Gyeongsang National University, Nationwide First and Only Pilot Operation of 'Semester-Based Educational Practice'

11 Prospective Teachers from College of Education to Undergo 5-Month Practicum Starting March

Gyeongsang National University will begin a pilot operation of the Educational Practice Semester System.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The College of Education at Gyeongsang National University will pilot the ‘Semester-based Teaching Practicum’ for five months from March to July this year, following the Ministry of Education’s decision to fully implement it starting in 2028.

This project is the first and only pilot program nationwide supported by the Ministry of Education. It is being promoted together with the affiliated middle school of the College of Education at Gyeongsang National University.

The Ministry of Education plans to introduce the ‘Semester-based Teaching Practicum’ by expanding the current four-week practicum period for secondary education to strengthen practical education that enhances on-site capabilities.

Prospective teachers will directly participate in the entire academic semester process at the practicum school, including curriculum organization, instruction, and evaluation, gaining a practical understanding of the school, classroom, and students, as well as opportunities to form and review their professional teaching perspectives.

Furthermore, practicum students will be assigned roles to contribute to educational activities as members of the educational community, and active collaboration between education offices and teacher training institutions will be supported to create a sustainable practicum ecosystem.

A model linking practicum experience with theory will be developed, and the designation of support centers to research and assist this will also be pursued.

To stably introduce the semester-based teaching practicum, the Ministry of Education will begin pilot operations in the first half of this year and plans to gradually expand the scale of operations considering the appropriate size of teacher training.

According to this policy of the Ministry of Education, the College of Education at Gyeongsang National University has decided to pilot the semester-based teaching practicum at the school site for five months from March to July together with its affiliated middle school.

As a result of a survey conducted on all fourth-year students of the College of Education, 11 students in total will participate in the semester-based teaching practicum this semester: six from the Department of Biology Education, four from the Department of Music Education, and one from the Department of History Education.

From March, the practicum students will directly participate in all aspects of on-site teachers’ duties, including teaching practice, student instruction and guidance, counseling, and evaluation at the affiliated middle school of the College of Education.

Kim Yong-jin, Dean of the College of Education, said, “It is highly significant that our College of Education is the first and only institution nationwide to operate the semester-based teaching practicum since its establishment, and through this, students will be able to develop practical secondary student guidance skills and grow into excellent teachers.”

The College of Education will also provide a separate learning space at the Future Education Center, established last year with support from the Ministry of Education, for students participating in the semester-based teaching practicum. Students can share practicum activities, hold discussions, and study for teacher certification exams at the Future Education Center.

Additionally, a research team centered on College of Education professors will be formed to work with teachers from the affiliated middle school to derive operational models and improvements for the semester-based teaching practicum.

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