Designing Educational Services for the Student Success of Chinese International Students Majoring in Design : Focusing on the Design Thinking Approach

South Korea's higher education sector is increasingly focusing on attracting and retaining international students in response to the declining working-age population. However, dropout rates among international students are rising, and their retention rates remain low. This study proposes an education service design based on the student success perspective, utilizing design thinking methods and tools to support the stable academic experience of international master's and doctoral students, who are considered potential high-quality talent. To achieve this, the study conducts user research and analyzes advanced international case studies based on student success factors derived from a review of prior research. Through user research, the study identifies challenges and needs at different stages of graduate student life. By integrating findings from international case studies and student success research, the study proposes an education service design in the form of a service blueprint, outlining the roles and relationships among students, faculty, and institutions. The proposed framework categorizes the graduate student journey into five stages: preparation and enrollment, active academic engagement, self-efficacy, sense of social community, and graduation and achievement. For each stage, the study suggests tailored education service strategies. This research aims to propose a comprehensive support model that encompasses academic, emotional, and social success for international students. By doing so, it contributes to the development of an integrated education service that enables international students to persist in their studies and successfully settle after graduation.