IVECA International Virtual Schooling

09/26/2026

🍁 🍂

As the Fall Semester begins, we are excited to welcome our students, teachers, mentors, and partner schools to another season of learning, exchange, and global connection.

This semester, the IVECA community continues to grow from East and Southeast Asia to South Asia and Eastern Europe, and across to North America, bringing together learners, educators, and mentors with diverse cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Across continents, our classrooms become spaces where ideas are shared, cultures are discovered, and meaningful connections are made.

Throughout the semester, we will explore topics such as community structures, the Climate Crisis, and cultural perspectives and Experiences, connecting everyday life to global issues and encouraging students to learn from peers around the world. Our learning journey will engage students with key UN priorities and global sustainable development themes for 2027, with particular attention to SDGs 4, 10, 12, 15, and 17: quality education, reduced inequalities, responsible consumption, life on land, and the power of partnerships.

With new conversations, new perspectives, and new opportunities for collaboration ahead, we look forward to making this semester a meaningful journey of discovery and connection.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to the Fall Semester! May it be filled with curiosity, friendship, cultural exchange, and inspiring learning across continents.

08/24/2026

🎦 🌎
On July 10, 2026, IVECA proudly co-hosted the HLPF Side Event, Humanity at the Center, Global Citizenship, Ethical AI, and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus for Transformative SDG Action, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN.

The event connected global leaders, educators, and youth to explore how ethical AI and cross-sector partnerships can advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Ambassadors and expert panelists shared insights on responsible innovation and global citizenship, while student delegations from China, South Korea, and the United States presented AI-enabled solutions addressing water efficiency, clean energy, and urban resilience.

The event highlighted the vital role young people already play in addressing urgent sustainability challenges. It also emphasized the importance of supporting youth-led innovation grounded in shared human values and the ethical use of AI.

As H.E. Ambassador Sangjin Kim, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations 주유엔대한민국대표부, put it, "The tools exist, and they are working. Now, what remains open is not whether we use them, but how, by whom, and according to what values."

We are pleased to invite you to revisit the vivid moments of the event at the link below:

https://youtu.be/FCToxfOYMoo

Thank you for your continued support and participation in our events!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/20/2026

🌎🤓🥳

"We are not just giving them answers. Step by step, we are helping them ask sharper questions. Effective mentors do more than provide answers. They challenge assumptions, encourage curiosity, and guide learners toward independent thinking. At IVECA, this principle lies at the heart of mentorship. Mentors become collaborators, catalysts, and facilitators of learning, empowering students to think across disciplines, cultures, and perspectives. Through the IVECA Global Youth Mentorship Program (iGYMP) and the IVECA Global Youth Mentor Internship (iGYMI) this spring 2026, university students worked alongside high school students to tackle real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The iGYMP and iGYMI shared a common purpose: connecting younger learners with university mentors whose academic experiences, perspectives, and guidance motivate them to pursue higher education while developing the confidence and skills to become global changemakers. By engaging with students regularly, mentors supported students' academic growth and demonstrated how intercultural learning can be transformed into meaningful action. They provided diverse cultural perspectives and ways of thinking needed to understand global challenges and co-create innovative solutions.

The IVECA Global Youth Mentorship Program (iGYMP) enabled mentors to asynchronously help students explore how food connects people, communities, and the environment. Students then applied science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to design projects that make the world healthier and more sustainable. By providing detailed and critical feedback, the mentors guided students to narrow broad ideas into well-defined problems, strengthen arguments with reliable evidence, and develop practical, AI-supported solutions. As one mentor encouraged a team exploring the global kimchi supply chain, "Your project has a very strong topic... The next step is to narrow your focus." Another praised a team's understanding of the issue’s interconnected factors while reminding them that "AI is completely missing from your action plan."

In the IVECA Global Youth Mentor Internship (iGYMI), mentors interacted with their students both synchronously and asynchronously. While the iGYMP mentors developed their own projects to exemplify the research and design process, mentor interns in iGYMI dedicated their efforts entirely to supporting student teams. They also worked closely with the IVECA team to facilitate the program, providing continuous guidance, resources, and feedback throughout the students' project development. On Fridays, mentors attended guest lectures and reviewed students’ project progress. On Wednesdays, they worked directly with teams, facilitating discussions, recommending resources, and helping the teams refine project ideas. Their feedback prompted students to stay curious, think critically, and continue to improve their work.

