Chosun University of Science and Technology Records Around 200 Returning Students for 3 Consecutive Years

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Amid the increasingly severe youth employment crisis, it has been revealed that more than 200 students annually enroll as U-turn students at Chosun University of Science and Technology.

According to Chosun University of Science and Technology on the 21st, the number of U-turn students for the 2020 academic year was 211, with the Department of Life Environment Chemical Engineering (106 students), which has a particularly high employment rate, ranking first. The second and third were the Department of Mechanical Engineering (17 students) and the Department of Automotive Engineering (13 students), respectively.

As the only specialized university in the Honam region focusing on engineering, the number of U-turn students at Chosun University of Science and Technology has maintained around 200 for three consecutive years: 214 in 2018, 219 in 2019, and 211 in 2020.

U-turn students refer to those who have graduated from or attended four-year universities or junior colleges and then re-enroll as freshmen.

Chosun University of Science and Technology analyzed that, along with social structural reasons, the university’s own development and operation of customized programs tailored to student levels, as well as tailored employment programs that generously support students to secure jobs at desired companies, are bearing fruit.

Additionally, with a broad range of local employment opportunities such as the Gwangju-type jobs, and well-established infrastructure in nearby areas like Yeosu National Industrial Complex and Naju Innovation City in the chemical and energy sectors, this U-turn phenomenon is expected to continue, especially in popular departments.

In fact, from 2017 to 2019, Chosun University of Science and Technology achieved employment results with 975 students hired by large corporations and public institutions such as Kia Motors, GS Caltex, POSCO, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix, establishing itself as a university specialized in employment.

Alongside this, the Department of Food Nutrition and Culinary Arts has been recognized for its excellence, producing the top national scorer in the 42nd National Dietitian Examination in 2018.

Chosun University of Science and Technology U-turn student Cho Haesung (25, 2nd year, Franchise Startup Management) said, “I didn’t feel suited to the previous school I attended, so I wanted to study entrepreneurship and applied to Chosun University of Science and Technology. Being able to professionally learn the practical skills and knowledge necessary for franchise operations and startups makes me feel like I’ve taken a step closer to my vague dream.”

Another U-turn student, Ham Jiyoung (44, 2nd year, Civil Engineering and Construction), said, “I graduated from a four-year teacher’s college, but since it didn’t suit me, I re-enrolled in the Civil Engineering and Construction department. Although I am older than others, I am studying hard again and striving to achieve my dream.”

Chosun University of Science and Technology President Cho Soon-gye said, “As a representative junior college in the Gwangju and Jeonnam region, our university’s employment rate at large corporations surpasses that of four-year universities. In the past, due to social structural issues emphasizing credentials, there was a strong tendency to prefer general universities, but recently, as society shifts toward a competency-centered model, a significant number of general university graduates are re-enrolling as U-turn students at our university.”

He added, “Students required in the future society are not mere transmitters of knowledge but creative and convergent talents who will help shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. We will devote all our efforts to creating a vocational education university capable of sustainable growth through student-centered university system reforms and communication with university members.”

Meanwhile, Chosun University of Science and Technology is conducting the first round of early admissions for the 2021 academic year from the 23rd of this month until July 13th.

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