Ulsan Polytechnic University graduates 23 from middle-aged career program

Korea Polytechnic University's Ulsan campus (Ulsan Polytechnic University) held a graduation ceremony Sunday for its middle-aged specialized course in home living product manufacturing and startup practice, producing 23 graduates. The program was designed to help people aged 40 and older sharpen their competitiveness in re-employment and entrepreneurship.

The short-term course ran throughout June, covering the theory and hands-on practice needed to make household goods, as well as basic business knowledge and marketing strategy for those looking to start their own ventures.

Participants ranged in age from 40 to 75. Under the guidance of Ulsan Polytechnic University's Department of Materials Chemistry, they learned to make mood lamps, natural charcoal-scented frames and storage nets.

A participant in her 50s said the hands-on format gave her a new sense of direction. "Learning to make products through hands-on practice gave me the confidence to start a business and the strength to prepare for a second act in life," she said.

Ulsan Polytechnic University's middle-aged specialized courses — offered in both four-month long-term and one-to-two-month short-term formats — have drawn strong interest from local middle-aged residents. The program features hands-on and theory education in an 80-to-20 ratio using advanced laboratory and practice equipment, fully government-funded tuition and a training allowance for participants.