Global MBA & MIM Welcome Event Brings Together Incoming Students from 15 Countries 

The Matriculation and Orientation for Korea University Business School (KUBS)’s Global MBA and CEMS Global MIM programs were held on Friday, August 29, at SUPEX Hall, LG-POSCO Building. Dean Eonsoo Kim, Associate Dean Gangseog Ryu, and Professors Tony C. Garrett and Betty Chung (Academic Directors), together with the incoming students, gathered to mark a fresh start. 

The ceremony opened with a welcome address from Dean Kim, who welcomed 48 incoming students from 15 countries and 13 CEMS exchange students, noting, “The connections you forge through these programs will become a special asset and an opportunity to broaden your global perspective.” He added, “Just as Korea University changed my life, it will bring meaningful change to yours,” offering thanks in multiple languages. 

In his subsequent remarks, Professor Tony C. Garrett, Academic Director for CEMS Global MIM, said, “Graduating from Korea University will open many doors of opportunity,” adding, “As Korea is in a golden era, I hope you will come to understand the country in depth.” Professor Betty Chung, Academic Director for the Global MBA, noted, “The faculty and your peers will become like family,” and encouraged students to “pursue experiences that are meaningful not only academically but also personally, and to actively share your cultures and traditions with one another.” 

During the orientation, the KUBS International Affairs Team provided international students with essential information for their studies, including visas, insurance, and ID issuance. Students then split into Global MBA and CEMS Global MIM groups for program-specific sessions. The program directors provided detailed overviews of the curriculum; signature offerings such as “Global CEO & Top Leadership Talk” and the “Career Acceleration Program”; degree requirements; and the use of academic systems. 

After the Q&A, students split into four groups for a campus tour led by KUBE, the KUBS student ambassadors. They visited key facilities—including LG-POSCO Building, the Business Main Building, and Hyundai Motor Hall—as well as dedicated classrooms and student amenities, getting acquainted with the spaces where they will study and spend their time. They also made a brief visit to the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus, including Central Plaza, asking questions freely and getting a feel for campus culture with guidance from the ambassadors. 

In the afternoon, an alumni panel followed. Eight graduates, including former student president Jungwook Na, shared their experiences. The alumni highlighted the Global CEO & Top Leadership Talk, global workshops, and mentoring and networking as program strengths, advising students to “be someone who gives your best, not just the minimum.” They also offered practical tips on credit-completion strategies and participating in signature KU events such as Ipsilenti and the Ko–Yon Games, and answered questions from the incoming class. Afterwards, staff guided students through essential academic procedures—portal registration, the grade inquiry system, course registration, and degree requirements—after which they signed the Academic Pledge. 

In the evening, teams delivered presentations. Using pre-assigned letters of the alphabet as a starting point, students chose team names and introduced one another. They described teammates with creative keywords—such as “free-spirited” and “can’t sit still”—and each team also highlighted its favorite spot on campus. 

The program concluded with an immersion in Korea University’s cheering tradition. Led by the KU cheering squad and accompanied by the Elisée Band, students learned the alma mater and signature chants, and even took part in the signature “FM” routine. The program directors then evaluated team activities on creativity, presentation skills, and teamwork, announced the winning team, and closed with an awards presentation and words of encouragement: “We are very excited for the journey ahead.”