Should Go to a College?(2)

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

The online shopping mall launched less than a year ago has monthly revenue of 10 million Korean Won could be surprising news to anybody. In other words, it was such a great news source that could quench thirst of curious journalists like me who's been longing for something unique to write. 

My 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 per annum.

Should Go to a College?(1)

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

Back in spring in 2009 I was still a journalist. I had a dinner with professionals from an IT solution firm which built online shopping malls for special high schools in 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 boasts the largest production of dried yellow corvinas in Korea. Teachers and students of Bubsung High School, via online shopping mall called 'Bubsungmall', sold dried yellow corvinas and other local products nationwide. 

Should Go to a College?(3)

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

Bubsung High School's story is something more than 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 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, Korean media professionals rushed to Bubsung High School to cover them into their own and even Japanese business start-ups came to Korea to benchmark the school. My story's sudden fame brought me a great confidence as well.

Should Go to a College?(1)

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

Back in spring in 2009 I was still a journalist. I had a dinner with professionals from an IT solution firm which built online shopping malls for special high schools in 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 boasts the largest production of dried yellow corvinas in Korea. Teachers and students of Bubsung High School, via online shopping mall called 'Bubsungmall', sold dried yellow corvinas and other local products nationwide.

TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea(9)

Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea

My e-book on the Korean vocational education system, mainly featuring 6 exemplary high schools including Induk Technical Highschool and Seoul Girls' Commercial high school was published last June. 

Titled ' Should Go to a College?', the book has been provoking nationwide sensation so far. Please find the attached cover page and English summary as additional documentary evidence.

TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea(6)

Industry-school collaboration model of TAFE's vocational education in Australia and its implication to Korea

As a consequence, vocational training at the high school or higher education level hasn't been properly developed. 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.

Should Go to a College?(5)

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

Expectation on the first graduates of two meister high schools in February of 2013, 'Suwon Hi-tech High School(Industrial-educational collaboration)' and 'Wonju Medical Instruments High School(Differentiation)' is high. These schools would be especially important to those parents whose kids soon advance to high schools. 

It is a still long way to go. But from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely hope stories of these schools will surely spread to all over the country. In doing so, this book can serve a timely opportunity to have the society slept on the significance of all-pervading academic cliquism-inflation and desirable models of vocational education in Korea.

Thoughts on Vocational Education(9)

Vocational Education in South Korea and Australia

My e-book on the Korean vocational education system, mainly featuring 6 exemplary high schools including Induk Technical Highschool and Seoul Girls' Commercial highschool was published last June. Titled 'Should Go to a College?', the book has been provoking nationwide sensation so far. 

Please find the attached cover page and English summary as additional documentary evidence. Now I'm communicating with a Japanese publishing agency, 'CUON(www.cuon.jp)' to have my e-book published in Japanese language soon. 

Education, particularly vocational education and a subsequent industry-school collaboration model has been my main area of interest ever since I started to work at Maeil Business Newspaper, Korea's No.1 business daily. Succeeding TAFEs in Australia, vocational education system of Germany and Scandinavian countries would be my next target for exploration on this issue.

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.

Should go to a college?(2)

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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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 South 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 South Korean public should exemplify. Expectation on the first graduates of two meister high schools in February of 2013, ‘Suwon Hi-tech High School(Industrial-Educational Collaboration)’ and ‘Wonju Medical Instruments High School(Differentiation)’ is high. These schools would be especially important to those parents whose kids soon advance to high schools.

It is a still long way to go. But from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely hope stories of these schools will surely spread to all over the country. In doing so, this book can serve a timely opportunity to have the society slept on the significance of all-pervading academic cliquism-inflation and desirable models of vocational education in South Korea.

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. 

    

------------------------------

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.