Gangwon Office of Education Holds Vocational Education Performance Sharing Conference... Exploring Strategies for Advancing Vocational High Schools

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education held the '2025 Vocational Education Performance Sharing Conference' from December 4 to 5 at the Seamarq Hotel in Gangneung. The event was attended by more than 90 participants, including principals of vocational high schools in the province and heads of vocational and employment support departments.

A panoramic view of Gangwon Provincial Office of Education.

This conference was designed to review the achievements of Gangwon's vocational education in the 2025 academic year, share best practices from schools to enhance the competitiveness of vocational high schools, and establish practical measures for planning the operation of the 2026 curriculum.

On the first day, December 4, sessions were held to understand changes in Gangwon's industrial structure and to explore employment strategies in response to these shifts.

Through an analysis of the region's industries, the Gangwon Human Resources Development Committee delivered a special lecture on 'Changes in Gangwon's Industrial Structure and Employment Status.' The lecture emphasized the role of vocational high schools in nurturing local talent to respond to the rapidly evolving industrial landscape.

To support students interested in public sector careers, a representative from the Ministry of National Defense provided information on the '2026 Regional Talent Recruitment for Level 9 Military Civil Servants.' In addition, the Job Plus Center at Catholic Kwandong University reported on the results of its customized employment service project for high school students and shared information and achievements regarding initiatives to promote employment through collaboration between local universities and high schools.

On December 5, teachers who have led innovation in vocational education at their schools presented outstanding case studies. These presentations went beyond simply reporting outcomes, offering specific success stories and improvement strategies across four key areas.

The main topics included core projects of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education for vocational high schools: operation of advanced major clubs, strengthening the quality of on-site training, future competency enhancement projects, and school restructuring, including the operation of the Gangwon-style Meister High School.

Additionally, the provincial office provided information on vocational education policies and held a Q&A session to listen to challenges faced in the field and to enhance understanding of related policies through open communication.

The provincial office plans to comprehensively review the various opinions and suggestions discussed at this conference and reflect them in the formulation of the 2026 vocational education policy.

Kim Seongrae, Director of Secondary Education, stated, "The advancement of Gangwon's vocational education is thanks to the dedication of teachers who have worked tirelessly for the development of vocational high schools, and I am deeply grateful for their efforts. I hope that the valuable experiences and wisdom shared at this conference will help realize the dreams of vocational high school students in Gangwon and serve as a solid foundation for overcoming the crisis of regional decline."

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