Gumi University (President Lee Seung-hwan) will establish four new departments in the 2024 academic year to proactively respond to the rapidly changing industrial environment.
The newly established departments include the Department of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Metaverse Digital Marketing, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, and Department of Companion Animal Health, each offering specialized training programs aimed at obtaining relevant professional certifications.
The Department of Emergency Medical Services is the first in the nation to be established with the goal of producing Level 1 Emergency Medical Technicians. It will recruit 60 students for a three-year program, consisting of the Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Medical Non-Commissioned Officer programs.
As disasters, safety accidents, and infectious disease outbreaks increase, the importance of emergency medicine is also growing. To address this, Gumi University has launched the Department of Emergency Medical Services with the aim of training emergency medical experts for both military and civilian sectors.
The Department of Emergency Medical Services was newly established by reorganizing the existing Emergency Medical Non-Commissioned Officer program and the newly created Emergency Medical Services program into a single department.
Approximately 70% of the Emergency Medical Services curriculum is practical, focusing on hands-on training tailored to the emergency medical field.
Through this program, students can obtain more than 12 certifications necessary for their duties, centered on the national Level 1 Emergency Medical Technician certification. These include Medical Administrator, Lifeguard, TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), BDLS (Basic Disaster Life Support), Skin Scuba Diving, Drone Operation, Psychological Counselor, Martial Arts, Korean History, and Foreign Languages.
Graduates can pursue careers in various fields such as 119 emergency medical firefighters, hospital emergency medical centers, maritime police, correctional officers, Korea Forest Service mountain rescue teams, medical non-commissioned officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and military civilian employees.
Why did Facebook change its company name to Meta? The active involvement of global companies such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Naver, and Nike in the metaverse business is closely related to this trend.
To respond to these societal changes, Gumi University has established the Department of Metaverse Digital Marketing, the first and only such department in Korea, recruiting 20 students for a two-year program starting in 2024.
This department offers a significant advantage through participation in the HiVE project, which provides special scholarships to new students in 2024. The HiVE project is a collaboration between vocational colleges and local governments to address declining school-age populations and regional extinction by fostering specialized local talent.
The Department of Metaverse Digital Marketing prepares a curriculum focused on digital marketing content planning and design skills using generative AI technologies such as Photoshop, 3D modeling, and metaverse world construction. Regular company matching based on the curriculum will facilitate direct employment connections.
Additionally, a differentiated Meta VR Lab capable of supporting virtual reality (VR) practice for 20 students simultaneously has been established, allowing students to access virtual spaces and attend classes in a manner similar to real-life sessions.
Professors and students can connect simultaneously for real-time interaction, and learners will actively conduct practical exercises within the virtual environment.
Through metaverse digital marketing education, students can obtain domestic certifications such as Facebook, Blue Printer, Google AdWords and Google Analytics Qualification (GAIQ), Microsoft AI international certification, as well as certifications for multimedia content production experts, search advertising marketers, and metaverse instructors.
By completing the two-year regular course and obtaining certifications, graduates can work as metaverse creators, e-commerce content marketers and MDs, brand marketers, and performance marketers. With the rapid expansion of AI applications across society, employment prospects in this field are very promising.
The newly established Department of Medical Rehabilitation aims to train health and medical professionals with practical skills and specialized medical rehabilitation technology experts. It will recruit 30 students (15 general students and 15 industry consignees) for a three-year program.
In particular, the Department of Medical Rehabilitation focuses on training professionals in the nationally licensed fields of prosthetics and orthotics, rehabilitation counseling, and nationally recognized hospital administration, which are highly regarded in the aging society.
This department plans to emphasize national certification acquisition, practical training, and lifelong learning.
Certifications available include Prosthetics and Orthotics Technician (national exam), Level 2 Rehabilitation Counselor (national exam), Hospital Administrator (nationally recognized), Level 2 Insurance Claims Evaluator (private certification), Exercise Prescriber (private certification), Rehabilitation Masseur (private certification), Chiropractor (private certification), and Pilates Instructor (private certification).
Major employment destinations include special recruitment for medical public officials, veterans hospitals, tertiary general hospitals, health insurance, National Rehabilitation Center, city hall welfare positions, and exercise prescription centers in large corporations, offering a wide and diverse range of job opportunities.
Next, the Department of Companion Animal Health is the only department of its kind in the region and is expected to attract high student interest due to the bright prospects of the companion animal industry. It will recruit 30 students for a two-year program.
With the explosive increase in interest in pets, the pet-related industry is rapidly growing and is considered a high value-added industry.
The Department of Companion Animal Health trains animal hospital nurses and includes a system for obtaining various necessary certifications, as well as education in grooming skills.
By completing 40 hours out of 72 hours, students can obtain a nursing health certificate, and by completing the remaining 32 hours, they can acquire a beauty certificate, enabling them to earn two certifications simultaneously within the two-year program.
Moreover, Gumi City's plan to establish a 'Comprehensive Companion Animal Culture Park' is a significant advantage.
Gumi City plans to invest 5.2 billion KRW in the project in Gobong-ri, Okseong-myeon, with operations starting in January 2024 and completion by 2025.
Once this project is underway, students in this department are expected to have increased opportunities for field training and employment.
Recognizing the growth potential of this department, Gumi University is reviewing an A to Z plan encompassing the entire related industry, from animal hospitals to companion animal funeral homes. This is expected to create a direct link between admission and employment.
Additionally, the university plans to foster continuous exchange and cooperation with the Veterinary Association to support students' successful employment and entrepreneurship.
Certifications obtainable include the national certification of Animal Health Technician, as well as Companion Dog Stylist, Companion Dog Instructor, Handler, Animal-Assisted Therapist, and Companion Animal Manager.
Related fields include animal health, companion animal grooming, animal breeding, animal training, companion animal distribution, companion animal entrepreneurship, companion animal public service, and companion animal education.
Lee Seung-hwan, President of Gumi University, stated, "Gumi University is establishing four new departments starting in 2024 to proactively respond to changes in the industrial environment and to cultivate customized practical talents accordingly. Especially, related regional industries are rapidly developing, and local governments are promoting linked projects, so the growth potential of the new departments is bright."
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