5-Day Intensive Capacity Building Workshop for Non-Metropolitan Social Professionals

The Asan Nanum Foundation successfully concluded the '2025 Short-term Asan Frontier Academy' for next-generation leaders who will inject vitality into the social sector in non-metropolitan areas. This academy provided a profound learning platform for 35 leaders who will drive local social innovation. This intensive course, which compressed the 7-month curriculum of the regular academy into 5 days, was designed to enable mid-level managers in the social sector of non-metropolitan areas (excluding Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi) to quickly acquire core competencies. Participants had the opportunity to develop into next-generation social innovation leaders equipped with entrepreneurship, leadership, and management skills. During the training period from March 4th to 8th, participants enhanced their expertise through diverse lectures covering topics from non-profit organization strategy to the history of the social sector, leadership, and impact management. Networking sessions, where participants shared their experiences, became an even more meaningful platform for exchange. This year, in particular, a 2-night, 3-day workshop was organized in Daejeon to further strengthen ties with the local social sector. Participants developed and presented social innovation projects aimed at solving problems faced by various vulnerable groups in the Chungcheong region, such as isolated middle-aged and elderly individuals, people with developmental disabilities, seniors with mild cognitive impairment, and energy-poor households, thereby building practical capabilities. Oh Byeong-min, a deputy at the Daejeon Social Service Agency and a participant, stated his aspirations, saying, "It was very meaningful to be able to intensively learn about the latest trends and practical skills in the social sector." He added, "Based on the knowledge and inspiration gained from this training, I will strive even harder to create positive social innovation in the local community." Park Seong-jong, Team Leader of the Social Innovation Team at the Asan Nanum Foundation, expressed his feelings, saying, "Thanks to the enthusiastic support for the short-term academy, which debuted last year, I am very happy to meet social innovation leaders gathered from various regions again this year." He also emphasized, "The Asan Nanum Foundation will consistently nurture next-generation social innovation leaders who will lead future society, and will continue to spare no effort in supporting the healthy expansion of the social sector ecosystem." In addition, the Asan Nanum Foundation is currently recruiting participants for the 14th cohort of its regular program, the 'Asan Frontier Academy.' Anyone with over three years of experience, including those working in the social sector, non-profit startup founders, CSR managers, developers, marketers, and designers, is eligible to apply. This specialized training course, running from May to November, will be fully funded by the Foundation for selected participants.