By: Nayim Lee, KGGTF 2025 Youth Intern
On December 20, 2024, at the Seoul Global Center Conference Room, Ms. Jisun Kim, Senior Program Coordinator for the Knowledge Sharing Program of Korea (KPOK) at the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Korea Office, delivered a keynote presentation during the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund’s (KGGTF) second Youth Internship Program kick-off and orientation day. Addressing 21 enthusiastic interns, Ms. Kim introduced two critical platforms, KPOK and the Open Learning Campus (OLC), highlighting their contributions to global knowledge sharing and capacity building.
Ms. Kim outlined KPOK’s mission to bridge the gap between financial support and practical implementation, ensuring development practitioners are equipped with the tools and knowledge to apply World Bank resources effectively. Over the past 12 years, KPOK has allocated $25.5 million in grants, facilitated more than 400 e-learning courses, conducted 60 knowledge exchanges, and engaged over 670 participants worldwide. This track record underscores KPOK’s role in fostering sustainable solutions and empowering global practitioners.
Central to these efforts is the OLC, a comprehensive platform providing diverse learning resources tailored to the needs of development professionals. Ms. Kim highlighted OLC’s flexible self-paced courses, which include TED-style talks, bite-sized videos, and targeted modules designed for immediate application in real-world contexts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the OLC expanded its reach by introducing virtual knowledge exchanges. These blended formats combined pre-recorded learning materials with live, interactive sessions on platforms like Zoom, enabling participants to engage in discussions, Q and A sessions, and virtual site visits.
The OLC’s innovative approach was complemented by KPOK’s flagship blended learning programs, which integrate online prerequisites with intensive, face-to-face sessions in Korea. These week-long programs allow participants to engage in hands-on workshops, peer-to-peer learning exercises, and interactive discussions. Ms. Kim explained how activities like “shift and share” sessions encourage participants to exchange ideas and identify actionable strategies for their respective countries. Visioning exercises, site visits, and final action plan presentations ensure that the knowledge gained is both practical and impactful.
KPOK’s success is further amplified by its strong collaboration with Korean institutions, leveraging the country’s expertise in various sectors. Ms. Kim highlighted several examples of tailored initiatives. During the pandemic, a learning series on solid waste management in Korea and the landfill management was created to assist teams unable to travel. Similarly, a series on integrated forest fire management and advanced technologies shared insights into Korea’s use of innovative tools to address environmental challenges. These initiatives enabled participants to learn from Korea’s expertise even when in-person visits were not possible.
A notable face-to-face program highlighted by Ms. Kim focused on plastic circularity and the blue economy in the ASEAN region, which brought participants together for an intensive week of learning. Another recent project in Jeju showcased the island’s progressive environmental policies, where participants complemented site visits with video materials documenting Jeju’s innovative approaches to sustainability.
Ms. Kim emphasized KPOK’s close partnership with the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund (KGGTF), which enables the development of customized learning resources aligned with specific project needs. For example, virtual materials were produced on Green Tech mainstreaming technologies in environment-related operations to support grant teams. Additionally, KPOK developed a series of resources for teams working on solid waste management and Jeju’s environmental practices, ensuring that participants could access actionable insights to support their projects effectively.
During her presentation, Ms. Kim also introduced onboarding resources available on the OLC platform for the KGGTF’s interns. These include mandatory courses on cybersecurity awareness, data privacy, and the World Bank’s core values and ethics. Optional offerings, such as training on sustainability frameworks and operational strategies, provide interns with a deeper understanding of the World Bank’s mission and priorities.
Ms. Kim’s presentation emphasized the transformative role of KPOK and OLC while encouraging the 21 interns to make the most of the learning opportunities provided. Resources and insights tailored to global development challenges were introduced, demonstrating how the OLC platform can deepen interns’ understanding of key topics and support their growth throughout the internship. The knowledge gained from these tools is expected to enhance their ability to approach tasks with confidence, making their internship experience more meaningful and productive.