The New Trends in Korea Higher Education ODA: The Establishment of an Innovative Business IT Education Ecosystem at the Tashkent University of Information Technologies

This study aims to analyze the role and limitations of universities in Korean educational ODA (Official Development Assistance) and to identify the success factors and strategies through a case study of a higher education ODA project led by K University. The research focuses on a collaborative project between K University and Uzbekistan's T University, which was part of KOICA's (Korea International Cooperation Agency) higher education ODA initiatives in 2022. The findings from this study provide important insights for the future implementation of higher education ODA projects. Five key success factors were identified in the K-T project. First, the project enhanced sustainability by simultaneously addressing hardware-oriented infrastructure and softwareoriented capacity building. This approach emphasized that ongoing education and capacity building are essential alongside physical support. Second, K University consistently participated in all stages of the project-from planning to evaluation-following a bottom-up approach, which contributed to improved effectiveness and understanding of the project. Third, the project team was organized as a crossdisciplinary board, integrating expertise from various academic fields to increase responsiveness to issues arising during project implementation. This multidimensional approach strengthened risk management and absorptive capacity. Fourth, consistent leadership was maintained throughout the project, with the presidents of K University and T University, along with KOICA's director and deputy director, ensuring the project's stability and continuity from start to finish. This leadership consistency played a crucial role in the project's long-term success. Lastly, the Project Manager (PM) actively coordinated between K University and T University, while the Project Management Office (PMO) effectively managed the relationships between K University, KOICA, and T University. This active involvement enhanced project progress and demonstrated strong risk management capacity, positively influencing the likelihood of success in future projects. This study provides a valuable foundation for developing organizational frameworks and strategies that universities can adopt when conducting higher education ODA projects in the future.