The Sister Cities Youth Immersion program connected South Korean teenagers with Elon University students pursuing a minor in game design.
Through a partnership between the City of Burlington and Gwacheon, South Korea, the Sister Cities Youth Immersion program brought 16 high school students from South Korea to Elon University’s campus to participate in a game design course.
The students attended a Game Design Capstone course on Jan. 13, 2026, taught by Associate Professor Pratheep Paranthaman in the Department of Computer Science. The visit introduced the visiting teens to the game development process, including trial and error, teamwork and problem solving.
Elon’s Game Design Capstone course functions as a simulation of a real game studio, with students taking on industry-style roles, such as programmers or product owners.
“At this point in Winter Term, our game design students have developed the core ideas behind their games and are translating them into a first playable prototype,” Paranthaman said. “This is the right moment to have high school students in the classroom, where they can hear directly from game design students about their ideas, their challenges and how they plan to move forward with development.”
A key takeaway for the visiting students was seeing how game design students from different majors bring together skills such as storytelling, programming, level design and art into a single creative process.
“When visiting students see that games are built by people who are learning, experimenting and collaborating, it opens the door for them to imagine themselves in that role someday,” Paranthaman said. “They also experience firsthand what studying game design at Elon is like. This is a beneficial experience for both groups and fosters a genuine connection that I hope continues.”
Experiences like this extend beyond academics, helping international students develop confidence, global awareness and friendships.
“Given the popularity of esports in South Korea, this course offers especially meaningful and engaging perspectives, and we are grateful to Dr. Paranthaman for providing this valuable opportunity for our visitors,” said Sangho (Sean) Lee, an adjunct professor at Elon University and Sister Cities Youth Immersion program coordinator. “Interacting with Elon students allows participants to see how collaboration, critical thinking and innovation are applied in a United States university setting, broadening their academic and career perspectives.
“As any of these students consider studying abroad, the experience at Elon University will shape their perspectives and encourage them to pursue global educational opportunities.”
The partnership between the City of Burlington and Gwacheon, South Korea was established in 2011, creating a shared commitment to international friendship, cultural understanding and youth education.
The Sister Cities Youth Immersion program was created in 2012 to provide students from Gwacheon with meaningful exposure to American culture, education and daily life through school visits, community engagement and homestays with local families.