In a collaborative effort between Sahmyook University and Seoul Women’s University, the Nowon Green Campus Town Project has been honored with the title of ‘Outstanding Universities’ in the 2023 evaluation of the Campus Town Project’s accomplishments.

Managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Campus Town Project aims to cultivate youth entrepreneurship and invigorate local economies through strategic partnerships between universities and the surrounding communities.

Sahmyook University and Seoul Women’s University embarked on a joint venture focused on the Gongneung-dong area along the Gyeongchun Line Forest Road in Nowon-gu. Guided by the vision of “Greening Nowon-gu’s University Cultural Street with the Unique Charm of the Gyeongchun Line Forest Road,” they created a vibrant new space centered around the Gyeongchun Line Forest Road, leveraging a diverse range of cultural offerings and fostering continuous community engagement among local merchants, residents, and students.

Their efforts were especially lauded for the tailored programs addressing the local context in agriculture education. Initiatives like the ‘Urban Farmer School,’ offering comprehensive agricultural education covering areas such as vegetables, floriculture, fruit trees, beekeeping, basic horticulture, and eco-friendly horticultural product manufacturing, garnered significant praise. Likewise, the ‘Green Design Academy,’ designed to cultivate talents in the emerging sixth industry and support aspiring entrepreneurs, career changers, and retirees, received acclaim for its innovative approach. Additionally, programs like ‘Re-Start Care,’ aimed at grooming content specialists, and ‘Local+Care,’ focused on nurturing local entrepreneurs, enhancing competitiveness, and fostering talent discovery, were recognized for their emphasis on local specialization within the sixth industry education landscape.

In addition to these educational initiatives, a myriad of community programs such as the ‘Chuchu Market’ creative market, ‘REST FOREST’ zero-waste workshops, ‘Gyeongchun Line Forest Road 3650 Healthy Walking’ campaign uniting socially disadvantaged groups and university students, and the ‘Healing Gallery’ supporting exhibitions by local youths and artists in revitalized public spaces, received enthusiastic responses, cementing the Gyeongchun Line Forest Road as a cornerstone of the local community.

Cho Chiwoong, Director of the Nowon Green Campus Town Project and Honorary Professor of Environmental Design and Horticulture at Sahmyook University, remarked, “Since 2016, university officials and professors in the area have come together to exchange ideas, and for over seven years, we have diligently carried out the project, starting from its inception in 2018.” He continued, “Through this initiative, we have made significant strides in transforming the Gyeongchun Line Forest Road into a distinctive cultural hub for Nowon-gu, reshaping it into a vibrant university corridor embracing youth culture, arts, and the natural environment.”