"From Loving Animals to a Profession"... Dongshin University Hosts Recruitment Briefing with Animal Keeper

The Department of Companion Animal Studies at Dongshin University invited a practicing animal keeper to provide students with hands-on, field-oriented experience.

The Department of Companion Animal Studies at Dongshin University recently announced on May 6 that it had invited a current animal keeper from EcoWild Co., Ltd. to host a recruitment briefing, strengthening students' career planning and employability.

This briefing session was attended by 82 people, including students from the Department of Companion Animal Studies, and was organized in cooperation with EcoWild, which operates the Suncheonman National Garden Children's Zoo. It was designed to offer students direct insights into practical, field-based experience and hiring information.

During the lecture, Shin Yonghee, who is both the CEO of EcoWild and a professional animal keeper, served as the speaker and shared vivid real-life stories under the theme "From Loving Animals to Making It a Profession."

Based on personal career and actual animal keeping experience, CEO Shin introduced the competencies and sense of responsibility required of a professional animal keeper. Shin emphasized that simple affection alone is not enough to sustain a career in animal-related fields, highlighting the importance of specialized knowledge and consistent, on-site experience.

Shin also explained that modern zoos are evolving beyond simple exhibition spaces into complex cultural and educational venues that fulfill roles in animal welfare, ecological conservation, research, and education, helping students better understand these changes.

In addition, animal-related professions were systematically categorized into animal keeping and exhibition, wildlife and ecology, and specialized industry sectors. For each field, key duties and career prospects were introduced, along with detailed guidance on the practical skills and preparation required during the recruitment process.

Jung Sehyung, a fourth-year student in the Department of Companion Animal Studies who attended the briefing, commented, "I realized that merely loving animals is not enough and that professional knowledge and a sense of responsibility are essential. It was an opportunity to understand the various industries and roles within the companion animal field in detail and to seriously reflect on my career path."

Lee Kyungdong, head of the Department of Companion Animal Studies at Dongshin University, stated, "I hope this recruitment briefing provided students with a more realistic understanding of the animal-related industry and career landscape. We will continue to collaborate with local companion animal organizations and companies to offer diverse programs that enhance students' job competitiveness and practical skills."

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