The Department of Game Development (DGD)
- Background and Objectives
Kyungnam University (KU) is to establish the Department of Game Development (DGD). This initiative is expected to make KU the top university not only in the South Gyeongsang Province (SGP) but also in Korea. DGD is aimed at promoting the vitality of the game industry in Gyeongnam and nurture talent to guide future industries involved in games. Prior to the establishment of DGD, the Gyeongnam Global Game Center (GGGC) is currently being created by renovating the Hanma Hall in KU. GGGC is expected to lead the game industry in Gyeongnam as well as Changwon by pushing ahead the initiatives such as incubating game development companies, consulting
on content commercialization, fostering specialized game creators, and promoting social awareness of the game industry. DGD provides the first 4-year program in Gyeongnam, which aims to provide structured, hands-on education in game creation and produces experts in the fields of game software development, game planning, and game design.
Career Opportunities after Graduating from DGD
-Employment at domestic and international game development companies, such as major developers like Nexon, NCSoft, Netmarble, Smilegate, Kakao Games, Krafton, as well as numerous small to medium-sized game development firms and indie game development studios.
-Working in the field of AR/VR technology-based content creation, which includes games, animations, exhibitions, healthcare, manufacturing, defense, education, and theme parks.
-Becoming a content planner, developer, or designer for AR/VR-driven projects in various sectors, including K-POP performances and other industries.
-Utilizing Unity and Unreal engines and engaging in various software development activities.
-Involvement in AR/VR content planning, video production and editing, UI/UX design, and program development.
-Specializing in 2D/3D modeling, digital twin animation, Metaverse platforms, and business applications.
The Career & Admission Counseling Major
Kyungnam University's Graduate School of Education has established the Career & Admission Counseling Major (CACM). It is aimed at training specialized educators for career and admission counseling in elementary, middle, and high schools. Starting in 2024, the CACM is to begin recruiting new students. For more detailed information, an interview was conducted with Professor Shin Seok-min, who is the Dean of the Graduate School of Education and a professor in the Department of Physical Education.
Q1 What is the background for the establishment of the CACM?
A1 “In 2011, with the revision of the regulations for the implementation of the Teacher Qualification Examination Act, career guidance counselors have been assigned to middle and high schools to shift away from the previous focus on career education for advanced studies and instead take on the responsibilities of assessments, analysis, counseling, and lifelong career exploration throughout one's life. To promote the development of counseling and improve career development skills for adolescents, it was essential to strengthen the expertise of career guidance counselors. Despite such demands, the Gyeongnam region has not offered an answer such as establishing CACM, which has made the educators in the region difficult in finding proper educational institutes. To address this issue, after gathering opinions from educational stakeholders, the Graduate School of Education of KU, in close collaboration with the Gyeongnam Office of Education, requested the approval of the Ministry of Education to establish CACM in March 2023. Unfortunately, the initial request was not approved, but KU filed an objection on May 4. After various twists and turns, the major was eventually approved on May 26 of 2023 as a subsidiary program.”
Q2 Can you introduce the curriculum and major fields of study?
A2 “CACM offers a curriculum that encompasses both mandatory and elective courses, designed to equip students with the competence needed to perform as career education professionals in school settings. This includes the ability to conduct career education through teaching, counseling, program development and implementation, community engagement, and more, enabling graduate students to Spotlight KU 8 Kyungnam University's Graduate School of Education has established the Career & Admission Counseling Major (CACM). It is aimed at training specialized educators for career and admission counseling in elementary, middle, and high schools. Starting in 2024, the CACM is to begin recruiting new students. For more detailed information, an interview was conducted with Professor Shin Seok-min, who is the Dean of the Graduate School of Education and a professor in the Department of Physical Education. The Career & Admission Counseling Major Shin Seok-min, Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Professor of the Department of Physical Education help adolescents understand their own characteristics and engage in future-oriented career exploration and preparation.”
Q3 Who can study in the CACM, and what types of careers can they pursue?
A3 “CACM is designed to be operated as a subsidiary program (re-education) for current middle and high school teachers. It means that CACM is available for in-service teachers who can pursue it as part of their continuing education. After completing the prescribed courses and earning a master's degree, career transition into the role of career guidance counselor is possible. Additionally, after retirement, graduates can pursue careers in various fields, such as youth career education professionals, career content developers, career consultants, and vocational counselors.”
Q4 Are there any programs especially differentiated from others?
A4 “In addition to the mandatory courses required for completing CACM, we have incorporated advanced courses in career counseling, college guidance, learning coaching, and entrepreneurship education, among others. This variety of courses allows students to develop expertise, which aligns with their aptitudes and interests, in specific areas within the field of career and admission counseling. Moreover, our faculty includes professors with a combination of expertise in career education theory and practical experience. With this balanced approach, graduates from KU’s CACM will have the competency to excel as career guidance counselors in real-world educational settings.”
Q5 What are the visions of CACM?
A5 “Graduate School of Education of KU has faced challenges in recent years in terms of recruiting new students. However, as mentioned earlier, the process of overcoming setbacks and achieving accreditation for CACM has finally been a success. Therefore, it is expected for CACM to significantly contribute to the stable recruitment of new students in the Graduate School of Education. Currently, there is a growing interest in this new major not only from current teachers and academy instructors but also from working professionals and university graduates in general. CACM will be a promising step in addressing the demand for career counseling professionals and likely to have a positive impact on the education sector.”
