PROGRAM
The KOICA-SSU Master’s Degree Program in ICT Techno Policy is a specialized academic course designed to empower government officials from developing countries. By integrating academic excellence with Korea's practical ICT success stories, the program fosters global leaders who will spearhead Digital and AI Transformation in their home countries.
• Program Title : KOICA-SSU Master’s Degree Program in ICT Techno Policy
• Degree Awarded : Master of Engineering in ICT Techno Policy
• Training Institute : Graduate School of Information Sciences, Soongsil University (GSIS in SSU)
• Number of Participants : 20 Government Officials (per batch)
• Program Duration : 2020 ~ 2024
Vision
To achieve this vision and realize inclusive growth with partner countries, we provide government officials with the following three pillars of excellence.
Goals
Policy Mastery
Cultivate comprehensive expertise to lead the entire cycle—formulation, implementation, and evaluation—of STI policies essential for national development strategies.
K-ICT Knowledge Transfer
Share the proven ICT development success stories and institutional frameworks of Korea and Soongsil University to support the creation of self-sustaining digital ecosystems in partner countries.
4IR Readiness
Build proficiency in integrating 4th Industrial Revolution technologies (ICBM+A: IoT, Cloud, Big Data, Mobile, and AI) into public policy to proactively respond to changes in the global industrial landscape.
This program is built on seven core pillars to ensure participants become versatile ICT policy experts:
Educate officials in ICT policy to enhance their practical implementation and academic capacities.
Provide strategies for ICT master plans and infrastructure based on successful Korean development models.
Enhance individual and organizational ICT capabilities tailored to the specific social requirements of each partner country.
Foster key policy makers by sharing Korea’s firsthand experience in ICT implementation and tools.
Strengthen global leadership by converging ICT with public administration and business management.
Improve information utilization environments to drive sustainable economic and social growth.
Contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 17: Building a Global Partnership for Development.
Integrating Korea’s ICT success DNA to strengthen national Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) capabilities through comprehensive Master Plans, ICT Laws, R&D Investment Strategies, and rigorous Policy Evaluation.
Advancing public administrative efficiency by deploying world-class e-Government systems, high-speed network (5G) infrastructure, robust Cyber Security frameworks, and digitized public services.
Driving future growth in a hyper-connected society by leveraging ICBM+A (IoT, Cloud, Big Data, Mobile, AI) technologies across AI policy applications, Fintech, Smart City convergence, and digital business ecosystems.
The ICT Techno Policy program at Soongsil University offers a structured curriculum that bridges the gap between theoretical policy frameworks and practical implementation strategies for national development.
This course introduces international scholars to Korea's traditional culture, economic development policies, and the historical trajectory of its technological growth. It provides a comprehensive overview of Korea's world-class ICT infrastructure and service levels to foster a deep understanding of the nation's industrial ecosystem. Students analyze the socio-cultural factors that enabled rapid digital adoption, offering a contextual foundation for applying similar models in their home countries. This foundational knowledge serves as a critical starting point for all subsequent major studies.
This course introduces international scholars to Korea's traditional culture, economic development policies, and the historical trajectory of its technological growth. It provides a comprehensive overview of Korea's world-class ICT infrastructure and service levels to foster a deep understanding of the nation's industrial ecosystem. Students analyze the socio-cultural factors that enabled rapid digital adoption, offering a contextual foundation for applying similar models in their home countries. This foundational knowledge serves as a critical starting point for all subsequent major studies.
This course provides a high-level theoretical framework for understanding the evolution and impact of telecommunications policies. It examines how market structures and regulatory environments have shifted alongside industrial development milestones. Students critically analyze the role of government in policy-making and gain deep insights into the organizational behaviors that influence national digital agendas. This course equips future policy-makers with the analytical tools to navigate complex regulatory landscapes.