One mentor inspired a team studying transportation inequality in their city to strengthen personal observations with official data, noting that "Your focus on the transport and infrastructure gaps in Incheon is highly relevant and addresses a very real urban challenge." Another challenged students to look beyond local observations by asking a simple but thought-provoking question: "Are young people leaving older districts mainly because those areas are pushing them away, or because new towns are pulling them in?" Such guidance helped students to investigate the underlying causes of complex issues and develop stronger, practical, and evidence-based recommendations.

Ultimately, both programs showed that mentorship goes beyond sharing knowledge; it builds intercultural relationships that foster curiosity, confidence, and mutual learning. The youth mentors captured this shared growth in their final reflection: "We have learned and gained so much from you as well. The skills and global perspectives you've developed here are going to carry you far beyond the classroom. Always stay curious, continue to embrace diversity, and remember that your voices matter in shaping our future. We are proud of all of you, and we look forward to seeing what you achieve in the future."

08/18/2026

🌐🇺🇳

When Korean students presented their ideas at United Nations Headquarters in New York, they reached a defining milestone in a journey toward global citizenship. Their journey began in Incheon, where ten students selected through the East Asia Global Education Institute (IEGI) of the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education joined the IVECA–IEGI Student-Led Global Exchange Academy (iSGEA).

From May through July 2026, the students exchanged perspectives on global challenges with peers in China while developing team projects focused on sustainable cities and communities. Youth mentors from the United States guided their work virtually before meeting them in New York, where the students explored the city and collaborated with their mentors face to face.

The students investigated challenges affecting Incheon and the wider world, analyzed their causes and impacts, and developed practical action plans. They interviewed experts, built project websites, created AI-powered chatbot consultants, and refined their proposals with international peers and mentors. These activities challenged them to think critically, use AI ethically, and develop innovative yet feasible solutions that place humanity at the center of technological advancement.

Their reflections revealed how the experience broadened their perspectives and strengthened their confidence in communicating across cultures. One student shared: “Through this program, I learned to see the world from a wider perspective. I also realized that people from different countries can work together to solve global problems. This experience made me want to live as a responsible global citizen.” Another student described a new understanding of young people’s ability to create change: “Before this program, SDGs felt like something only adults or politicians deal with. IVECA completely changed my school life by proving that students can build real, meaningful projects that can change our cities and even the world.”

In New York, the students connected their local research and intercultural learning with the wider international community. They met experts from diverse fields and presented their projects at the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum Side Event. For one student, the experience became a turning point: “Presenting our work before an international audience and discussing urban challenges allowed me to truly appreciate the value of international cooperation. Seeing our ideas respected on a global stage broadened my perspective and became a turning point in shaping my future aspirations. It strengthened my determination to become a diplomat… I am now more motivated than ever to continue studying international affairs and international organizations.”

Through iSGEA, the students came to see themselves not simply as learners, but as young people capable of contributing to sustainable development and international cooperation. Although the program has concluded, their journey toward becoming responsible, interculturally aware, and respectful global citizens continues. IVECA will continue working with diverse partners to create opportunities for young people to engage across cultures, address shared challenges, and turn their ideas into meaningful action for a more sustainable future.

Watch highlights from the students’ iSGEA journey at the link below.

👉 https://youtu.be/2pjkMqS-X-E

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/08/2026

💡

08/03/2026

📣 🌎

“Even though we come from different countries, we all can learn from each other and become good friends.” For one Hi-Tech World School student from India, this was the lasting lesson of a semester spent exchanging ideas with students from Osung Middle School in Korea. On July 14, that spirit of friendship and mutual learning came to life during the Live Class “Youth Voices, Sustainable Cities,” as students shared months of research and discovered how challenges in their own communities connected across borders.

Over the semester, students in both countries turned their research into solutions of their own before presenting to one another. Four Korean teams explored challenges affecting sustainable and inclusive cities: the digital divide between generations, regional disparities, AI overdependence and digital exclusion, and the environmental effects of rising temperatures in Daegu. Drawing on existing initiatives, including digital-literacy programs for older adults, they suggested practical ways to strengthen current efforts, from helping older community members navigate technology and promoting regional culture online to advancing accessible digital design, recycling, and renewable energy. As the Korean students later reflected, “Even small actions can create meaningful change when we work together.”

