"No End to Learning" The National Certification Craze Among 63- and 48-Year-Old New University Students

Kim Ungjang and Gong Sangyoung, who enrolled last year in the Department of ICT Convergence Engineering at Dongseo University Future Career College

Showcasing fresh 'Noikjang' by obtaining national certifications such as Industrial Safety Engineer

Kim Woongjang (left) and Gong Sangyoung from Dongseo University.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “Learning is always just the beginning, there is no end.”

The ‘vigor of the elderly’ among university students is creating a fresh breeze.

The fresh rebellion of ‘adult learners’ at Dongseo University Future Career College is gaining attention.

At Dongseo University (President Jang Je-guk), new students from the older generation who enrolled last year at the Future Career College are producing fruitful results in obtaining certifications, which are said to be difficult even for younger people.

The university introduced two individuals showcasing their vigor. The protagonists are Kim Woong-jang (63 years old) and Gong Sang-young (48), who enrolled as freshmen in March last year in the ICT Convergence Engineering Department at Dongseo University Future Career College.

These two students are considerably older than typical freshmen. After enrolling, they devoted themselves to department classes and research club activities.

The results spoke for themselves. They obtained national certifications, the Industrial Safety Engineer and Industrial Safety Industrial Engineer licenses, which are difficult even for school-age students to acquire, during their first year.

In particular, Gong Sang-young is a case who started a new challenge by enrolling at Dongseo University Future Career College to enhance the expertise of his current work while working in the Business Management Team of the Military Aircraft Division at Korean Air.

Both students faced many difficulties, such as not having the time to study all day like school-age students. However, balancing work life, they began a new challenge through weekday night classes and Saturday classes, and they rejoiced and encouraged each other over their ‘first fruits’ by obtaining the certifications they aimed for.

Jung Hyun-seok, Dean of Future Career College, said, “The university plans to mobilize all resources to support the ‘passion’ of adult learners preparing for a new future through their workplace experience and university education.”

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