"Without COVID-19 Worries" Seoul City Operates 'Maintenance Project Academy' Online

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is providing the 'Maintenance Project Academy' free of charge 24 hours a day on PC and mobile so that people can safely take courses at home despite the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Any citizen can take customized education to strengthen the transparency and expertise of maintenance projects, such as redevelopment and reconstruction, by practicing social distancing while learning detailed procedures and licensing experiences related to redevelopment and reconstruction.

The Seoul Maintenance Project Academy is a course where related experts such as lawyers, accountants, and architects provide customized education so that maintenance project stakeholders, such as association executives and landowners, can carry out projects more smoothly and transparently. It has been operated since 2014. Last year, a total of 5,694 people took the courses.

In the interest of social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Seoul has temporarily postponed offline education and is operating a non-face-to-face online course called 'e-(Redevelopment·Reconstruction) Maintenance Project Academy.' ▲A general course for beginners in maintenance projects ▲An advanced course covering in-depth content by maintenance project stages (planning-implementation-completion) have been opened.

The general course is composed of content that helps basic understanding such as types of maintenance projects, step-by-step procedures, and public support systems. The advanced course is divided into planning, implementation, and completion stages of maintenance projects and contains in-depth content. It includes detailed procedures and licensing experiences such as basic planning, district designation, formation of the promotion committee and association establishment, approval of project implementation plans and management plans, as well as operation and decision-making of the promotion committee and association, appraisal, taxation, and accounting.

Lawyers, tax accountants, accountants, current and former public officials, and other related experts have developed systematic and professional teaching materials and participate in lectures. The lectures focus on Seoul Metropolitan Government cases. Citizens can apply for courses anytime through the Seoul Lifelong Learning Portal and the Seoul Human Resources Development Institute. Seoul citizens can access the Seoul Lifelong Learning Portal, sign up as members, search for 'Maintenance Project Academy,' apply for courses, and take them on PC or mobile. Those who complete more than 70% of the entire course (30 sessions) can receive a certificate of completion issued by the Mayor of Seoul. The Seoul Human Resources Development Institute website operates educational courses to enhance the job competencies of city and district public officials. Completing 100% of the entire course grants recognition of training hours.

In the second half of this year, Seoul will operate Maintenance Project Academies tailored to different education targets to strengthen the capabilities of maintenance project participants. Eight online and offline courses will be introduced.

Ryu Hoon, Head of the Housing and Architecture Headquarters of Seoul, said, "People will be able to systematically and professionally approach complex maintenance projects together with related experts," adding, "It is expected to contribute not only to strengthening the capabilities of participants but also to enhancing the transparency and expertise of maintenance projects."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.