A Very Special Graduation Ceremony: "Thank You for Your Hard Work," Mature Student Graduates Say

A special graduation ceremony for late-blooming "ajumma" students was held on the 22nd at Suwon Women's University's Haeran Campus.

Graduation ceremony held at Suwon University's Haeran Campus.

The stars of today's graduation ceremony were not young-faced graduates, but so-called "ajummas" in their 30s to 50s.

They are 27 late-starting students who have diligently pursued their studies over the past two years through the "Credit Bank System" operated under the direction of Hwaseong City.

All graduates this year achieved a significant milestone by obtaining national qualifications related to social welfare (Social Welfare Worker and Childcare Teacher Grade 2 licenses), making this a meaningful graduation.

Jo Hye-gyeong (56), who served as the representative graduate, said, "I have long been interested in social welfare, and it is moving to have the opportunity to study and obtain related qualifications so late in life," and added, "I plan to form a volunteer group with fellow students I met here and spend the rest of my life putting into practice what I worked hard to study."

Meanwhile, the Credit Bank System operated by the city is a system to obtain a degree through degree-granting institutions recognized by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development without attending a regular university. Currently, there are only two such programs operated by local governments in the nation: Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province and Chilgok County in North Gyeongsangbuk Province.

The Credit Bank System in Hwaseong City, which opened in 2008, is available only to female high school graduates or those with a high school diploma or higher education residing in the city. Classes are held over four semesters in total, with the city covering 50% of tuition costs.