Dongdaemun-gu Office Employees Enjoy Unlimited Reading with Audiobook and Reading Platform Access

[Seoul District News] Dongdaemun-gu to select 100 employees monthly from March to November on a first-come, first-served basis (50 for audiobooks, 50 for e-books)... Jungnang-gu selected for Ministry of Education's 'Regional Lifelong Education Activation Support Project'... Seocho-gu announces 'Job-Linked Instructor Support Project' to provide instructor jobs for lifelong education facility instructor training course completers

An employee of Dongdaemun-gu Office reading a book using a reading platform

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) is gaining attention for introducing a non-face-to-face education method using various media in response to changes in the educational environment for employees in the post-COVID-19 era.

By encouraging self-directed learning and spreading a reading culture within the workplace through audiobook and e-book education, it aims to strengthen employees' capabilities and induce innovative changes in the organization, expected to satisfy the diverse and complex needs of residents.

In particular, this education focuses on enhancing accessibility and convenience of education to satisfy learners' desire to learn, as well as strengthening the organization's competitiveness through knowledge acquisition in various fields and improvement of job skills.

The education will be conducted nine times in total from March to November. Starting from 10 a.m. on February 16, 100 people per month (50 for audiobooks, 50 for e-books) will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Learners can use a mobile learning app to study anytime and anywhere without limits.

Audiobook Willa offers high-quality audiobooks recorded by professional narrators, famous lectures by readers, and specialized lectures by theme. E-book Millie is the largest domestic reading platform with the largest collection of new releases and bestsellers, which will be a great gift for employees burdened with heavy workloads.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “I hope our employees, who are busy with their daily lives due to COVID-19, can enjoy a small pleasure through this reading program that minimizes time and space constraints.” He added, “I hope many employees can take a short break from heavy education or job pressure.”

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi) announced on the 16th that it was selected for the Ministry of Education’s ‘2022 Regional Lifelong Education Activation Support Project’.

The ‘Regional Lifelong Education Activation Support Project’ is a project supported by the Ministry of Education with 20 million KRW in national funds to form a lifelong learning city, a learning community where residents can enjoy learning they want, revitalizing the region.

The district was selected for the ‘Regional Resource Linkage Enhancement Type,’ which establishes a learner-centered lifelong learning system in cooperation with local universities. Starting in April, it plans to open and operate courses for training fashion sewing (bags) experts and laughter-sharing supporters in collaboration with Seoil University Lifelong Education Center.

The fashion sewing expert course is a startup-specialized course designed to provide not only methods for making products but also professional startup education. Outstanding graduates among the students can receive support for exhibitions and startup club activities.

The laughter-sharing supporter course is a program to train assistant instructors for silver recreation. After completion, participants can work as assistant instructors for seniors at lifelong learning centers, neighborhood learning centers, welfare centers, and more.

Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “We are pleased to be able to operate various lifelong learning programs through the selection of this public project.” He added, “We will actively promote lifelong learning programs so that not only job creation but also vitality can be brought to residents’ lives.”

Seocho-gu is calling for applications until the 21st for the ‘2022 Seocho-type Job-linked Instructor Support Project,’ which supports job opportunities for instructors who have completed instructor training courses at lifelong learning facilities in the region.

The ‘Seocho-gu Job-linked Instructor Support Project’ is a program that provides jobs through administrative and financial support to those who have completed instructor training courses or obtained certifications at lifelong learning institutions directly operated or commissioned by the district.

Started in 2019, this project offers learning and job opportunities in culture, arts, humanities, and vocational skills improvement to career-interrupted individuals or retirees, gifting them a second life. Over the past three years, it has supported instructor activities for a total of 14 organizations, with a satisfaction rate of 94.8% from the supported organizations.

The application target is groups consisting of at least three Seocho-gu residents who have completed instructor training courses or obtained certifications after course completion at lifelong learning institutions operated by Seocho-gu. Like last year, non-face-to-face classes suitable for the COVID-19 situation are required.

The district will spend a total budget of 23.75 million KRW this year to support preparation costs for instructor activities. Selected groups can receive up to 4.75 million KRW per team for expenses necessary for instructor activities, such as instructor operation costs, textbook costs, and promotion costs.

In particular, this project provides learning opportunities about lifelong education to career-interrupted individuals or retirees and helps connect jobs through the district’s local network, in addition to financial support.

Most instructors of the ‘Docent For You’ program, which conducts online art exhibition tours with docents selected last year, are women in their 30s and 40s who completed docent training at the Seocho-gu Lifelong Learning Center. The program received great responses, with 110 learners participating in non-face-to-face art and exhibition lectures due to COVID-19.

Also, the ‘Mom Learns First English Picture Book, Art & Play’ program by ‘Funny Art Book’ is taught by instructors who completed online master instructor training at the Seocho Women and Family Plaza. They lecture on various play methods and English acquisition methods using English picture books as a medium. The classes were mainly conducted via Zoom for mothers and children at home.

In particular, last year, the district prepared a program linking ‘docent lectures’ with local elementary, middle, and high schools to explore museums and exhibition halls with students.

Kim Se-jung (50, resident of Jamwon-dong), an instructor who conducted docent lectures last year, said, “I was a career-interrupted woman and completed docent training four years ago. I wanted to give many lectures in the art exhibition field, so I applied for this project with colleagues.” She added, “I felt confidence and fulfillment as an instructor, and from this year, I am pursuing a master’s degree in art history at graduate school for more professional lectures.”

The district expects this support project to lay the foundation for full-fledged instructor activities, allowing instructors to work as members of the local community and contribute to the lifelong learning culture in the region through their lectures.

The district plans to finalize selections through the district subsidy review committee in March and provide support funds in April. Selected groups will operate from April to November for eight months. For more details, contact the Seocho-gu Office website or the Seocho-gu Office Education and Sports Division.

Cheon Jeong-wook, Acting Mayor, said, “We will continue to make efforts to create ‘Lifelong Learning City Seocho’ through various lifelong learning supports, including job-linked instructor support.”

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