Thoughts on Vocational Education(10)

Vocational Education in South Korea and Australia

If my project turns out meaningful and inevitable to enhance the quality of vocational education in Korea, there will be huge media coverage on my project, myself and the AKF. As a former journalist, I'll make the best use of my network on the media sector. 

The number of Korean vocational high schools, parents and students, related institutions and even government officials visiting Australia to learn how to efficiently improve vocational education system will be significantly increasing. If my project is accepted and valued in an extensive way, movement to adopt parts of the outputs into real governmental policies for better vocational education in Korea is expected.

Both paper book and e-book in Korean will be published within 6 months after completion of the project. Following 'Should Go to a College?' last year, this book would mark the sequence of my intensive research on the issue of the vocational education system in Korea.

Thoughts on Vocational Education(6)

Vocational Education in South Korea and Australia

Rather, vocational education schools have been regarded as places for less smart students and thus haven't provided timely and practical training to meet industries' ever-changing need. However, time is shifting rapidly. 

The corporate sector as a whole is strongly asking industry-oriented vocational education. They warn that if the outdated vocational education system in Korea keeps failing to comply with the voices of the real world, national competitiveness will be shrinking as well. 

The reason why my e-book, 'Should Go to a College?' was published last year is in close line with this serious message. Now my eyes are on the advanced vocational training system in Australia.

Thoughts on Vocational Education(5)

Vocational Education in South Korea and Australia

In Korea, as many as 70~80% high school graduates advance to colleges or universities for their higher education. Many of them just sticks to colleges regardless of their dreams or aptitude. 

It is mainly because they have not been welcomed and respected by others without a bachelor's degree. Partly originated from the Confucian culture, a college degree has guaranteed job security and decent income in the Korean society. 

That's why most parents push their kids to go to a college even though their sons and daughters aren't interested in an academic career. As a consequence, vocational training at the high school or higher education level hasn't been properly developed.

College Education, a Must?(4)

How successfully students of 6 Special High Schools and Meister High Schools get a job

My book was born based upon these backgrounds. Since Bubsung High School, I have pondered over how to engage myself in other cases of exemplary special high schools and meister high schools. 5 other high schools were finally selected and introduced to this e-book along with Bubsung High School. 

Foundation principles and goals of these schools are all different. In addition, these 6 schools aren't yet to be called best vocational schools in Korea. However, there's no doubt these schools have enhanced unique education programs to bring up young talented resources.

'Bubsung High School(School Enterprise)', 'Seoul Girls' Commercial High School(Personality Education)', 'Suwon High School for Agricultural Science(Customized Education)' and 'Induk Technical High School(Internationalization)' are special high schools where the Korean public should exemplify.

Should go to a college?(1)

How successfully students of 6 Special High Schools and Meister High Schools get a job

Generally speaking, Asian countries have shown highest college entrance rate in the world. 3 major economies in Northeast Asia, South Korea, Japan and China have been in the front line of this 'college fever'. It is South Korea which boasts of the record-breaking entrance rate in the region. Believe it or not, more than 80% of high school graduates in South Korea was reported to directly advance to colleges back in 2005-2010.

Against this background, over the next 2 postings, I'd like to touch upon the intention why I decided to have my first book published. Titled 'Should go to a college?', this e-book has been acclaimed one of the early works on the issue in the South Korean society. 

    

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Back in spring in 2009, I was still a journalist. I had a dinner with professionals from an IT solution firm which has built online shopping malls for special high schools in South Korea. Discussions and chats related to a special high school named ‘Bubsung High School’ were brought upon to these folks. It is located in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do where it brags about the largest production of dried yellow corvinas in South Korea. Teachers and students of Bubsung High School, via an online shopping mall called ‘Bubsungmall’, sold dried yellow corvinas and other local products nationwide.

The fact that this online shopping mall launched less than a year ago has monthly revenue of 10 million Korean Won(around 9,000USD) could be a surprising news to anybody. In other words, it was such great source that could quench thirst of curious journalists  who’s been longing for something unique to write. My first visit to Bubsung High School turned out to be a great anecdote. When I paid a second visit to the school 8 months later, Bubsungmall even reached revenue of 100 million Korean Won(around 90,000USD) per annum.

Bubsung High School’s story is something more than a good news. I was obligated that the public has a right to appreciate this trivial, but meaningful success story. In fact, the story imminently showcased a negative impact from South Korean hakbulism(academic cliquism) which resulted in discrimination and alienation against graduates of special high schools and fierce competition in resume management to college graduates, I believe. After my article was released, South Korean media professionals rushed to Bubsung High School to cover them into their own and even Japanese business start-ups came to South Korea to benchmark the school. My story’s sudden fame brought me a great confidence as well.