The Importance of the University Education System for Trade Workforce: the Person-Organization Fit Perspective

As globalization accelerates and the trade environment rapidly changes, a more prepared trade workforce is required for the business world. The trade department is an important educational institution that educates and trains future trade talent. Thus, in the evolving trade environment, their role has significant implications for the economic growth of Korea. The present paper is a comparative study of the importance of the university education system in terms of the trade work force through the Person-Organization fit (P-O fit) perspective. We observe that the American trade education system is more oriented to meet and reflect the needs from the real world. It contains a support structure through various governmental organizations that offer financial incentives as well as educational opportunities through internships and other hands-on experiences. The trade education systems in universities in Korea are still static by comparison and are recommended to implement changes that will give students more practical exposure to trade. The governmental and business sectors are also encouraged to support universities in achieving these goals through building a strong cooperative network with university trade departments.