Indian students brought their own research to the class, presenting on healthcare and education access, digital awareness and online safety, the environmental toll of single-use plastics and habitat loss, and gender equality, each grounded in a national initiative already tackling the issue, from the public health scheme Ayushman Bharat to the girls' education campaign Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. One Korean student, reflecting on India's gender equality presentation, came away with a new sense of how much everyday behavior matters, realizing that even students can help build a fairer society simply by respecting others and challenging stereotypes. Beyond the individual projects, one Indian student reflected that the exchange had taught her to “communicate with confidence” and appreciate “the diversity that makes our world so beautiful.”

That same spirit of discovery carried into the cultural performances that closed the session. Korean students shared a K-pop dance cover and a Nanta drumming routine, while Indian students presented a semi-classical dance. Through these performances, students encountered their partners’ traditions firsthand while taking pride in sharing their own. As one Indian student reflected, “Every conversation, activity, and cultural exchange gave me new knowledge and wonderful memories that I will always treasure.” Hi-Tech World School’s principal praised the “exceptional dedication, creativity, and teamwork” the students had brought to the project, noting that their collaboration had transformed their research into thoughtful and practical solutions.

As the session drew to a close, Osung Middle School’s principal offered a single image to capture the exchange: everyone gathered was a “global bridge” connecting different cultures, with India and Korea coming together to contemplate a shared future. The students had spent a semester exploring sustainable cities, but what they carried away from the session transcended their projects. As the Korean students expressed, “Friendship and cooperation can connect people beyond borders.” Through their research, dialogue, and cultural exchange, the students had begun building that bridge themselves.

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07/26/2026

🇺🇳 🎊

The first part of IVECA and UNOSD’s HLPF side event was a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when humanity remains at the center of innovation. From smarter solutions to flooding and sustainable cities to cleaner energy and stronger food systems, students’ ideas proved that innovation is already within reach. To make this a reality, we need strong partnerships and collective action to drive meaningful progress. Convening in the Ban Ki-Moon Hall at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Part 2 of the side event on Humanity at the Center asked the deeper question: How do we turn possibility into progress, and make sure humanity remains at the heart of AI?

Moderated by Ms. Ediola Pashollari, President of the Global NGO Executive Committee, the session brought together leaders from the United Nations, academia, industry, education system, and youth affairs to explore the values, partnerships, and coordinated actions needed to turn innovation into sustainable impact.

Opening the session, H.E. Ambassador Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations, reminded participants that technological progress must ultimately be measured by its impact on people and the planet. In a world facing interconnected challenges, from climate change and food insecurity to water stress and energy deficits, she emphasized that AI must be guided by “sound governance, international cooperation, ethical principles, and a steadfast commitment to leaving no one behind.” Her message set the foundation for the conversation ahead: technology alone cannot solve our challenges; it is how we choose to use it that matters.

Building on this, Dr. Hod Lipson, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University in New York, highlighted AI's extraordinary pace of development and its potential to address humanity's greatest challenges. While acknowledging the uncertainty that accompanies such rapid technological change, he urged participants to respond with informed and purposeful leadership rather than fear. His call was clear and memorable: “Don’t fear—steer.” Rather than fearing the future of AI, humanity must understand how AI works, guide its development with human values, and harness its capabilities to build more sustainable and inclusive futures.

However, steering AI requires more than technical knowledge; it requires values. Mr. Felipe Queipo, Communication Officer in the Outreach Division of the United Nations Department of Global Communications, challenged participants to consider a powerful question: “What are we showing AI to replicate?” As AI learns from the data and systems created by society, it can also reproduce existing inequalities and biases. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that diverse voices, including young people, women, citizens of developing countries, and members of civil society, are not simply represented, but genuinely included in the decisions shaping our technological future.

From values, the discussion moved to action. Mr. Juan Fernando Martí, Corporate and Public Affairs Manager of the Guatemalan Sugar Producers’ Association (Asazgua), demonstrated how innovation can strengthen resilience through the Water–Energy–Food Nexus. His presentation highlighted how sustainable production can maximize the value of available resources, emphasizing the importance of “efficient use” and the potential to transform agricultural by-products into renewable energy and other valuable outputs. He also explored how AI can support sustainable agriculture through climate data analysis, early warning systems, irrigation optimization, and data-driven decision-making, showing how technology can move from the digital world into practical solutions for communities and economies.

