South Chungcheong partners with universities, companies on int'l student training

South Chungcheong will work with universities and companies in the province to offer career training and part-time work opportunities for international students, creating a platform where the students can search for part-time jobs.

Representatives from universities and companies participating that signed a memorandum of understanding with South Chungcheong pose for a photo on Thursday. [SOUTH CHUNGCHEONG PROVINCIAL OFFICE]

South Chungcheong will work with universities and companies in the province to offer career training and part-time work opportunities for international students, creating a platform where the students can search for part-time jobs.

South Chungcheong signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with presidents of various universities in the province, Korea Foodservice Industry Association South Chungcheong Office Head Ryu Boong-seok and Chungcheongnam-do Economic Promotion Agency Head Kim Chan-bae to offer career training programs to international students on Thursday.

The universities part of the MOU are: Namseoul University, Baekseok University, Baekseok Culture University, Korea University of Technology & Education, Ajou Motor College, Sun Moon University, Soonchunhyang University, Hoseo University, Konyang University and Shinsung University.

Career training programs offered to students at the university will focus on the service, manufacturing and agricultural industries.

Students who sign up for the program will be able to get career training and work at local companies over the summer vacation and fall semester, getting paid at least minimum wage.

The program will offer the opportunity to around 600 international students this year, but South Chungcheong aims to bring the number up to 1,500 next year.

The province will also create a website where international students can search for part-time jobs in the province, which is scheduled to open around July.

"South Chungcheong has a lot of small- to mid-sized enterprises and a large aging population, while only a small portion of the international students settle down in the region due to financial and administrative issues," said Kim Tae-heum, governor of South Chungcheong. "The career training program and the part-time job platform are some of the methods that will allow us to improve our current situation."

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]