Korea University of Technology and Education, No.1 Employment Rate Nationwide... 84.7%

As of the end of 2019... 21.3%P Higher Than the Average of 4-Year Universities
Employment Qualification Retention Rate for 1 Year After Graduation Also Recorded at 83.7%

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] As of the end of 2019, Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH) recorded an employment rate of 84.7%, ranking first nationwide among four-year universities.

According to the university information disclosure results on the 15th, KOREATECH's employment rate was 84.7%, ranking first among four-year universities with more than 5,000 graduates.

The announced employment rate is based on December 31, 2019 (targeting graduates from August 2018 and February 2019). The Ministry of Education and the Korea Educational Development Institute surveyed employment rates using public databases such as the National Health Insurance Service and the National Tax Service, and disclosed the results on the University Information Disclosure system.

Since the Ministry of Education began disclosing employment rates, KOREATECH has consistently maintained an employment rate above 80%, placing it among the top nationwide. The recently announced employment rate is 21.3 percentage points higher than the average employment rate of 63.4% for four-year universities.

KOREATECH had 708 employed out of 836 job seekers. By department, the employment rates were ▲Department of Mechanical Engineering 88.4% ▲Department of Mechatronics Engineering 83.4% ▲Department of Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering 86.8% ▲Department of Computer Engineering 81.1% ▲Department of Design and Architectural Engineering 86.8% ▲Department of Energy, New Materials, and Chemical Engineering 87.1% ▲Department of Industrial Management 80.0%, with all departments exceeding an 80% employment rate.

By field, the engineering field had an employment rate of 85.5%, which is 18.5% higher than the average employment rate of 67.0% for engineering fields at four-year universities. The only humanities field, the Department of Industrial Management, also recorded an employment rate of 80.0%, which is 16.7% higher than the average employment rate of 63.3% for 'Business and Economics' majors at four-year universities.

The retention employment rate, which is the rate at which employed graduates maintain their employment status about one year (11 months) later, was 83.7%, 2.5% higher than the national average of 81.2% for four-year universities.

A KOREATECH official stated, "The secret to the high employment rate lies in our differentiated engineering education model, curriculum reflecting the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and systematic employment programs."

KOREATECH strengthens students' practical major competencies through a differentiated engineering education model that includes a 5:5 curriculum of theory and experiments/practices, hiring professors with more than three years of field experience, providing an immersive learning environment with 24-hour lab access, and mandatory graduation research project production.

Since 2018, KOREATECH has established convergence departments and operates three tracks: AI & Big Data, AR/VR, and Smart Factory. Students can choose tracks that synergize with their majors, and upon completing 13 credits, they receive a micro-degree equivalent to a minor at graduation.

Additionally, the university operates the Industry-Linked Long-Term Field Training Program (IPP), which allows students to complete part of their curriculum at industry sites, and provides one-stop access to various employment-related information such as job types and duties. It also offers infrastructure for student-led self-analysis, career planning, and career management, and runs the Student Comprehensive Career Development System (STEMS) that integrates student information and history for efficient career and employment guidance. These factors are cited as contributors to the high employment rate.

President Lee Sung-ki of KOREATECH introduced, "Our university is nurturing talent leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution with cutting-edge educational facilities, including the nation's first 5G-based Smart Learning Factory, and specialized curricula."

He added, "We will take the lead in resolving youth unemployment and fostering excellent talent through the establishment of convergence education curricula, specialized employment support systems, and activation of IPP through strengthened partnerships with companies."