For innovation to create lasting impact, however, humanity must be prepared not only to use AI, but to lead it with wisdom, critical thinking, and purpose. Ms. Keunhye Park, Supervisor at the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education’s East Asia Global Education Institute (IEGI), brought this idea into the classroom, underscoring education as the foundation for responsible AI use and global citizenship. Through Incheon's Read (Explore), Walk (Experience), and Write (Engagement) Educational Framework and its AI literacy initiatives, she emphasized a simple but powerful principle: “Humans think, reason, and write first, and AI supports the practical process. Then humans verify and complete the task.” Her message offered a compelling vision for the future of education, one where AI does not replace human curiosity or judgment, but strengthens them, empowering young people to observe the world with genuine concern, ask critical questions, seek answers independently, and ultimately turn knowledge into responsible action for the global community.

The conversation ultimately returned to the youth at the heart of the event. Ms. Sudha Balakrishnan, Chief of UN System Coordination and Accountability at the UN Youth Office, emphasized that “young people are already developing and using AI” and therefore must be treated not simply as future leaders, but as equal partners today. Meaningful youth engagement, she explained, means involving young people in co-designing solutions, supporting implementation, and evaluating outcomes together. Her final message brought the entire session together: “AI is a tool, not the end goal.” Its purpose must be to improve lives, accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs, and ensure that no one is left behind.

As the session concluded, a defining insight emerged: the real question is not simply what AI can do for humanity, but what humanity will choose to do with AI. From the possibilities demonstrated by students in Part 1 to the global call for partnership and collective action in Part 2, one message stood out: the future of AI will not be determined by technology alone. It will be determined by our values, our choices, and our willingness to work together.

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07/22/2026

🌐 🏙️

When young people from different communities come together with curiosity, purpose, and a shared vision for a better future, meaningful change begins. The IVECA Student-led Global Exchange Academy (iSGEA) created a unique space for students from high schools across Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea, and Shenzhen, China, to connect beyond borders and learn from one another through the shared language of global citizenship and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( ). More than an international learning experience, the program was an opportunity for students to exchange ideas, discover new perspectives, and see how their voices and actions can help build a more sustainable and inclusive world. Throughout the program, students explored pressing local challenges, conducted research, and collaborated with their peers and mentors to develop innovative and practical solutions for more sustainable communities.

As part of the program, Korean students participated in both in-person and online collaborative sessions, working closely with Youth Mentors from New York University and high school partners from Shenzhen to strengthen their research and transform their ideas into feasible, human-centered AI projects. Students engaged in weekly sessions where they shared lessons learned, exchanged feedback on the IVECA platform, and continuously refined their projects. The iSGEA provided students with a series of expert lectures and personalized guidance throughout the program, with mentors working closely with each project group. Supported by experienced youth mentors, students took the lead in refining their problem statements, analyzed multi-stakeholder perspectives, and developed action plans that addressed real community needs. Through the purposeful use of AI as a problem-solving tool, students advanced their initial concepts into practical, human-centered solutions while fostering critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, global citizenship, and applicable solutions for building more sustainable communities.

The program culminated in a virtual Live Class on June 20, where students presented four outstanding projects showcasing their creativity, innovation, and commitment to sustainable cities. The Korean teams proposed an AI-powered chatbot and website to support youth entrepreneurship and revitalize Incheon's downtown area, as well as a child-friendly redesign of public parks to create safer and more inclusive green spaces. Meanwhile, the Chinese teams introduced an AI-based water quality monitoring system to improve environmental protection and a sustainable resource circulation system designed to recover waste heat from AI data centers, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. Together, these projects demonstrated how young people can combine innovative thinking and artificial intelligence to design feasible solutions with lasting local and global impact.

During the Live Class, Korean and Chinese students and youth mentors actively interacted, sharing opinions on their solutions for sustainable cities. One of the Korean Students expressed, “To implement and apply our solution to reality, government solutions and advocacy should be supportive of the solution’s sustainability.” Also, Chinese students expressed that AI has developed rapidly nowadays, and it’s essential to create more diverse and contextualized AI by considering local matters. The Youth mentors shared their impression of the innovative works and solutions developed by students. One mentor reflected, "It was inspiring to see each team take a real problem in their own community and turn it into a thoughtful, workable solution." Another added, "What stood out most was how much the students grew as researchers and as collaborators, learning from peers across different cultures."

Building on the research and solutions they have developed throughout the program, participating students had the opportunity to showcase their projects on the global stage during IVECA's 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Side Event at the United Nations Headquarters on July 10, 2026. By presenting their ideas to an international audience, students demonstrated the power of youth-led innovation and cross-cultural collaboration in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and the potential to become thoughtful leaders and active contributors who can shape the future they will inherit.