Focusing on the "Korean Model," this course reviews the milestones of ICT technological advancement and industrial growth over the past six decades. It covers the legal frameworks and master plans that facilitated Korea's transition into a global tech leader. Students evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various industrial strategies to determine their applicability to developing economies. The curriculum is designed to enhance the capacity of government officials to design robust industrial policies.
This course focuses on building national strategies for technological innovation, a cornerstone of sustainable ICT growth. Key topics include innovation dynamics, technology standardization policies, intellectual property rights (IPR), and project management for public sector organizations. Students learn the formal processes of planning and implementing tech policies within government frameworks. It prepares leaders to manage large-scale technological portfolios and foster national R&D ecosystems.
This methodology-focused course teaches students how to design and implement rigorous evaluations of national policy initiatives. It addresses the necessity of policy analysis, the stages of implementation, and the control of threats to evaluation validity. By combining theoretical concepts with practical application, students learn to use data-driven evidence to refine policy goals. The course ensures that participants can objectively measure the impact of digital interventions.
This seminar analyzes global ICT trends and examines how major economies like the US, UK, China, and India respond to future demands. Students study the legal, institutional, and regulatory frameworks of these nations to extract transferable lessons for developing countries. The course emphasizes proactive government responses to emerging technological shifts and socio-economic challenges. It cultivates the ability to develop alternative policy scenarios based on diverse international benchmarks.
This course explores the intersection of ICT and public administration, focusing on the delivery of government services and administrative reform. It covers best practices in e-Government from Korea and other global leaders, analyzing the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in the public sector. Students investigate how ICT can be used to enhance transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement. The curriculum provides a roadmap for modernizing bureaucracy through digital innovation.
This course provides a technical and strategic overview of cloud systems, focusing on distributed computing concepts and architectural designs. From a policy perspective, students examine how government and public institutions should approach cloud migration and data management. It emphasizes identifying practical implementation alternatives and building national cloud policies that ensure security and scalability. Participants learn to leverage cloud infrastructure as a backbone for national digital services.
This seminar examines the convergence of AI, IoT, 5G, and robotics, and the resulting shifts in social and economic orders. It addresses the socio-economic implications of technological expansion, such as changes in the labor market, aging populations, and low birth rates. Students analyze Korea's "Basic Plan for the 4th Industrial Revolution" to find solutions for future societal challenges. The course fosters a holistic vision for leading a nation through the era of hyper-connectivity.
This course covers the backgrounds and methodologies of big data, including the design and implementation of applications using distributed Hadoop systems. Students engage in practical exercises to process large-scale datasets and extract meaningful insights for policy-making. It aims to improve technical literacy and policy insight regarding data science within the public sector. The course prepares officials to develop data-driven execution plans and technological strategies.
This course focuses on the technological and policy aspects of cyber security, including encryption algorithms, protocols, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). It explores emerging security technologies such as blockchain-based electronic signatures and access control systems. Students learn to implement intrusion detection and prevention systems while maintaining data integrity and availability. It provides the essential knowledge required to build a secure and resilient national digital infrastructure.
This course instills the innovative and creative spirit required to foster a vibrant ICT startup ecosystem. It redefines traditional entrepreneurship to include social responsibility, fair competition, and human resource development in the digital age. Through active discussion, students propose directions and execution plans for nurturing tech startups in their home countries. It prepares policy-makers to create an environment that encourages risk-taking and technological commercialization.
This course focuses on the practical application of statistics and analytical methodologies essential for national ICT policy execution. Students learn qualitative and quantitative research designs to investigate specific problems within electronic government and public policy. The curriculum includes modern data analysis techniques using programming languages such as R, Python, and Java. This technical foundation is critical for evidence-based governance and academic research.
This course provides students with the fundamental skills to conduct independent research and understand academic literature in the ICT field. It covers the entire research process, from logical research design and data collection to the selection of analytical tools and interpretation of results. Through hands-on practice, students develop the ability to execute rigorous scholarly projects. This course is a direct preparation for writing a high-quality Master's thesis.
