Sogang Advances Lifelong Education

Sogang University and the city of Paju (under Mayor Kim Kyung-il) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, October 22, at 3 p.m. in the President’s Office at Sogang University to promote lifelong education based on the “Once-in-a-Lifetime Project.” This MOU was formed as part of government-academic collaboration to expand the foundation of lifelong education in the local community and to build a model for enhancing citizens’ competencies.

Paju’s “Once-in-a-Lifetime Project” aims to establish a sustainable lifelong learning system by operating lifelong learning centers across different administrative districts (Eup, Myeon, and Dong) in collaboration with Sogang University’s Institute for Continuing Education, with the goal of providing customized education for local residents and establishing community-based learning ecosystems.

The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Kyung-il, Paju’s mayor; Kim Tae-hoon, director of the Culture and Education Bureau of Paju; Lee Hak-hyun, head of Munsan Eup; Choi Hee-jin, section chief for the Institute for Continuing Education; Sogang President Sim Jong-hyeok; Professor Song Tai-kyung, executive vice president for Research & External Affairs; and Professor Ha Byoung-chun, dean of the Institute for Continuing Education.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will cooperate to develop lifelong learning programs customized to local needs, expand future education focusing on AI and digital competencies, establish learning hubs within communities for different district levels (Eup, Myeon, and Dong), and foster resident-involved learning communities.

Speaking about the agreement, President Sim Jong-hyeok said, “This agreement is an important starting point for realizing the public value by sharing the university’s educational capacities with the local community.” For his part, Mayor Kim Kyung-il stated, “We will continue to strengthen the city’s foundation as a place where all citizens can keep learning in their daily lives.”

As it is currently implementing the “Seoul RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education)” program, Sogang University is planning to expand its cooperative projects beyond Seoul to other municipalities in the metropolitan area as part of its “Community Co-Prosperity” projects.