SNU to Set up Career Center for Students

Amidst the worst-ever figures for unemployment among youth, Seoul National University (SNU) plans to set up an official organization that will deal with systematic guidance for employment and career paths for students, for the first time in 57 years.

The university announced on May 11 that it decided to set up the career center to provide students with counseling services on career choices and employment after graduation. Services will be available as early as July.

Seoul National University is set to select four or five experts who will provide counseling services on career and employment to the students.

SNU has not been interested in its students` employment and only one officer at the employment information office previously was available to offer information to those graduating.

In particular, SNU plans to hold corporate exposition meetings and job fairs on campus through the career center.

Meanwhile, the School of Management at SNU began conducting surveys on employment for the first time, in order to raise the employment rate of students.

“The situation is not that serious, but we thought it was necessary to come up with an employment measure in the long term. This is why we decided to conduct the survey,” said Park Oh-soo, Dean of the School of Management.

The ‘Career Development Program,’ created by the School of Management last year has become available to all SNU students this year. The program includes lectures by CEOs from famous companies, opportunities to visit companies, and lessons from international business leaders.

“Companies tend to employ experienced workers. Since the academic background of ‘SNU’ does not guarantee employment opportunities any longer, we will actively help students get the jobs they want,” said So Hyoung-seok at SNU.

The employment rate for SNU students last year reached 34.4%, accounting for 1,418 students out of 4,117. The unemployment rate was 33.1% (1.363 students) and the rate of those who advanced to graduate school including those who joined the army was 32.5% (1,336 students).

Jin-Suk Huh jameshuh@donga.com