Supporting Talent Retention in South Chungcheong Province
with Early Employment Contract-Based Programs
Customized Training and Settlement Funds
Through University-High School Collaboration
A new breakthrough has emerged for South Chungcheong Province, which has been struggling with the outflow of young talent. Sangmyung University and Chungnam Semiconductor Meister High School are launching an educational cooperation model that fosters customized, job-ready professionals through early employment contract-based departments. This model also guarantees settlement support funds to help graduates establish roots in the region.
Sangmyung University announced on September 8 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Chungnam Semiconductor Meister High School on September 5 at the main conference room of its Cheonan campus. The agreement aims to nurture talent tailored to local companies in South Chungcheong Province and provide support for their long-term settlement.
The signing ceremony was attended by Ahn Beomjun, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sangmyung University; Wang Hanho, Director of the Chungnam RISE Project Group; Professor Lee Jonghwan of the Department of System Semiconductor Engineering; Lee Jonghan, Principal of Chungnam Semiconductor Meister High School; and Seo Guyoung, Head of the Meister Department.
Through this agreement, the two institutions will promote: ▲ activation of early employment contract-based departments ▲ development of field-oriented practical training programs ▲ career and academic pathway-linked education ▲ and sharing of advanced equipment and facilities.
In particular, their plan is to focus on cultivating specialized professionals needed for semiconductor and other key industries in South Chungcheong Province, thereby simultaneously driving regional industrial growth and talent retention.
This year, Sangmyung University established new early employment contract-based programs in its rolling admissions: the Department of Smart IT Convergence Engineering (30 students) and the Department of Bio Food Technology (25 students).
Students will complete 120 credits over three years to earn a bachelor's degree, and from their second year, they will participate in company-linked projects and practical training focused on real-world experience.
Graduates who work for companies located in South Chungcheong Province for at least two years are eligible to receive up to 12 million won in settlement support funds.
Ahn Beomjun, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sangmyung University, stated, "We will establish a systematic educational system to ensure that outstanding talent in South Chungcheong Province can settle in the region."
Principal Lee Jonghan commented, "By combining the specialized capabilities of the Meister High School with the university's educational infrastructure, we will present a South Chungcheong-style educational cooperation model."
Meanwhile, Sangmyung University has continued to secure national funding by winning projects such as the Innovative Convergence University Project in advanced fields like biohealth and intelligent robotics, the Software-Centered University Project, and the University Innovation Support Project, demonstrating its competitiveness in government-funded programs.
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