The Department of Nursing and the Department of Social Welfare at JBNU operated an interdisciplinary training program and a field study in Japan through the 2026 Global PBL Program to explore integrated support measures aimed at enhancing the recovery capacity of isolated and reclusive youth.

JBNU announced on the 19th that it conducted the "Strengthening Recovery Capacity of Isolated and Reclusive Youth Through IPE-Based Co-Production PBL" program for students from the Department of Nursing and the Department of Social Welfare. The program involved Professors Ji-young Kim and Jae-won Jeong from the Department of Nursing and Professor Seohyun Kim from the Department of Social Welfare. A total of 20 students participated, including 10 from the Department of Nursing and 10 from the Department of Social Welfare, comprising both undergraduates and graduate students.

As part of the 2026 Global PBL Program, the training consisted of three days of domestic pre-study and a field study in Hokkaido, Japan, conducted from August 10 to 14.

The domestic pre-study was based on problem-based learning (PBL) and Interprofessional Education (IPE). Professor Jae-won Jeong of the Department of Nursing introduced the meaning and necessity of IPE, emphasizing that supporting individuals with complex needs—such as isolated and reclusive youth—requires more than a single-profession approach. He noted that it is important for the health care and welfare sectors to understand each other’s expertise and perspectives and to collaborate. Nursing and social welfare students examined the complexity of isolation and social withdrawal among youth and jointly explored integrated support measures spanning health care and welfare domains.

Notably, persons with lived experience of isolation and social withdrawal participated directly in the curriculum to share their experiences and discuss support measures with students through Co-production learning. Students also visited the Jeonbuk Youth Future Center to review domestic policies and field practice examples for supporting isolated and reclusive youth.

During the field study in Japan, participants visited relevant institutions such as the Sapporo Youth Support Center to observe local support systems and practices, and compared the status of support for isolated and reclusive youth in Korea and Japan.

A seminar-style class was held with students from a Hokkaido medical university and Japanese individuals with lived experience of isolation and social withdrawal, led by Professor Kaori Okuda of the Department of Social Welfare. Participants from both countries shared experiences and perspectives and discussed support strategies for isolated and reclusive youth together.

Students visited "Bethel House," a mental health community in Hokkaido, where they directly experienced service users’ experiences and voices and observed recovery-centered care that respects self-determination and strengths. Through this, they reflected on the importance of relationships in which service users and professionals learn together and co-create pathways to recovery, rather than a one-way relationship of care provider and recipient.

The program was meaningful in that it connected Interprofessional Education (IPE), Co-production between service users and professionals, Korea–Japan field comparison, and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) into a single curriculum.

Yun-jong Kwon, a fourth-year student in the Department of Nursing, said, “The issue of isolated and reclusive youth is a complex problem that cannot be solved by either the medical or welfare field alone. It was meaningful to share perspectives from different majors and to consider practical solutions together through the voices of people with lived experience and field experts.”

Professor Seohyun Kim (Department of Social Welfare) stated, “By directly comparing the field practices in Korea and Japan and experiencing how service users become agents of their own recovery at Bethel House, students had an opportunity to newly reflect on the role of professionals and the meaning of care.”