Begin your journey as a changemakers for more sustainable and inclusive society!

Competencies for making positive changes (problem-solving) are required for social innovation of any forms and scales. Such competencies or capabilities are also very much appreciated in most organizations and regarded as core competencies in the 21st century. Especially, in addition to innovation-facilitating capability, understanding of SDG’s/ESG and necessary competencies of result-oriented management at work are sought by almost all companies. I believe this course may offer a good introduction and orientation for you to better prepare for years to come.

As a sequel to the course titled “Social innovation in Korea” by professor Shin of Hanyang University, this course tells stories of Korea’s development and social innovation efforts and discusses what we can do together in solving complex social problems of today and tomorrow.

It is designed for you to:

1) have shared understanding regarding SDG’s as a global agenda for all of us and sustainable social changes we need;

2) learn lessons and insights from Korea’s achievements and shortfalls; and

3) draw your own roadmap to navigate through changing world and to do your part to make your community and our planet more inclusive and sustainable.

I hope this course get your foot into the door and help you start engaging in social innovation efforts in your community in more meaningful ways.

Your instructor is Aaron Kim, Ph. D., a professor of sustainability for Social Innovation Convergence Major in Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea. He is also work at Collective Impact Center of Hanyang University, which strives to facilitate social innovation and sustainable development through collaborating with its global partners Collective Impact Center is currently focusing on action research projects that would provide lessons and insights for co-creating social impacts (collective impact), and talent development for changemaking (sustainability education) in different communities and countries.

He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in Instructional Systems from Florida State University. While studying, he actively participated in various externally funded research and development projects as a research assistant and instructional designer. Upon completing the master’s program, he joined the Citibank Latin America Training and Development Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. During the course of his doctoral studies, he worked as the evaluation supervisor at the Center for Assessment and Testing at Florida State University. In 2012, with his friends, he founded Korea’s first private consulting firm dedicated to international development cooperation and has been working as an international development consultant ever since.