Yonsei News

The Yonsei University Institute of Continuing Education for the Future is an affiliate educational institution of Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, which was first established in 1993 under the approval of the Ministry of Education to continuously provide future-oriented and creative education for the healthy development of civil society as well as improvement of the lives of the local residents based on the Yonsei's vision: "Truth and Freedom." Since then, the institute has been continuing its operations as it changed its names from the "Social Education Institute" to "Institute of Lifelong Education" in 2009, and the "Institute of Continuing Education for the Future" in 2012.

The Institute of Continuing Education for the Future, through the realization of its ideology of lifelong education, aims to provide the general public with opportunities to build exemplary characters and enrich their lives, establishing a healthy society through the self-actualization of its every member. Ultimately, distinguishing itself from other institutions by utilizing the excellent human resources, facilities, and accumulated intellectual and technological resources held by Yonsei University, the institute plans to continuously provide future-oriented and creative lifelong education to people from all walks of life in our society.

Launching its first series of courses in 1994, the institute first started with just eight courses, including the "Community Education Course," "Information Processing Course," "Human Science Professional Course," "Social Sports Course," "Women's Resource Development Course," "Senior Citizen Degree Course," "Health Management Education Course," and "Social Education Course for the Wonju Campus." As of 2021, the institute runs a wide spectrum of more than 80 courses ranging from the general curriculum that focus on liberal arts education to courses for chief executives, with the participation of more than 100 lecturers and 1,500 enrolled students annually. In addition, in line with the changes that come with the emergence of the future society, the institute provides professional and systematic education programs to students of various needs, offering one-time lectures thanks to the collaborative efforts of around 50 team-teaching and practical instructors. In particular, despite the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute has continued to provide face-to-face lectures thanks to the firm spirit of service as well as prompt responses of its members, and as a result, the institute was able to continue its growth without wavering.

Professional and Systematic Top-notch Education Program

The Institute of Continuing Education for the Future, which is in charge of lifelong education in the local community with excellent education using Yonsei University's infrastructure, actively develops and introduces professional and systematic education programs that lead lifestyle and industrial reorganization according to changes in the future market. These programs include individual career and employment competency development courses, health and well-being promotion programs, leadership enhancement programs, customized education programs for companies and government offices, the Yonsei School of Life and academic credit bank system.

In particular, the institution strives to lead positive transformation in the South Korean society through the continuous development of new education programs that focus on aspects of convergence, customization, and collaboration. The institute currently operates courses across several categories, which are divided into the "general curricula," "Yonsei School of Life," "courses for chief executives," "government-academic cooperation courses," "industry-academic cooperation courses," "practical arts courses," and "credit bank system."

1) General Curricula

The Institute of Continuing Education for the Future provides almost all lifelong education programs that adults would want. Along with the educations recommended according to life cycle, the institute systematically organizes education programs across diverse areas of interests such as education specialty, psychological counseling, business, humanities and liberal arts, music, sports and leisure, and art creation, to allow the enrolled students to find vitality in life and leap into a better future. The new "senior modeling class," launched in 2021, is a course that reflects the changed lifestyle of the senior citizens of today, with more than 20 seniors registered to nurture their dreams and attain richness of life.

2) Yonsei School of Life

Developed on the premise that "education is life itself," the "Yonsei School of Life" has established a program to find new meaning in life through the teachings from a hundred renowned professors of Yonsei University, South Korea's leading private education institution. Beginning with its first lecture in April 2020, the program provides a series of customized programs depending on the topic and the target audience, with instances such as the "Yonsei School of Life with 100 Yonsei Professors," and "Yonsei School of Life - LearnUs." With the participation of renowned professors of Yonsei University such as Honorary Professor Kim Hyung-suk (Philosophy), Professors Namkoong Ki (Psychiatry), Kwon Soo-Young (Theology), Sung Taeyoon (Economics), and Suh Eun Kook (Psychology), the program is receiving wide and enthusiastic responses, including the Yonsei alumni and faculty.

3) Courses for Chief Executives

The courses for chief executives are advanced education programs that allow CEOs of corporations and institutions, as well as professionals from various fields, to master the knowledge and dignity of global leaders. The courses include a variety of programs that are subdivided under the themes of culture, art, health, and sports, such as the "Young CEO Course," "Sales Marketing (Sales Leader) Executives Course," "Tax & Asset Executives Course," "New Korean Wave Metaverse CEO Forum Executives Course," "Family Business Succession Strategy Executives Course," "Premium World Culture Experience Executives Course," "Golf CEO Executives Course," and "Leaders Forum Executives Course," providing customized education and human network opportunities.

4) Government-Academic Cooperation Courses

For the government-academic cooperation courses, which is commissioned by local governments, the institute develops and operates unique courses exclusively available at a university-affiliated lifelong education center for residents in the region. The "Yonsei-Gangseo Leaders Academy," "Yonsei-Seodaemun Certificate Expert Course," and "Yonsei-Dongjak Lifelong Education Program" were some of the major government-academic cooperative programs to be operated. With the curriculum that focuses on skills useful in real life such as calligraphy and coffee mastering, the courses received high satisfaction rates from the residents, and there are sustained demands from various local governments requesting for the opening of the curriculum.

