Students Engage With Experts At Career Exploration Events

Gyeongmin High School hosted a 'Dream Job Talk' event on April 11, 2025, during the 5th and 6th school periods to expand students' career exploration opportunities. This event was designed to enhance students’ understanding of various professions and provide a broad range of career choices.

In a significant move to connect students with the workforce, 34 field experts participated as instructors, engaging directly with students. The event included diverse career exploration sessions categorized into several fields, including language and literature, society, business and economics, public safety, IT and engineering, construction and environment, medical and health, as well as culture and arts.

Students were given the freedom to select and participate in two sessions of their choice without any limitation on attendance. This flexibility allowed them to explore different career paths that resonate with their interests. “This event holds great significance as it provides students with diverse opportunities to explore 34 different fields in one place,” said Shin Jae-cheol, head of the Career Guidance Department at Gyeongmin High School. He emphasized the importance of such events in helping students reflect on their aptitudes and future plans through direct interaction with industry experts.

Gyeongmin High School has been hosting the 'Dream Job Talk' annually to support students' career exploration, inviting professionals from various sectors each year to offer practical insights into their fields.

In addition to Gyeongmin High School’s initiative, the 15th Mirae and Software Dream Finding Camp will take place at Dongguk University from May 17 to May 18, 2025. This camp has established itself as a leading career exploration program for elementary and middle school students.

Designed to help students find their career paths through experiences in advanced fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and software (SW), the camp will recruit a total of 250 students, including 150 elementary and 100 middle school participants. Applications will be accepted starting April 14, 2025, via the IT Edu Aigi website.

The first day of the camp will feature an orientation followed by a special lecture on 'Career Roadmap for SW Developers.' In the afternoon, students will engage in hands-on activities tailored to their educational levels, focusing on embedded systems and Arduino basics.

On the second day, participants will dive deeper into IoT and AI applications using Arduino, working in teams to execute projects. Each team will select a project topic and present their findings at the end of the camp. Additionally, a special lecture for parents on 'Education in the Digital Transformation Era' will be conducted, highlighting the importance of adapting to modern educational needs.

“We aim to provide elementary and middle school students with engaging experiences in advanced technology and science fields through the camp,” said a representative from the Mirae and Software Foundation. They plan to hold various camps quarterly in Seoul and other regions to maximize student participation.

Moreover, Gwangju Metropolitan City Gajung Witaek Support Center conducted a career counseling pre-orientation on April 12, 2025, aimed at children of single parents. This initiative is part of their annual counseling program designed to assist young adults in their career and employment journeys.

The counseling sessions will occur four times, focusing on equipping children with the necessary skills to plan their careers and become healthy members of society. During the pre-orientation, participants and their guardians were guided on the significance of independence, the importance of preparing for self-sufficiency, and how to select majors and careers through Career Profiling.

The session also included guidance on designing their future, considering where they see themselves in one, three, or five years. This approach aims to foster interest and motivation in career planning among children and their guardians.

In a similar vein, the Ulsan Nam-gu Family Center organized the 'Dream Start: Career Experience Trip' program on April 12, 2025, for 20 multicultural children and teenagers. This program aimed to help participants discover their strengths, interests, and potential through various career exploration activities.

During the program, participants were given the opportunity to experience the profession of a '3D printer expert.' The activities ranged from a basic understanding of 3D printers and 3D pens to practical exercises where students created actual 3D printed works. One student expressed enthusiasm, stating, "I learned how 3D printing technology is utilized and developed an interest in technologies like 3D printers."

Lee Yong-hee, the center director, remarked, “Through career experience activities, we hope that youth can enhance their creativity and technical skills, providing them with a glimpse into future careers.” The center is committed to offering diverse career experience programs to support youth in their career explorations.

These initiatives reflect a growing recognition of the need for practical career exploration opportunities for students, particularly in rapidly evolving fields such as technology and health. By connecting students with professionals and offering hands-on experiences, educational institutions and community organizations are playing a crucial role in shaping the future workforce.

As these programs continue to expand, they not only empower students to make informed career choices but also contribute to a more skilled and adaptable future generation.