On Dec.29, 2022, Kookmin University (KMU) stated that KMU and Ulsan Metropolitan City signed a business agreement to support students with dyslexia and foster professional teaching staff specialized in dyslexia in the reception room of the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education.

Through this business agreement, the Center for Basic Education Support under the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education and Education and Research Institute for Dyslexia (ERiD) of KMU are planning to implement various educational programs, such as dyslexia diagnosis, educational support, courses for dyslexia professionals, and consultation.

The ERiD, led by Director Yang Min-Wha, is a university-affiliated research institution that operates the biggest clinical center at the national university level. A professional research team specialized in the areas of Korean linguistics, pedagogy, counseling psychology, special pedagogy, and service design is promoting programs for human resource development, business for educational support, and academic research related to dyslexia and dyslexia education. 

Through this agreement, both institutions are planning to review the introduction of educational programs for professionals based on artificial intelligence (AI), that were developed by the ERiD. According to reports, the proportion of students with dyslexia reached 15% nationwide after the COVID-19 pandemic. This AI-based dyslexia program is expected to be an alternative for early measures for numerous students. In 2021, the ERiD developed an educational program for professionals to support students having difficulties due to dyslexia. Through diagnosis evaluation, the program identifies primary causes of dyslexia and designs a customized learning course based on analysis of learning progress and patterns using intelligent algorithms. This makes it possible to implement effective education for basing reading and writing skills.

The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, knowing that the majority of students with dyslexia are elementary school students with psychological issues, is planning to introduce one-on-one sessions between teachers and students to give each student the attention they need. It is also expecting to receive support from KMU to foster professional teaching staff specialized in dyslexia and open training courses focused on dyslexia.

Lee Tae-Hee, president of KMU’s Planning Department, said “KMU considers cooperation with regions highly important.” He also added that he is “grateful for being able to cooperate with professional educational services that are supporting students with dyslexia in Ulsan Metropolitan City” and said that “KMU will make earnest efforts so that this kind of cooperation becomes more active.”

The business agreement was signed by Lee Tae-Hee and Lee Yong-Kyun, Deputy Superintendent of Education of the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, and step-by-step strategies for mutual cooperation were discussed.

Kim Seo-Hyun
Reporters

aprilkim404@kookmin.ac.kr