From Philadelphia to Seoul, global master’s program builds higher ed management
A long-time South Korean higher education policy official, Yangju Yi is a student again. But she isn’t sitting in a typical classroom. Yi is enrolled in Penn GSE’s Global Higher Education Management program, sharpening her analytical skills and professional acumen to launch the next stage of her career.
The Global Higher Education Management master’s degree is a one-year, online M.S.Ed. program for mid-career professionals in the U.S. and abroad. Students work collaboratively in small cohorts and study with faculty from Penn GSE and international institutions.
A senior administrative officer in higher education policy at South Korea’s Ministry of Education, Yi oversees higher education management, including creating university evaluations and governance for private institutions. To advance her career, Yi wanted to improve her research and analytical skills and learn from colleagues worldwide, leading her to Penn GSE.
“I was drawn to the Penn GSE global master's program for its focus on deep theoretical knowledge and analytical skills,” she said. “This program is incredibly beneficial for your career development, especially if you aim to enhance your leadership and management skills within higher education institutions.”
Before joining the Ministry of Education, Yi was the general affairs department director for Cheongju National University of Education and a program specialist for UNESCO. She is a graduate of Seoul National University, with a degree in education. The president of South Korea and the Ministry of Education have recognized her work.
“Between her experience at UNESCO and the South Korean Ministry of Education, her perspectives on global higher education are very valued in our cohort,” Program Coordinator Walter Lohmann said. “Many of our students are employed at higher education institutions, so Yi’s experience on the policy side has added great value to class discussions.”
The Global Master’s program is designed to be flexible for full-time working professionals. Students are assigned reading and exercises in advance, and her 13-student cohort meets for virtual courses on Tuesdays and Sundays. Still, Yi says balancing her job and studies is carefully choreographed. To accommodate the time change between South Korea and the U.S., Yi logs on to class usually at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. local time.
Yi says she’s gaining valuable insights from the readings, lectures, and discussions with her classmates and faculty despite the late hour.
"This has been an eye-opening experience for me, particularly as a policy maker in South Korea, as it allows me to learn about educational systems and issues in countries like the US, Russia, Vietnam, and China,” she said.
Yi said she faced a learning curve because the program was conducted in English. She is comfortable reading, writing, and listening in English but lacks confidence in her speaking ability. Determined, Yi said she has pushed herself to speak up and participate, improving her fluency and confidence.
Lohmann said Yi’s experience in the program should inspire other international students.
“Her work ethic in the program demonstrates that students can successfully balance a demanding full-time job with the commitments of this intensive, executive-format degree program,” he said. "Having done so from Seoul also illustrates our program’s commitment to accessibility for students worldwide.”
Yi plans to continue her academic journey and enroll in a doctorate program at Johns Hopkins University. She says Penn GSE’s Global Higher Education Management program can help other higher education professions broaden their thinking and open new pathways.
“You can find solutions to the challenges you face in your institutions and gain a deep understanding and profound insights into these issues,” Yi said. “Armed with this knowledge, you will be well prepared to advance to the next level of your professional career.”