In this capstone seminar, students review recent issues in ICT and cultivate the analytical skills required to perform as independent researchers. Students participate in weekly summary presentations and discussions of major research reports and academic papers. The ultimate goal is for each student to complete a research proposal or thesis of international conference quality. Faculty members provide close supervision to ensure the academic and practical validity of the research.
As the final deliverable of the program, students synthesize their academic learning and country report findings to develop a concrete, executable Action Plan. Based on a detailed gap analysis, students define specific goals, strategies, KPIs, and budget requirements using the 5W1H principle. The plan addresses risk management and resource allocation to ensure the feasibility of the proposed improvements. This Action Plan serves as a professional roadmap for the student's return to their home government.
The KOICA-SSU program extends beyond theoretical lectures, offering students a unique opportunity to witness the "Miracle on the Han River" through direct engagement with Korea's leading institutions and corporations. These visits are strategically curated to show how ICT policy is transformed into national infrastructure and economic growth.
The KOICA-SSU Master’s Degree Program in ICT Techno Policy prioritizes Field Learning as a core pillar of its curriculum. By bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world industrial application, participants visit Korea’s leading telecommunications companies, research institutes, and innovation hubs to gain practical insights as global ICT leaders.
KT Network & R&D CenterParticipants study world-class wired and wireless network management systems and R&D frameworks. Students examine Korea’s representative telecommunications infrastructure, including TDX systems, transmission equipment, and optical fiber networks. Through visits to the Central Network Control Center and IPTV Center, they learn the structural principles and management strategies of national communication networks. This bridges classroom theories from Electronic Government, Cloud Computing, and Case Study on ICT Policy with actual large-scale infrastructure operations.
Gyeonggi Contents Media LabThis visit focuses on hands-on experience in open innovation spaces designed for creators and startups. Benchmarking Google’s innovation hubs, the facility provides environments for 3D printing, Arduino training, and prototype manufacturing. The objective is to foster entrepreneurship and provide a deep understanding of the startup lifecycle and support ecosystems. It complements Case Study on ICT Policy and ICT Technology Policy and Management by showcasing how public spaces can drive private-sector creativity and economic growth.
Dasan Networks, Inc.Students analyze enterprise-level ICT infrastructure and solution development to understand the competitive edge of the private sector. By observing the business strategies of a leading ICT firm, participants conduct comparative analyses between the Korean IT market and their home countries. This experience enhances their capacity for both entrepreneurship and policy formulation in the digital industry. It provides a real-world perspective on the theories taught in ICT Industry Policy and Case Study on ICT Policy, focusing on market dynamics and technological asset management.
SKT / LGU+ Network CenterParticipants investigate wireless network structures and centralized control systems at the Network Operation Center (NOC). Through expert lectures, students learn the technical principles of wireless communication architecture and real-time management of national base stations. The visit provides deep insights into the stability and efficiency of centralized network control in a fast-paced mobile environment. This aligns with learning from Cloud Computing and ICT Industry Policy, illustrating how technical infrastructure supports a nation's wireless connectivity.
KISA Security CenterThe focus of this visit is on establishing national information security foundations and creating a stable internet ecosystem. Students explore support systems for internet vitalization and methodologies for building robust cybersecurity infrastructure applicable to developing nations. The visit highlights effective security policies and the institutional governance required to protect a digital society. It relates directly to Information and Communication Policy Theory and Policy Analysis and Evaluation, emphasizing that security is the bedrock of digital development.
Naviwoks Co.,Ltd.Students explore convergence simulation cases utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR). The visit demonstrates how advanced VR is integrated into public, private, and military sectors for high-precision training and risk management. By examining the latest ICT convergence trends, participants identify future industrial directions and technological possibilities for their home countries. This practical exposure supports the curriculum of Cloud Computing and ICT Industry Policy, showcasing the potential of immersive technology as a key digital transformation tool.