▲From left: Kwon Seung-hyuk, dean of the Lifelong Education College at Kyungbok University; Min Byung-cheon, principal of Onam High School; and Kim Nam-guk, director of the Namyangju Northern Disabled Welfare Center — signed a three-party agreement on April 8 to promote lifelong education for people with disabilities. Photo courtesy of Kyungbok University.
Namyangju — Kang Geun-joo, Energy Economic News reporter: Kyungbok University's Lifelong Education College, the Namyangju Northern Disabled Welfare Center, and Onam High School signed a three-party memorandum of understanding on April 8 in Onam High School’s conference room. The agreement aims to strengthen lifelong learning opportunities for people with disabilities.
The pact is intended to expand specialized technical training for people with disabilities and to create a structured, sustainable lifelong learning environment through cooperation among local educational institutions.
Under the agreement, Kyungbok University's Lifelong Education College will offer a specialized curriculum built on its drone training infrastructure, including classroom instruction and hands-on flight practice. Onam High School will help recruit participants and support their attendance, while the Namyangju Northern Disabled Welfare Center will lead project planning and overall operations.
The three institutions will jointly operate the Dasan DroneUP program, which pairs theory with practical training, field experiences and community engagement to enhance participants’ technical skills and expand opportunities for social participation.
At the signing, Kwon Seung-hyuk, dean of Kyungbok University's Lifelong Education College, said, “The university’s advanced training infrastructure marks an important milestone in translating educational assets into tangible community benefits. Drone training for people with disabilities is significant because it promotes equitable access to Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and helps overcome physical barriers.”
He added, “Kyungbok University will concentrate its efforts on building an inclusive lifelong-learning ecosystem so that marginalized members of the community can move beyond being passive knowledge recipients and become active participants in the industries of the future.”
Kim Nam-guk, director of the Namyangju Northern Disabled Welfare Center, said, “This agreement is meaningful because it establishes a professional lifelong education environment for people with disabilities through cooperation among local educational institutions. We will continue to broaden social participation and improve quality of life for people with disabilities through a range of educational programs.”
Kyungbok University ranked first with an 82.1% employment rate among national general and vocational universities with more than 2,000 graduates in the 2024–2025 university information disclosure, following six consecutive years at the top from 2017 to 2022.
Since May 2023, the university has consistently led vocational college brand reputation rankings and has strengthened global competitiveness, including international students’ success on national licensing exams.
In 2024, Kyungbok University awarded a total of 26.4 billion KRW (approximately $19.8 million) in scholarships and provided an average scholarship of 4,389,000 KRW (about $3,292) per student. The scholarship recipient rate was 90.1%, allowing the majority of students to benefit.
Some 3,721 students participated in the university’s overseas employment support programs. Kyungbok has signed agreements with 8,400 industry-academic partner companies to provide stable employment opportunities, and it has improved student convenience by operating modern dormitories and free shuttle buses.
As a university certified for international education capabilities, Kyungbok is the only vocational college to be named an “Excellent Certified University” for seven consecutive years, reinforcing its role as a center for internationalization.
Notably, the university was selected for Gyeonggi Province’s Regional Innovation–Centered University Support System (RISE) project and will receive roughly 10 billion KRW (approximately $7.5 million) in support over five years starting in 2025 to serve as a regional hub for innovation and growth.
Kang Geun-joo, reporter kkjoo0912@ekn.kr
