[Interview] A University Inside Real Business: Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab (Part 1)

 When we picture university life, we usually envision lecture halls packed with students listening to a professor's presentation. But what if a university had neither lecture halls nor professors? Last month, I visited a unique educational institution where both were absent. Instead of classrooms, students worked in active business environments; instead of professors, team coaches guided them. This is the story of Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab.

 

How is LEINN Seoul Lab operated, and how do students approach their learning? I sat down with Yena Lee, a team coach at Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab, to explore the journey in depth. By chance, I also had the opportunity to briefly meet students who were actively working on projects even during their vacation. Over the coming series, I will share the compelling story of Mondragon University’s LEINN. (Note: Throughout this article, Mondragon University’s LEINN program is referred to simply as ‘LEINN.’)

 

Interviewee: Yena Lee, Team Coach at Mondragon University LEINN Seoul Lab

 

Yena Lee, Team Coach at Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab, during the interview (Photo by Milly)

Q: For readers unfamiliar with Mondragon University, could you introduce the LEINN degree program?

 

A: LEINN is an official undergraduate degree created by the Mondragon Group—Spain's leading cooperative federation—and awarded by Mondragon University. While 'LEINN' may sound unfamiliar at first, it designates an academic major: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. Rather than writing out the entire phrase, we commonly refer to it as LEINN, or the major in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation.

 

It is an official undergraduate major within Mondragon University’s Business School. In practical terms, participants are enrolled as regular students of Mondragon University in Spain. The curriculum, credit requirements, academic governance, tuition structures, and administrative systems all adhere strictly to Mondragon University’s international standards.

 

Q: I understand LEINN has coaches rather than traditional professors. What is the role of a coach, and how does it differ from a conventional university professor or a startup mentor?

 

A: In the simplest terms, coaches fulfill the academic responsibilities of faculty. However, the reason we call ourselves coaches rather than professors stems directly from the pedagogical methodology underpinning LEINN. Mondragon University originally adapted this model from a university in Finland (Tiimiakatemia / Team Academy). The pioneer of this model had students form teams to tackle real-world business and marketing projects for actual enterprises, sharing their discoveries and lessons collectively. In that environment, educators guided students through targeted questions to foster experiential learning and facilitate peer reflection, identifying their role not as lecturing professors, but as coaches.

 

A coach focuses on cultivating students' capacity to discover their own answers rather than handing down pre-determined solutions. Based on this philosophy, the pedagogy adopted coaching as its primary identity. This methodology spread across several European countries, and Mondragon University integrated it into a fully accredited four-year undergraduate program. We embrace this exact educational methodology in Seoul.

 

This role also differs from that of a startup mentor. While mentors typically offer advice derived from their personal past experiences, our coaches engage in continuous, dynamic dialogue and learning partnerships with students throughout their academic journey. Engaging in this level of open dialogue with conventional professors is rare. Because we operate as coaches rather than professors, we refer to our learners not as students, but as 'Leinners.' Our core mission is to cultivate an environment that encourages constant questioning and reflection, supporting Leinners so they can grow autonomously.

 

Leinners in action (Photos courtesy of Mondragon University LEINN Seoul Lab)

Q: What core principle do you prioritize most when coaching students?

 

A: It connects directly to my previous answer: ever since this model was benchmarked from Finland, the central pillar has always been 'Learning by doing'—learning through execution and direct experience. We call this experiential learning, where active doing is the core engine of education. When we study, intellectual understanding is one thing, but actively doing something unlocks a completely different dimension of learning. Bridging conceptual knowledge with real-world execution is what we value most.

 

Entrepreneurship fundamentally requires bold action and experimentation. 'Learning by doing' is our primary guiding philosophy, and for that to work, action itself must be self-directed. This doesn't mean only naturally self-motivated individuals can thrive here. Rather, it means students learn by actively exploring who they are through trial, experimentation, and execution, rather than merely sitting down and theorizing.

 

This process is critical both individually and as a team. Individuals gather into a team, share experiences and knowledge, learn together, set shared milestones, and determine their next steps autonomously. As coaches, our guiding principle is to avoid imposing our personal biases or micromanaging their path. While conventional professors are tasked with accurately transmitting established facts, our role as coaches often requires us to step back.

 

To help Leinners thrive, we provide the necessary guidance and parameters so they make independent decisions. When they overlook critical points or face blind spots, the coach steps back and poses reflective questions, encouraging them to think critically, challenge assumptions, and reflect deeply. Guiding them toward autonomous growth through this reflective process is our primary focus.

 

📣The distinct features of Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab and the specific projects Leinners undertake will be explored in Part 2.

 

 

❓❔Do you have questions about Mondragon University’s LEINN Seoul Lab? 🎈

We value your curiosity. If you have questions about the LEINN Seoul Lab, please send them to [Email Address]. We will gather your inquiries and address them in a follow-up interview.