Hana Financial Group has set up a “digital career exploration classroom” at Milal School in Seoul to support career exploration and job training for students with developmental disabilities. It will use humanoid robots and virtual reality (VR) devices to help students experience jobs in an environment similar to real workplaces. It plans to expand the project to special schools in Incheon and Daejeon by the first half of next year.

Hana Financial Group said on Tuesday it is implementing a “digital career exploration classroom construction” project to provide job training and strengthen independence capabilities for students with developmental disabilities.

As the first step, the group held an opening ceremony on Oct. 27 at Milal School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Chairman Ham Young-joo (함영주), Milal Welfare Foundation executive director Jung Hyung-seok (정형석) and Milal School principal Hong Jae-eun (홍재은).

The project was launched to lay the groundwork for vocational education so that students with developmental disabilities can experience a range of jobs at school, discover their aptitudes and potential, and enter society in a stable way after graduation.

The digital career exploration classroom at Milal School includes a humanoid robot capable of voice conversation, VR devices for job training, multimedia learning kiosks, educational point-of-sale (POS) devices, an interactive white LED board and tablet PCs for design practice.

Using digital devices, students can practice customer service, payments, and taking and confirming orders in environments similar to real workplaces, such as virtual restaurants and cafes. Through role-playing and scenario exercises using VR devices and the LED board, they can experience situations that may arise at work and build basic skills and communication skills needed for job performance.

Hana Financial expects this hands-on education to help students with developmental disabilities discover their aptitudes and interests and enhance capabilities needed for future employment and independence in their communities.

The group will also expand the project. Hana Financial plans to additionally select special schools in Incheon and Daejeon and create digital vocational education environments at a total of three locations, including Milal School, by the first half of next year.

It will also set up support programs for faculty and staff at special schools that educate students with developmental disabilities. It plans to operate tailored programs for teachers and workers, including self-understanding tests with professional counselors, meditation and stress management, emotional management education, the latest teaching methods for special schools and re-establishing educational philosophy.

Through this, it aims to prevent physical and emotional burnout among school staff and enhance educational expertise so students can prepare for careers and independence in a more stable environment.

“I hope that in the digital career exploration classroom, students with developmental disabilities can experience a variety of jobs, discover their potential, nurture their dreams, and grow as members of society,” Ham said.