Sejong Activates Lifelong Education... Establishment and Operation of Citizen University 'Jiphyeonjeon'

Sejong City plans to introduce the 'Jiphyeonjeon' Sejong Citizen University next year, which will serve as a control tower for all lifelong education programs conducted in the region through growth and settlement phases. Provided by Sejong City

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Sejong City is expanding infrastructure to revitalize lifelong education within the region.

The city announced on the 7th that it will establish the citizen university ‘Jiphyeonjeon’ campuses by district through the inclusion in next year’s main budget, serving as a control tower to integrate and manage lifelong education activities conducted locally.

The introduction and operation of Jiphyeonjeon will be promoted in phases: introduction, growth, and settlement. During the introduction phase (2020?2021), the focus is on installing campuses in three districts?Dodam-dong (Sejong Practical Learning Campus), Hansol-dong (Sejong Practical Learning Campus), and Daepyeong-dong (Citizen Autonomy Learning Campus)?using multi-community centers, and establishing a citizen university portal.

Next, in the growth phase (2022?2023), the number of campuses will expand from three to six, with emphasis on establishing a learning activity support system and degree programs. In the settlement phase (from 2024 onward), efforts will focus on addressing blind spots discovered during citizen university operations and making the regional citizen university Jiphyeonjeon a role model for other local governments’ citizen universities.

In particular, the strategy includes awarding honorary degrees such as Jeonimhaksa (Bachelor’s), Daejehak (Master’s), and Yeongjeonsa (Doctorate) to citizen university students to increase their willingness to participate in lifelong education.

This year, the city will also implement a ‘Lifelong Education Promotion Plan’ to revitalize lifelong education. The plan centers on building an organic network among the city, the Lifelong Education Promotion Institute, educational institutions, and other related organizations inside and outside the region to strengthen the professionalism of lifelong education projects, guarantee educational rights for marginalized groups, and expand the targets and opportunities for lifelong education participation.

For example, the city operates literacy education centers, visiting happiness learning schools, and night schools for irregular workers to ensure learning rights for marginalized groups who are prone to educational blind spots. Additionally, by operating a lifelong education hub for people with disabilities and supporting their leisure, cultural, and sports activities, the city plans to reduce relative educational disparities through customized lifelong education.

Furthermore, through the Talent Development Education Promotion Institute’s website, the city plans to enhance the Damoa Lifelong Learning Information Network and Cyber Lifelong Learning Center, and promote linkage with lectures from the National Institute for Lifelong Education and Gyeonggi-do Lifelong Education Promotion Institute to prepare for the normalization of non-face-to-face education following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultimately, the city aims to join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) by 2023 through revitalizing lifelong education and expanding infrastructure within the region.

GNLC is a concept created by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning in Hamburg, Germany, to promote international cooperation in lifelong learning among cities worldwide. As of this month, 47 cities, counties, and districts in Korea, including Dobong-gu in Seoul, Jincheon-gun in Chungbuk, and Andong-si in Gyeongbuk, are members and active participants.

However, no metropolitan local governments have yet joined GNLC. If Sejong joins GNLC, it will be the first metropolitan local government in the country to do so.

A city official stated, “Sejong plans to promote lifelong education projects aiming to enter GNLC. Above all, the city will devote itself to establishing a learning environment where no citizen is excluded through the installation and operation of the citizen university Jiphyeonjeon, lifelong education projects, and talent development projects.”

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