Penn State and Sungkyunkwan University deepen partnership through staff exchange

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious institutions, has been one of Penn State’s top educational partners for more than four decades. Over the years, the two universities have sustained strong, multidimensional engagement across student mobility, staff exchanges and faculty collaborations. In June 2025, a high-level delegation led by SKKU President Ji‑Beom Yoo visited Penn State, where a signing ceremony was held with Penn State Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Michael Wade Smith, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing a robust, multi-layered partnership.

In 2025, two Penn State staff members — Jeffrey Zhao, global engagement coordinator at Penn State Altoona, and Anna Mousaw, global engagement coordinator based at University Park — were selected to participate in reciprocal exchanges with SKKU. The program provided participants with hands‑on opportunities to learn how each university supports international students, advances mobility initiatives, and fosters cross‑cultural collaboration, further strengthening ties between the two universities.

Advancing professional exchange and institutional learning

Zhao, who visited in spring 2025, engaged with colleagues across the SKKU's International Affairs Division, Human Resources, Sungkyun Language Institute and student organizations such as Hi‑Club and S‑Link. Through these meetings, he said he gained insight into SKKU’s integrated approach to international student services, which supports students from admission through graduation, including career development and alumni engagement.

A highlight of the visit was participation in SKKU’s inaugural International Staff Day, which brought together exchange staff from partner institutions in the United Kingdom and Czech Republic. Representatives from the SKKU Business School and College of Engineering shared how the university is aligning teaching and research with national priorities in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and information and communication engineering. Zhao also presented an overview of Penn State and the Global Gateway Program, introducing opportunities for collaboration and student mobility.

“Sharing institutional strategies and learning side‑by‑side with global colleagues reinforced how valuable staff exchanges are as platforms for innovation,” Zhao noted.

Student engagement and outreach at SKKU

In fall 2025, Mousaw participated in the staff exchange at SKKU, where her role focused heavily on student engagement and outreach. Mousaw met with colleagues from the Office of International Relations, Office of International Student Success, Sungkyun Language Institute, and academic units across campus to discuss global engagement practices and exchange programming.

Mousaw also represented Penn State at student mobility fairs held on both the Seoul and Suwon campuses, presenting to more than 180 students about exchange opportunities and student life at Penn State. The fairs provided direct engagement with SKKU students interested in studying abroad, as well as opportunities to connect with exchange students from institutions across Europe and North America.

“I was inspired by how enthusiastic SKKU students were about global learning,” Mousaw said. “Many shared how an exchange experience could shape their academic goals and future careers.”

In addition, Mousaw met with SKKU students who had previously studied at Penn State, gaining valuable insight into their exchange experiences and identifying opportunities to enhance student support, such as peer buddy programs and cohort‑based engagement for short‑term exchange students.

Cultural immersion and relationship-building

Beyond professional activities, both exchanges emphasized cultural immersion as a foundation for relationship-building. SKKU staff organized a variety of experiences that allowed Penn State participants to engage deeply in Korean culture, including wearing traditional hanbok, visiting historic sites such as Jongmyo Shrine, participating in tea ceremonies, and attending campus celebrations.

These shared experiences strengthened personal connections and reinforced the human dimension of global partnerships. Participants also had opportunities to reconnect with SKKU colleagues who had previously completed staff exchanges at Penn State, highlighting the sustained impact of the program over multiple years.

Looking ahead

“We are deeply grateful for the warm hospitality shown by the SKKU community in welcoming our visiting staff members,” said Anna Wei Marshall, associate director for Asia Partnerships and oversees the staff exchange program. “At the same time, we have been equally pleased to host so many colleagues from SKKU at Penn State, making the exchange truly reciprocal.”

Marshall, together with Mousaw and Zhao, submitted a poster proposal for the upcoming NAFSA Conference titled “Strategies for Building Strong Partnerships Through the Staff Exchange Program.” The poster was accepted, and the team will present on how the program functions as a holistic, cyclical model — designed to maximize staff learning experiences while advancing professional development and institutional partnership goals.

The staff exchange program continues to serve as a vital foundation of the Penn State–SKKU partnership, Marshall said, fostering meaningful professional and personal growth, deepening cross‑cultural understanding, and advancing a shared vision for impactful global engagement and sustained bilateral collaboration.

For more information on the Penn State-SKKU partnership, contact Marshall at awm15@psu.edu.