Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Yung-joo (right) poses with Jung Hyung-suk, executive director of the Miral Welfare Foundation, at the opening ceremony of the “Digital Career Exploration Classroom” held at Miral School in Seoul’s Gangnam district on the 27th. Photo courtesy of Hana Financial
Hana Financial Group is stepping up support for students with developmental disabilities, helping them explore careers, try out jobs and prepare for independent living.
The group said on the 28th that it held an opening ceremony the previous day for its first digital career exploration classroom at Miral School in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The program is designed to let students with developmental disabilities experience a range of jobs while still in school so they can move into society on stable footing after graduation. The classroom at Miral School is equipped with a humanoid robot capable of voice conversation, virtual reality devices for vocational training, learning kiosks and educational point-of-sale terminals. Students can practice taking orders, handling payments and serving customers in a simulated restaurant and cafe, giving them a feel for actual work settings. Starting with Seoul, the group plans to set up digital vocational training environments at three special education schools in total, including in Incheon and Daejeon, by the first half of next year.
Hana Financial Group also said it will provide psychological and emotional care along with professional development programs for staff at special education schools. Programs for teachers and other employees at the schools include self-understanding assessments conducted with professional counselors, training in meditation, stress management and emotional care, and instruction in the latest teaching methods for special education.
“I hope this gives real help to students with developmental disabilities as they experience different jobs firsthand, discover their own potential, nurture their dreams and grow into confident members of society,” Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo said. “We will continue to provide genuine support that connects education and independent living, so that no one is left behind in the learning process and everyone can prepare for their own future.”
Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Yung-joo (third from left) poses with Jung Hyung-suk (fourth from left), executive director of the Miral Welfare Foundation, at the opening ceremony of the “Digital Career Exploration Classroom” held at Miral School in Seoul’s Gangnam district on the 27th. Hana Financial
