From 26 January to 24 April 2026, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Customs Cooperation Fund Korea (CCF-Korea), will implement the third edition of the BACUDA Scholarship Programme at Hanyang University in Seoul. The Programme is being launched and will be delivered by Hanyang University, a leading institution with strong international research capacity and extensive experience in data science education.

As one of the core activities of the BACUDA Project under the WCO Strategic Plan 2025–2028, with its focus on Technology and Innovation, the three-month, on-site Scholarship Programme brings together twelve Customs officials carefully selected through a rigorous selection process from among candidates nominated by Member administrations. The participants were assessed on their professional experience, background in data analytics and English communication skills, and will strengthen their capacity in data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) for modern Customs operations.

The Programme delivers a structured 12-week curriculum combining academic coursework with practical Customs case studies. The training covers a wide range of modules, including Python programming for Customs applications, data collection and cleaning, data visualization, applied statistics, machine learning for Customs operations, natural language processing for Customs texts, and the application of WCO BACUDA algorithms, such as LITE-DATE and AI-HS.

A central feature of the Programme is the capstone project. Throughout the course, participants design and implement analytical models addressing concrete Customs challenges in their administrations and prepare a final research paper under the supervision of academic tutors and WCO experts. Through this process, they demonstrate advanced analytical skills and strategic problem-solving capacity in operational contexts.

In addition to technical training, the Programme includes dedicated modules on data strategy, data governance and international Customs trends. Upon completion of the Programme in April 2026, participants are expected to return to their administrations equipped with practical methodologies, analytical tools and implementation experience to support the transition towards data-driven Customs administrations.

The WCO BACUDA Project will continue to support Members administration through this Scholarship Programme by strengthening long-term analytical capacity and promoting the transition towards data-driven Customs administrations.