Recently, Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), which was selected for the 'After-School Social Enterprise' program organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, opened the doors of Keunsaram Academy, the after-school social enterprise that will implement the project.

At 11:00 a.m. on April 30, the opening ceremony held at the University Museum Auditorium at JBNU was attended by President Seo Geoseok, Governor Kim Wan-ju, Superintendent of Education Kim Seung-hwan, Ahn Su-jeong, Representative of Keunsaram Academy, and other senior officials from various organizations to celebrate Keunsaram Academy's inaugural launch.

Keunsaram Academy, organized by JBNU, is a social enterprise established to take responsibility for after-school education at elementary, middle and high schools in the Jeonbuk region and to create employment opportunities for university graduates.

Accordingly, JBNU will receive support of 150 million won this year and 120 million won next year from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and, with additional support from Jeollabuk-do for personnel expenses, will conduct diverse forms of after-school education such as experiential and field learning.

Keunsaram Academy will operate in a talent-donation format in which graduates teach their subject knowledge to elementary, middle and high school students. To this end, JBNU, centered on the College of Education and the College of Arts, began developing departmental educational content in February and completed a total of 92 programs. It has secured about 100 graduates as instructors and will deploy them to frontline elementary, middle and high schools to seek improvements in the quality of after-school programs.

In particular, an educational system targeting diverse local social groups will be operated. The program is expected to provide diverse educational opportunities at low cost, as it plans to reduce private education expenses, offer user-centered education through communication with parents, and provide social services to vulnerable groups.

Additionally, through ongoing training for highly educated local women, marriage migrant women, and retired teachers, it is expected to cultivate excellent instructors and realize social value by assisting vulnerable groups.

At the opening ceremony, President Seo Geoseok said, "Keunsaram Academy, as a social enterprise, must operate substantive after-school education programs to provide frontline schools with optimal learning environments and transmit up-to-date knowledge." He added, "We will spare no support to ensure Keunsaram Academy can become a development model for social enterprises."

Professor Cho Gyu-seong, Chair of the Keunsaram Academy Promotion Committee, said, "Keunsaram Academy has taken a vigorous step forward for the development of after-school education and the cultivation of talent in our region." He added, "We will strive to inject high-quality education into after-school programs by sharing the talents of JBNU's outstanding human resources and strengthening their expertise, and to build cooperative relationships that communicate with the educational field."