Chosun University Holds Plaque Ceremony for 'Highest Excellence' Certification in Educational Welfare Evaluation for Students with Disabilities

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] Chosun University recently announced on the 24th that it was selected as the top university in the Ministry of Education's '2020 Evaluation of Educational Welfare Support for Disabled University Students' and held a certification plaque ceremony for the top institution.

The plaque ceremony took place the previous day at 10 a.m. at the Disabled Student Support Center located on the first floor of the Central Library at Chosun University.

Attendees included President Min Young-don, Director of Employment Student Affairs Yoon Oh-nam, Director of the Disabled Student Support Center Cho Gyu-seon, representatives of disabled students, and staff members.

The National Institute of Special Education, affiliated with the Ministry of Education, evaluates the status of all higher education institutions in three areas?▲selection of disabled students ▲teaching and learning ▲facilities and equipment?to guarantee the learning rights of disabled university students, expand the choice of universities for disabled students and their parents, and encourage universities to improve welfare for disabled students.

Universities selected as 'top' in the evaluation receive a certification plaque as a top institution and a commendation from the Deputy Prime Minister of Education.

The Chosun University Disabled Support Center received the top certification again in last year's evaluation following 2017. It received a higher evaluation in the teaching and learning area compared to before.

During the COVID-19 pandemic when online classes were conducted, the Disabled Support Center conducted weekly individual monitoring to ensure that all disabled students on campus were keeping up with their studies.

Additionally, to support the learning of hearing-impaired students, the center allocated additional budget to purchase licenses for 'Soboro,' an AI real-time captioning assistive technology program.

The center also assisted students needing support for online learning by helping them apply for digital learning aid device grant programs.

The Disabled Student Support Center also assigns disabled student helpers (volunteer-type work-study students). These students provide support such as note-taking, creating alternative materials, assisting with assignments, mobility support, and meal assistance according to the class format (face-to-face or non-face-to-face) and type of disability.

Furthermore, the center helps disabled students take exams without discrimination due to their disabilities. It facilitates communication between professors and students to request and receive support such as note-taking assistance, extended exam time, and appropriate exam locations.

Moreover, even during non-face-to-face online classes, the center maintained communication with disabled students by updating the center’s website to enable smooth personal counseling and provide employment and career information through newly added banners. It also held semester-based meetings using ZOOM to promote fellowship and provided psychological counseling to students through the relationship enhancement program between disabled students and helpers called ‘Maeumeul Yeo-reok’ (Opening the Heart樂).

Cho Gyu-seon, Director of the Chosun University Disabled Student Support Center, said, “The reason the Chosun University Disabled Student Support Center was able to receive the top evaluation two consecutive times is because the university’s sincere efforts to support the learning rights and stable university life of disabled students have been recognized. We will continue to do our best to support disabled students in various ways.”

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