Hanyang University hosts 2024 Campus Town Startup Festival, debuts program for international students

Hanyang University hosted the annual 2024 Campus Town Startup Festival in September, with programs specifically tailored for international students for the first time.

International students participating in the Global Startup Bridge program during Hanyang University's 2024 Campustown Startup Festival pose for a photo. [HANYANG UNIVERSITY]

Hanyang University hosted the annual 2024 Campus Town Startup Festival in September, with programs specifically tailored for international students for the first time.

The festival took place on Sept. 24 and 25, drawing around 300 students across the two-day event.

During the festival, startups from Hanyang University's Campus Town introduced their products and services.

The Seoul government organizes the Campus Town program, collaborating with 27 Seoul-based universities to support student-founded startups by providing office space and entrepreneurial assistance. Hanyang University has participated in the program since 2020, with 176 startups founded through the initiative.

Consultations for aspiring entrepreneurs were also available during the festival.

For international students, Hanyang University introduced the Global Startup Bridge program, marking the first time the festival included events specifically for this group.

The program featured lectures and events, giving international students the opportunity to pitch their business ideas, receive professional consultations and network with peers.

According to the university, the decision to introduce such programs stems from its status as one of the universities with the highest number of international students. A university survey also showed significant interest among international students in starting their own businesses in Korea.

"We have been expanding our startup programs and infrastructure with support from the Seoul government, allowing us to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives within our university each year," said Ryu Chang-wan, head of the university's Hanyang Institute for Entrepreneurship. "We will continue to offer support so that our university startups can create synergies and encourage local startups to bloom."

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]