is expected to serve as an educational hub providing Jeonnam students with opportunities to learn on the global stage.

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education has opened the "Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education K-Edu Center" at Troy University in Alabama, USA. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

The origins of the K Center date back to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 between Jeonnam Physical Education Middle and High School and Troy University. Initially, international exchanges were limited to elite students with outstanding achievements, such as medalists at the National Sports Festival. However, the program has recently been reorganized to expand opportunities to students with diverse growth potential, including academic motivation, character, and language skills.

The newly established K Center will focus on several key initiatives: joint online and offline educational programs in sports; glocal teacher competency enhancement training; domestic and international industry-academia-linked internships; sports, history, and cultural experience events; and the Jeonnam Future Education Foundation's "Dream Realization Fund" initiative.

Notably, the program includes field trips to Hyundai and Kia Motors sites in Georgia, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in smart manufacturing, quality management, and marketing.

Every month, the center will host a "K-Wave Day" to introduce local students to Korean culture, including Hangeul, Hanbok, Korean cuisine, and Taekwondo. Jeonnam students will directly participate in planning and running these events, helping them develop as global citizens.

An official from the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education stated, "The K Center is a stepping stone for Jeonnam students to grow into global leaders," and added, "We will continue to expand practical educational programs, such as exchanges with third-generation Korean Americans in Alabama and global leadership seminars led by Troy University faculty."

Meanwhile, Jeonnam and Alabama share a historical legacy of defending democracy and human rights. Alabama is known as the birthplace of the Black civil rights movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma March, while Jeonnam was at the forefront of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, the anti-Japanese independence movement, and the 5·18 Democratization Movement. The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education plans to further strengthen the solidarity between the two regions by enhancing historical and cultural exchanges based on this shared heritage.