This article critically reviews the professional education program in international development cooperation in Korea compared with the international development studies program in the European countries. Contrary to the Korean universities, there is a strong connection between international development studies and anthropological area studies in the high-ranking graduate programs in Europe. Anthropological perspectives based on local knowledge support voices of the local peoples and promote mutual understanding and communication. Anthropological area studies can provide contextual, local and practical knowledge with international development studies program.
Using the many concrete illustrations of various partnership programs between the anthropology and development studies, the article suggest many possible paths forward by outlining some proposals for a more effective, efficient and appropriate area-oriented professional education programs articulated with local knowledge which is vital to development expertises.