Seoul National University Students' Learning Guidance and Career Counseling for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students in Gwanak-gu

[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu and Seoul National University Winter Vacation Saem (SNU Active Mentoring) Mentoring
Customized Face-to-Face Mentoring with Mentors Visiting Elementary, Middle, High Schools and Institutions Directly

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gwanak-gu District in Seoul is recruiting participating institutions for the ‘Gwanak-gu·Seoul National University Winter Vacation SAM Mentoring’ program, a collaboration between Seoul National University and the local government, until the 15th of this month.

SAM (SNU Active Mentoring) mentoring is a program where Seoul National University students serve as mentors for local students from 3rd grade elementary to 2nd grade high school, providing customized academic guidance, career counseling, and cultural experience activities.

The district utilizes Seoul National University’s excellent educational resources to enhance educational competitiveness and continuously conducts the program to improve youth learning abilities and emotional development through academic guidance and career and personal counseling.

This winter vacation mentoring will be conducted from January 2 to February 17 next year, with 60 Seoul National University student mentors visiting schools or local children’s centers to provide guidance to 180 elementary, middle, and high school students. During the semester, sessions will be held 20 times for 2 hours each, and during the vacation, 10 sessions for 4 hours each.

Each mentor will guide a small elite group of 2 to 3 mentees to improve the quality of mentoring and further motivate mentees and enhance their learning abilities.

Mentees (youth) participating in the mentoring will receive free academic guidance and career counseling opportunities, while mentors (Seoul National University students) will receive educational volunteer credits or 1365 volunteer hours.

In particular, the mentoring provides customized educational services to increase students’ motivation and academic achievement, prioritizing recommendations for socially disadvantaged students such as basic livelihood security recipients, multicultural students, and students with disabilities, thereby providing equal educational opportunities and addressing educational polarization.

This year, SAM mentoring achieved results with a total of 999 participants, including 729 mentees and 270 mentors from 69 elementary, middle, and high schools and local children’s centers up to the second semester, showing positive outcomes such as academic achievement, increased confidence, and interpersonal development among youth.

Since last summer vacation, the number of mentees per mentor has been reduced from 4 to 2?3, resulting in more efficient academic guidance and significantly improved student concentration.

Institutions wishing to participate in mentoring can register classes and mentees on the SAM Mentoring website by December 15, and the mentor-mentee matching results can be checked on the website after 6 p.m. on December 28.

A district official said, “We hope that youth will be motivated in their studies and have valuable time consulting about their careers and concerns through mentoring with Seoul National University students,” adding, “We will continue to strive to provide competitive, customized educational content by utilizing Seoul National University’s excellent educational resources.”