KIRD has launched and operated “LIFE-100 Design Academy” for principal scientists and engineers’ continuous career development so that they are prepared for happy and satisfactory life after retirement. The program is designed for the researchers at industry-university-research institute who are to retire within next three years. KIRD offers a systematic curriculum which allows people to explore various social participation activities and life after retirement.

This program provides area-based coaching and expert lecture to the participants so that participants are able to draft their life career plan and set mid/long term goal. Let’s take a look at the interviews from course manager and participants for more lively and detailed explanation about the course.

Q. Will you please give an introduction to LIFE-100 Design Academy?

A. LIFE-100 Design Academy has been established under the goal of providing support and help for the scientists and engineers who made a contribution to Korea’s science and technology development to design their life after retirement and explore social participation. LIFE-100 Design Academy program consists of the following courses: For major public insurance which alters after retirement, education for asset/leisure/health/relationship management, introduction to support program for unretirement/business founding/farm-returning/overseas volunteering/lecture and book publishing, talk with retired scientists and engineers, aptitude test and life path planning. These programs enable the participants to contemplate their life and career path after retirement. In addition, the program is developed by reflecting the pre-survey result of the participants so that the content can be customized for their needs.

Q. How do the participants receive the program?

A. There are some people who have doubts on the usefulness of the program at the very first time. The participants who signed up for this program have expectation and sense of anxiety about their retirement. They are concerned about losing opportunity to be engaged in economic activities while curious about the life they will enjoy without being tied up to the organization. Therefore, the participants join the program expecting they will receive overall guidance on multiple facets of their lives after retirement. Over time, they get to have exposure to various experiences: They make connections among different information, learn about life messages and have opportunity to socialize with other participants. After the program is over, I have received a lot of positive feedback and thank you messages saying that it was a meaningful opportunity for them to understand the life as a retiree and prepare themselves for the future.

Q. How are you planning to develop LIFE-100 Design Academy?

A. Existing curriculum including life planning offers basic short-term courses. We plan to launch long-term courses such as career change program (book writer, consultant, lecturer and science communicator) and operate advanced courses separately so that we can provide participants with in-depth career development support. If a participant in advanced courses is selected as a high performer, we would like to offer a tangible opportunity to change his/her career by offering practical support such as content creation support and lecture. This will also enhance participants’ level of concentration on the course.

Q. What made you participate in this program?

A. Recently I am thinking a lot about how to resolve economical issue which can occur after my retirement. In particular, the declining income due to discontinued career can only be solved by working again. Given this, I was thinking a lot about what I should do after my retirement or how I should lead my life. I was hoping to find an answer to such questions and that made me be participate in the program.

Q. What contents did you find most helpful?

A. I have been in research field for an extended period of time, so I am not very familiar with practical matters such as social insurance system which will be different after retirement and asset management. As I get older, I started to have minor and major health issues as well. The curriculum offers very detailed help in the areas that I was not very attentive to.

Q. What preparation may be useful for scientists and engineers to continue their career after retirement? Could you please give your advice?

A. I was lucky enough to participate in this program. I feel like I am better positioned to prepare my life after retirement when compared to others who did not have chance to participate in this program. However, I wish I was able to learn things earlier. For example, if you want to start your own business after retirement, it would take at least four years to prepare for it. Given this, the people who are just about to retire may feel that it is too late. There are times people need to change their career let alone retirement. In preparation for such situation, I think it would be helpful for people to take some time to contemplate what they will do about their life and career.

KIRD is determined to support highly seasoned scientists and engineers so that they can have meaningful life after retirement by offering upskilling and reskilling education. KIRD roots for the retired scientists and engineers and wish they can utilize their knowledge and ample experience for a meaningful purpose even after their retirement.