Earlier this month, UCL School of Management had the pleasure of welcoming representatives from 12 South Korean universities as part of the prestigious BK21 Graduate Programme. Established in 1999 by the South Korean government, BK21 supports the development of postgraduate students, preparing them to become future leaders in academia, industry, and innovation.
The visit began with a welcome address from Professor Paolo Taticchi, Deputy Director at UCL School of Management. He introduced the wider UCL community and shared the School’s unique identity, highlighting its progressive roots as the first university in the UK to admit students regardless of religion or gender. Professor Taticchi also reflected on the School’s strategic move to One Canada Square in Canary Wharf in 2015—a location that places students at the heart of London’s global business district.
Professor Taticchi went on to present the School’s key research themes, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, operations and technology, equality, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability. These focus areas have played a critical role in the School’s recent growth, including the launch of the UCL Centre for Sustainable Business in 2024. Co-founded by Paolo and Professor Onesun Steve Yoo, the Centre serves as a data-driven hub for responsible leadership and sustainable business innovation.
Supported by Student Projects Coordinator Tracey Phillipson, Professor Anil Doshi delivered a talk titled ‘Business analytics in action: where learning meets real-world collaboration.’ The talk explored the School’s MSc Business Analytics programme, a one-year intensive course combining elements of an MBA and Data Science. The programme offers students real-life work experience, including interviews, presentations, networking, data management and mentoring.
The Careers team—Oliver Peachey, Jacky Tsang, and Nida Siddiqui—then shared insights into how UCL supports its global student body through “Empowering Global Talent: Supporting Students on Their Career Journeys.” Offering multilingual guidance and a highly personalised approach, the team equips students with the tools needed to thrive in competitive international job markets.
In the 2024–25 academic year alone, the Careers team supported over 1,400 students—54% postgraduate and 46% undergraduate. Their comprehensive services include one-to-one career coaching, exclusive market insights, strategic employer engagement, mock interviews, mentoring programmes, careers newsletters, networking events, career fairs, and alumni support for up to three years after graduation.
The session concluded with a networking reception over light refreshments, offering an opportunity for informal conversations and further collaboration. The delegation has since continued their visit to UCL’s Bloomsbury and UCL East campuses.
We extend our sincere thanks to all those who attended and look forward to strengthening our partnership in support of the BK21 Programme and the universities it represents.
