Ajou's President takes the lead in student career guidance and asks for support from University officials 

[16.11.22]

< President Dong Yeon Kim gives a lecture at an 'Ajou Hope' subject class designed to help freshmen recognize the importance of career planning. >

< A scene from Career Mentoring with the President on November 22nd involving three student participants >

Ajou University President Dong Yeon Kim continues to meet extensively with students to help them explore their careers. The meetings are part of efforts to promote the University's 'Cheer Up Change Up Project,' which is aimed at effectively supporting students in finding jobs and exploring careers.

At 1:30 p.m. on November 22nd, President Kim gave a lecture in Woncheon Hall Auditorium at an 'Ajou Hope' subject class, which is part of the Early Awakening stage under the Project. It is designed to help students recognize the importance of career planning in their early days at the University and it was introduced earlier this year for freshmen in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. 

During the lecture, President Kim mentioned the 'Paradox of the Right Answer,' in which people consider all the choices other than the right answer to be wrong, and said, "I ask that you are not confined to the framework of the right answer, but think in a creative and critical manner with diverse possibilities in mind." In addition, he suggested that they have consideration for others based on the 'After You' mindset and do not hesitate to take on challenges in doing what they want to do.

President Kim then participated in a mentoring session with students at the Creative University Job Center. Launched on November 7th, 'Career Mentoring with the President' is an opportunity for Ajou's students or graduates to discuss their career-related issues with the President. The Colleges take turns holding mentoring sessions. After the first session for the College of Social Sciences on November 7th, the second one on the 22nd was initially arranged for students in the College of Humanities. But, the three participants were from the Department of Industrial Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who discussed finding jobs, entering graduate schools, and other career issues for about 90 minutes.

President Kim said, "All Ajou people should be interested in providing tailored career-related support for individual students. In particular, it is important for the University head office and the departments to work closely together to achieve this," adding, "There needs be a perception that the University will share extensive responsibilities relating to students' career planning and their employment."