Drawing Strategy on Experience…

Korea University MBA Takes Its First Step with the 2026 New Student Orientation 

Individuals from diverse industries and roles, speaking different languages and bringing varied experiences, gathered in February at Korea University Business School (KUBS). Among them were executives leading organizations, working professionals seeking to redesign the balance between work and study, and practitioners aiming to translate their professional experience into research. Throughout the month, KUBS held orientation sessions for each program—Executive MBA (E-MBA), Korea MBA (K-MBA), Finance MBA (F-MBA), KUBS-DBA, and Global MIM—marking the beginning of a new academic term.

This orientation went beyond a simple introduction to academic schedules; it served as an opportunity to demonstrate the type of talent each program aims to develop. It was clear why experienced practitioners and executives, as well as students from diverse nationalities and backgrounds, gathered at KUBS. Rather than remaining within familiar approaches, they sought to expand their experiences into broader perspectives and more structured frameworks in response to the evolving business environment.

The Executive MBA program combined off-campus and on-campus sessions. During the off-campus orientation, new students shared their career paths and visions, building initial connections, and gained a sense of the community they would become part of through interactions with alumni and the student network. This was followed by on-campus sessions, where key curricula such as strategy and finance, as well as overall learning directions, were introduced. Centered around the message “Learn How to Learn,” the program emphasized the importance of maintaining a continuous learning mindset in a changing environment.

In the Korea MBA and Finance MBA programs, the orientation clearly reflected their focus on working professionals pursuing career development. It placed emphasis on providing practical guidance for students balancing busy professional lives with academic commitments. The course registration bidding system, overseas field trips, and mentoring programs were introduced, and through conversations with senior students, students gained insights into real academic experiences and examples of career advancement. Beyond understanding academic operations, new students were able to envision their journey ahead while experiencing the close-knit alumni network and strong community culture unique to Korea University’s MBA programs.

The KUBS-DBA program centered on an educational approach that translates practical experience into research. Guidance was provided on how to develop questions and insights gained in the field into research topics, as well as how to translate them into meaningful outputs. Through explanations of the curriculum, degree requirements, and overall academic operations, new students gained an understanding of the distinctive nature of the DBA program, which allows for diverse outputs such as dissertations, business cases, and management manuals. This highlights how KUBS-DBA aims to cultivate knowledge creators who will lead the development of Korean-style management theories.

The Global MIM orientation was conducted for incoming students from CEMS partner schools who chose Korea University for their exchange. Students from 17 partner institutions will spend one semester at Korea University, experiencing global business education. The orientation included guidance on case-based learning, team project–based learning, and overall academic operations, along with practical information for living in Korea, such as visa issuance and foreign registration. Through campus tours and industry site visits, students also had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Korea University and the Korean business environment.

A key theme that emerged throughout this orientation was “expansion”—expanding one’s experiences into more refined strategies, expanding individual careers through broader networks, and extending familiar perspectives through new questions. The 2026 orientation at Korea University Business School offered a glimpse into these possibilities.

Looking ahead, KUBS plans to continue strengthening its educational and networking programs tailored to each track, further advancing business education that bridges theory and practice.