Gyeongnam Information University is expanding its training programs to cultivate specialized technical personnel needed in the industry and to provide tailored education for the local community.
The university is developing an industry-academic cooperation curriculum in the field of coffee machine engineering, while also offering entrepreneurship education for students from child care facilities and lifelong vocational education for adult learners.
The focus is on connecting the university's educational capabilities with the technical needs of industries, broadening the educational scope from youth to adults.
On November 6, Gyeongnam Information University signed a partnership agreement with Romantic Coffee Research Institute to train specialized coffee machine engineers during a ceremony held at the Minseok Memorial Hall on campus.
Attendees included Im Jun-woo, Vice President for Industry-Academic Cooperation; Heo Dong-ryeol, Director of the Entrepreneurship Support Office; Kim Sang-hyo, Head of the Electrical Engineering Department; and Jeong Ji-hye, CEO of Romantic Coffee Research Institute, along with Lee Kyo-woong, the institute's Technical Director.
The two institutions will jointly develop a coffee machine engineering curriculum involving faculty from the Electrical Engineering Department and industry experts. They plan to introduce related courses into the bachelor's degree enhancement program and adult learner curriculum, as well as co-teach special lectures led by industry professionals and faculty.
They will also conduct practical training using capstone design and an industry guest professor system, and collaborate on entrepreneurship related to coffee machines. The partnership aims to support students in obtaining certifications and securing employment while developing a curriculum that applies electrical engineering knowledge to the maintenance and repair of coffee machines in the industry.
Im Jun-woo stated, "The combination of Gyeongnam Information University's practical training capabilities and Romantic Coffee Research Institute's field expertise will serve as a starting point for cultivating specialized personnel in the new field of coffee machine engineering."
Following its technical education collaboration with industries, Gyeongnam Information University is also launching educational initiatives to assist local youth in exploring career paths and achieving independence. The university's SCOUT project team visited NK I-Bill, a child care facility, on November 4 to sign a partnership agreement aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing self-reliance among elementary, middle, and high school students.
This agreement is part of the university's 'Innovative Entrepreneurship Education Leading University (SCOUT)' initiative, designed to provide entrepreneurship experience opportunities tailored to the age and interests of students living in the facility.
The education will utilize the university's specialized personnel and educational facilities, focusing on practical fields such as K-beauty, baking, and beauty care, while also expanding the curriculum to include cutting-edge technology areas like artificial intelligence.
The program aims to help students discover their aptitudes and develop problem-solving skills and creative thinking through step-by-step education as they engage in entrepreneurial activities.
Park Hyo-jin, head of the SCOUT project team, expressed hope that students would discover their potential through various entrepreneurship experiences and take proactive steps in planning their futures, while committing to continuously expand entrepreneurship education linked to the local community.
Jeon Dong-kyu, director of NK I-Bill, also emphasized the importance of collaborating with local universities to help students gain confidence and acquire the skills necessary for independence.
Gyeongnam Information University is not only offering entrepreneurship education for youth but also providing lifelong vocational education programs for local adult learners.
The university's Anchor Project Team participated in the '6th Busan Lifelong Learning Week' held from October 30 to 31, introducing vocational education courses and offering experiential programs to citizens.
The event, themed 'Next Page Unfolding Through Learning,' was organized by the Busan Women and Family Affairs and Lifelong Education Promotion Agency, with participation from 16 districts and counties in Busan, universities, and lifelong education institutions.
At the event, Gyeongnam Information University presented the direction of the Anchor Project, a regional talent development system in Busan, and provided information on lifelong vocational education courses for adult learners.
Among the citizen experiential programs was a silent desk clock-making activity linked to a psychological art therapy-based care competency enhancement course, designed to help participants express their thoughts and emotions through art.
The university also conducted a survey of 100 citizens to assess the demand for lifelong vocational education. The results will be used to inform future curriculum development to create vocational education programs that meet local needs.
Im Jun-woo, head of the Anchor Project Team, stated, "We will design lifelong vocational education that aligns with local needs, enabling Busan citizens to find new opportunities and challenges through learning."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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