IIE and KIAT Launch Enrichment Program to Support STEM Students

The Institute of International Education has announced the launch of the first enrichment field trip for Korean undergraduate students studying in the U.S. as part of the Korea – U.S. Special Exchange Program for STEM Students (KORUS), according to a recent press release. Through a partnership with Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), IIE created a series of experiential learning activities for groups of Korean students studying abroad in the U.S. to give them firsthand exposure to professional pathways in STEM fields.

“In today’s rapidly evolving world, it is more urgent than ever that students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” said Collette Agnese, Director of Experiential Learning at IIE. “Thanks to this partnership with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, we are proud to offer Korean students studying in the U.S. unique opportunities to deepen their understanding of STEM fields beyond the classroom, strengthen international exchange and collaboration, and prepare the next generation of global leaders to drive the technological breakthroughs our world needs.”

Of fourteen total field trips across the U.S., Korean students will visit companies, research facilities, and technology hubs, where they will meet with industry representatives and research leaders to learn about technology and innovation outside the classroom. Students will have the opportunity to learn about professional pathways in their field and see first-hand the technology and cutting-edge research taking place around the U.S.

The first enrichment trip completed on October 1, 2024, where students visited Hillsboro, Oregon and toured Intel’s Jones Farm Campus to see a variety of labs including manufacturing, validation, and liquid immersion labs. The group also visited the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University, where they learned about undergraduate research opportunities in AI. Other visits this fall will focus on topics including semi-conductors, aerospace, cybersecurity, bioengineering, health sciences, and renewable energy.

In the coming months, students will also visit Birck Nanotechnology Center at Purdue University, The Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Northwestern University, University of Maryland, College Park, San Jose State University, Dreamscape Immersive Reality Lab at Arizona State University, WMU Business Technology and Research Park at Western Michigan University, and The Foundry 4.0 Center at University of Northern Iowa. They will have discussions with and visits to companies including Hansen Dairy, Intel, Juniper Networks, Kryton Metals, LG Energy Solutions, MediaTek, NASA Gather and Portal Innovations.

As part of this project with KIAT, IIE will also implement a series of Tech Leaders Webinars for students to engage with experts, scholars, and professionals in the fields of science and technology, as well as a university partnership workshop to build and expand relationships between U.S. and Korean universities.