Dongmyeong University is establishing a collaborative framework with the local design industry and expanding practical training in architectural design and entrepreneurship support.
The university is incorporating the practical skills demanded by the industry into its curriculum while assisting students in preparing for employment and discovering entrepreneurial ideas.
On October 15, Dongmyeong University's Anchor Project Team signed a memorandum of understanding with the Busan Design Association to enhance talent development and industry collaboration in the design sector.
The signing ceremony was attended by Cha Ji-cheol, head of the Anchor Project Team, and Lee Sang-young, president of the association, among other officials. The two organizations agreed to jointly plan and operate educational programs that reflect the needs of the design industry based on the regional growth talent development system (Anchor) project.
They also plan to promote joint research and development (R&D) and share research equipment, experimental facilities, and educational and academic information.
In particular, they aim to strengthen practical training to help students adapt to the local design industry after graduation and support the technological development capabilities of local design firms by utilizing the university's research infrastructure.
Cha Ji-cheol stated, "We will pursue practical industry-academia collaboration based on the needs of the industry to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the local design sector."
Lee Sang-young also remarked, "We will actively cooperate to ensure that the university's talented individuals and research infrastructure translate into competitiveness for the local design industry."
Alongside building industry collaboration, Dongmyeong University operates field-centered educational programs to allow students to experience real work environments and develop the practical skills necessary for employment.
The university's Department of Architecture conducted a two-day mock hiring and architectural tour program from October 12 to 13, involving 45 students in the Seoul and Gwacheon areas.
Supported by the department's 'Global Company Mock Hiring Program,' the schedule included visits to architectural design firms, mock job interviews, and tours of significant architectural sites.
On the first day, students visited Hae Rim Architects in Gwacheon, where they participated in expert lectures, mock job interviews, and portfolio reviews.
Hae Rim Architects' Moon Kwang-bae and Park Chang-seob delivered lectures on architectural practice and career paths, while Han Seung-jin also participated in the interviews and portfolio assessments to evaluate the students' design capabilities.
Fourth and fifth-year students had their design portfolios evaluated, while lower-year students observed the interview process to gain insights into employment preparation. They also toured the office to see advanced technologies such as humanoid robots and robotic arms in use.
Students also visited Seonjin Engineering Architects to learn about the processes of large architectural projects, organizational operations, and recruitment methods. After the company visits, they toured the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul.
On the second day, they visited the Seoul Craft Museum, Seosomun History Museum, and West Seoul Art Museum. Notably, at the Seoul Craft Museum, designed by Hae Rim Architects, they observed how the design was realized in the actual building, including spatial composition, flow, and material usage.
Hae Rim Architects received the Grand Prize at the 2023 Korea Public Architecture Awards and an Excellence Award at the 41st Seoul Architecture Awards for their design of the Seoul Craft Museum.
Dongmyeong University explained that this year's program added company visits and architectural tours based on the success of last year's mock interview program, where all participating students secured employment.
Lee Gil-im, head of the Department of Architecture, noted, "This program is meaningful as it provides lower-year students with career exploration opportunities and upper-year students with practical hiring experience."
In the field of student entrepreneurship utilizing their major knowledge, there has been recent success. Dongmyeong University students Kim Joo-won and Do Hyun-kyun received the President's Award from Yeongsan University at the 12th Busan Startup Idea Competition for their proposal 'Safe On Ring,' which detects signs of overheating in wires through color changes.
Hosted by the Busan Technology Startup Investment Agency and co-organized by Dongmyeong University as part of the Anchor Project, the competition aimed to discover entrepreneurial ideas among local university and graduate students.
The 'Safe On Ring' concept involves an attachment placed on the exterior of wire insulation that indicates overheating signs through color changes.
The idea aims to enhance the efficiency of safety inspections for facilities by allowing easy visual identification of abnormal wire conditions, and it was recognized for its creativity, business potential, and feasibility.
The Dongmyeong University Anchor Project Team's Startup Support Center operates startup clubs, entrepreneurship courses, and competitions, providing step-by-step support from idea generation to business education.
Kim Yeon-hwa, head of the Startup Support Center, expressed, "We are very pleased that the skills students have developed through their participation in startup clubs and various entrepreneurship programs have led to such positive results in this competition."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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