Investment in Building State-of-the-Art Educational Facilities, Operation of Certification and Civil Service Preparation Classes
Only One of Six Fire Science Departments in the Southeast Region Completed Registration Despite Under-enrollment Crisis
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] In a time when even filling university quotas is difficult, a newly established department last year has proudly made a mark this year.
This is the case of the Fire Safety Management Department at Gyeongnam Information University, which recorded a 100% enrollment rate despite the surplus of application documents at universities.
In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, rapid changes are occurring with the development of AI and the robotics industry. However, as advanced industries develop, interest in safety is also increasing.
Especially with the 2021 firefighter recruitment plan reaching 4,482 people, the demand for safety and firefighting professionals has increased, highlighting the need for training institutions.
Gyeongnam Information University (President Chu Man-seok) established the Fire Safety Management Department in the 2020 academic year to prepare for the increasing demand for firefighting professionals in response to these changes.
Despite being a newly established department, it quickly set up a firefighting-tailored specialized curriculum and the latest advanced educational facilities.
Even with the shortage in engineering departments at junior colleges, the 2021 admissions boasted a high competition rate of 11:1. Among six firefighting-related departments in junior colleges in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions, it was the only one to achieve 100% enrollment, attracting great popularity.
The department’s advanced practice labs were built with a budget exceeding 500 million KRW. They provide practical training in an environment identical to actual sites, enabling students to be immediately deployed to the field upon graduation.
For hazardous practices such as fire suppression and gas-based fire extinguishing systems, virtual reality (VR) is used for simulated training. Additionally, drone training for firefighting, which is rapidly being applied in the field, is included in the regular curriculum to cultivate students into top firefighting professionals.
Furthermore, certificate acquisition classes and civil servant preparation classes are operated to provide intensive education.
Using extracurricular courses such as Firefighting Equipment Industrial Engineer, Hazardous Materials Industrial Engineer, Industrial Safety Engineer, and Gas Industrial Engineer, dedicated professors are assigned so that students can obtain certifications without attending separate academies.
For the civil servant preparation class, dedicated professors are assigned from the first year with the goal of passing the civil service exam upon graduation, and study cafe spaces are provided so that students can focus solely on their studies.
Lee Jeong-pil, head of the Fire Safety Management Department, said, “Our Fire Safety Management Department is nurturing students into the best firefighting professionals by preparing the best educational facilities and specialized curricula in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions,” adding, “The results are reflected in admissions.”
The department head added, “Through job competency education and customized education tailored to students’ needs, we will focus our efforts on cultivating practical talents who can find employment in various safety fields, including firefighting public officials.”
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