Changwon City Lifelong Learning Policy Forum Held ... Lifelong Education Is the Answer

Changwon Special City, Direction and Expansion of Support for Lifelong Learning Policies

Changwon Metropolitan City in Gyeongnam held the ‘2023 Changwon Lifelong Learning Policy Forum’ on the afternoon of the 6th at the Convention Hall of Changwon Moonsung University.

The Changwon Lifelong Learning Policy Forum was organized under the theme ‘Turning Local Crisis into Opportunity, Lifelong Education is the Answer’ to explore the direction of national lifelong education and the path that the lifelong learning city of Changwon should take in the face of the crisis of population decline.

About 300 participants attended the forum, including deputy heads of related departments from universities in Changwon, officials from lifelong learning-related organizations, field experts in the lifelong learning sector, representatives from lifelong learning cities nationwide, and citizens of Changwon.

Changwon City in Gyeongnam held the '2023 Changwon Lifelong Learning Policy Forum' at the Convention Hall of Changwon Munsung University.

The forum began with an opening address by Ha Jongmok, the 1st Deputy Mayor of Changwon Metropolitan City, and proceeded in the order of keynote speech, thematic presentations, designated discussions, and Q&A.

Kang Daejung, President of the National Institute for Lifelong Education, delivered the keynote speech on ‘National Lifelong Education Policy Directions and the Role of Local Governments,’ emphasizing the necessity of a major transformation in lifelong learning that meets the demands of the times.

The first presenter, Gu Bonwoo, Research Fellow at the Changwon City Research Institute, gave a presentation titled ‘Trends in Population Change in Changwon Metropolitan City and the Impact of Education,’ analyzing the crisis of population decline in Changwon and discussing the social functions of the lifelong learning system.

In the second thematic presentation, Lee Heesoo, Professor of Education at Chung-Ang University, proposed ‘Tasks for the Re-advancement of Lifelong Learning City Changwon,’ stating, ‘What we do not know is a crisis, but if we know it, it is an opportunity for change,’ and suggested ten tasks for Changwon to overcome the crisis and leap forward.

Furthermore, in the comprehensive discussion, chaired by Lee Wongun, President of Changshin University, representatives from academia, the field, the city council, and local government gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on ‘Directions and Tasks for the Reorganization of Changwon’s Lifelong Learning System.’

Professor Kim Kyunghui of the Department of Education at Gyeongnam National University, who participated in the discussion, emphasized the role of universities as platforms for regional lifelong learning and the need to establish governance between the city and universities. Ko Younghwa, Team Leader of Lifelong Learning Promotion at the Gyeongsangnam-do Lifelong Education Promotion Institute, proposed a community-based social job project that creates social, cultural, and economic value through lifelong learning to strengthen local attachment. Lee Uwan, a member of the Changwon Metropolitan City Council, stated that lifelong education should not be equated solely with adult education and that the demand for lifelong learning should be expanded to all age groups, including youth.

Kim Taeho, Director of the Lifelong Education Division of Changwon Metropolitan City, said that to meet citizens’ demands, the scope of lifelong education, which has been concentrated on hobbies and general knowledge, should be expanded to include vocational education. He also pointed out that resolving the budget imbalance and readjustment of the Changwon Lifelong Education Division’s budget, which has been heavily focused on supporting early childhood, elementary, and secondary education, is a priority task to guarantee citizens’ right to learn.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Metropolitan City, said, “Lifelong learning will serve as a hub connecting various local stakeholders and provide an opportunity to solve local residential conditions. We will do our best to ensure that the measures discussed at this forum can be realized.”

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