5) Industry-Academic Cooperation Courses

The industry-academic cooperation courses are the projects that provide job training and cultural education services to members of corporations, and currently in partnership with major Korean corporations such as Samsung, SK, Coway, and Nonghyup. In order to operate customized education of high-quality, professors from Yonsei, experts in related fields, and professional researchers in the institute are working together to develop and operate the best programs that cater to the respective needs of the participating corporations.

6) Practical Arts Courses

In line with worldwide interest in K-Pop and the expansion of the music market, the institute has launched high-quality practical arts courses to follow the latest trend and demands. Based on various genres of content such as "practical music," "practical dance" and "audio visual specialty," the institute provides professional and systematic customized education from basic theory to practical skills, assisting the growth of individuals into world-class creative artists.

7) Academic Credit Bank System

Under the Act on Recognition of Credits, the academic credit bank system is a system that grants degrees equivalent to junior colleges or universities by recognizing various studies conducted outside of schools as credits. The institute operates a total of three credit banking degree courses with the degrees granted under the name of the Minister of Education, "multimedia studies major," "pet management major" and "practical music major," providing a window for talents in various fields other than the traditional majors offered by the university.

The institute has so far posted more than 440 interesting and informative videos on LearnUs, a knowledge-sharing platform that Yonsei University opened to the general public on September 6, 2021. The content, which essentially abbreviated 15-lecture long lecture contents conducted in the institute into one single online lecture, has received great reviews from the users, especially as each video provides a separate "three-minute teaser." By introducing the programs offered by the institute, there is a high expectation that it will expand the base of lifelong education while promoting the institution itself to the public in the long term.

Looking Forward to Sustainable Growth

In order to more effectively promote and operate lifelong education for the general public, Yonsei University integrated the Global Education Institute of the International Campus into the Institute of Continuing Education for the Future in March 2021, with further plans to integrate with the Foreign Language Institute under the Institute of Language Research and Education in March 2022. With individual institutions that used to operate separately as affiliated educational institutions of Yonsei University integrated into the Institute of Continuing Education for the Future, it is anticipated to create an enhanced synergy with the educational capabilities of respective institutions merged as one. Adding on, the launch of the online education platform LearnUs is expected to play an important role in creating a linkage between Yonsei's human resources as well as education and research achievements and the institute, allowing the institute to play a significant role in the fulfillment of Yonsei's mission as an educational institution that aims to create good values for society.

Meanwhile, the Miwu Hall, where the Institute of Continuing Education for the Future is located, has been rebuilt as a new building with a floor area of 16251mᶟ with two basement floors, and 10 stories above ground, after removing the old building that was originally built as a dormitory in 1972. After two years of construction, the institute, which temporarily moved its location to the Engineering Research Park, returned to the new Miwu Hall last September for its lectures. The Miwu Hall has specialized facilities such as dance studios, art studios, cooking studios, PC rooms, and music studios for various educational programs, and in particular, a high-end lecture hall with a 90 seat capacity is built on the third and fourth floors.

The new Miwu Hall is an eco-friendly building that can operate energy efficiently using solar and geothermal systems, and it is a representative eco-friendly building of Yonsei University that contributes to overall efforts towards achieving sustainable future global environment as well as the goal to save energy, and it recently received the best grade (Green Grade 1) certification from the "Green Building Certification." Adding on, the Miwu Hall was awarded an award for Constructed Buildings in the Civilian Category (Prime Minister Award) at the "2021 Korean Architecture and Culture Awards" co-hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korean Architects Association.

"Lifelong education is bound to be important in the era of homo-hundred, 

and in particular, lifelong education is urgently in need for individuals 

to adapt to the rapid technological progress of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

Some countries are already greatly expanding financial and institutional support 

for lifelong education to all citizens. 

The Institute of Continuing Education for the Future is leading the lifelong education system 

that can strengthen individual capabilities and promote self-realization 

through self-directed developments such as re-education and re-training. 

With our brand new building we promise a better educational environment, 

and we will serve our role as your trusted companion for your lifelong education 

through diverse and fruitful programs."

Hyeon-seung Huh

Dean, the Institute of Continuing Education for the Future /
Professor, School of Economics, Yonsei University

"ESG, METAVERSE, NFT, P2E, ESS… 

There are numerous changes in trends, and with the digital revolution, and the COVID-19 pandemics, 

the world is indeed changing rapidly. Our appearance seems to be no different from Alice 

in Lewis Carroll's "Alice Through the Looking-Glass," who questions the Red Queen as she gasps for air- 

"Why can't I get out of the tree although I keep running?” 

In the end, the only concrete answer available would be "innovation" through continuous education. 

Based on God's help, future-oriented and stable support from the university headquarters, 

and the leadership and capabilities of the director of The Institute of Continuing Education for the Future 

and the supporting staff, we will continue to strive to become the best educational institution in Korea 

leading the lifelong education sector."

Lee Seong Yong
Leader of the Administrative Support Team,

the Institute of Continuing Education for the Future

 "Please join us in the Institute of Continuing Education for the Future for happy lifelong education. 

We will always be there to support your journey!"

Lim Hyo In, Jeon Du Ra, and Kim Shin Hyeong
Coordinators, the Administrative Support Team,

 the Institute of Continuing Education for the Future