First Graduating Class of Samsung Electro-Mechanics In-house University
Park Bongsu: "Enhancing Employee Expertise Directly Leads to Company Competitiveness"
"As soon as I graduated from high school, I got a job, and going to university was my dream. I was happy studying without regrets and to my heart's content." (Samsung Electro-Mechanics In-house University 1st Graduating Class, Pro No Taewan)
"I was able to develop problem-solving skills and logical thinking. It was a valuable opportunity that helped me grow several steps beyond where I was." (Samsung Electro-Mechanics In-house University 1st Graduating Class, Pro Shin Jongho)
Students of the 1st class of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' in-house university are participating in the graduation ceremony. Photo by Samsung Electro-Mechanics
Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced on the 24th that it produced its first graduates on the 21st, three years after officially operating an in-house university program with Sungkyunkwan University to cultivate talent in materials and components technology.
The in-house university operated by Samsung Electro-Mechanics was newly established in 2022 as the Department of Materials and Components Convergence Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. It is a university education program that integrates electronics, electrical, new materials, mechanical, and chemical engineering fields with a customized curriculum specialized for Samsung Electro-Mechanics. It is an accredited formal bachelor's degree program approved by the Ministry of Education. Students who complete eight semesters of classes and earn a total of more than 130 credits receive an official bachelor's degree diploma in the name of the president of Sungkyunkwan University upon graduation.
Any high school or junior college graduate employee who has been with the company for more than three years can apply to Samsung Electro-Mechanics' in-house university. Twenty students are selected each year through document screening, written tests, and interviews. The program attracts high interest from employees, with a competition rate exceeding 6 to 1 annually. It is said to be so competitive that some applicants reapply multiple times.
Selected students in the in-house university receive special treatment. To fill the academic gap after graduating from high school or junior college, support is provided before admission through online lectures and invited external expert lectures. Employees who graduated from top engineering schools and possess specialized knowledge support learning through 'talent donation-type mentoring.'
In particular, in-house university students do not come to the company three days a week during the semester and can fully focus on their studies at school. The program also supports 80% of tuition fees, textbook costs, and study rooms to enhance learning efficiency.
Students of the 1st class of Samsung Electro-Mechanics' in-house university are participating in the graduation ceremony. Photo by Samsung Electro-Mechanics
Yoo Kwanho, head of the Department of Materials and Components Convergence Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, said, "There were concerns that SoBuYong students might fall behind in classes due to academic gaps," but added, "they participate very passionately in classes and apply the experience they gained from company work to their studies, which actually provides good motivation to other students."
The 20 students who enrolled in 2022 and are graduating as the first class with a Bachelor of Engineering degree are planned to be assigned to development and technical departments in each business unit where the materials and components theory they studied before admission and through practical experience can be most effectively utilized. The 25th batch of fourth-year students selected last year are scheduled to enroll on the 26th.
Park Bongsu, head of the People Team at Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Vice President), said, "Expanding employees' perspectives and enhancing their expertise ultimately improves the company's competitiveness," and added, "We will continue to nurture talent to strengthen technological competitiveness in manufacturing sites."
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