Changshin Wins Grand Prize at Ministry of Employment and Labor Competition

Talent development program linked with regional specialized vocational high schools earns government recognition

• Honored with the Minister’s Award at the 2024 Best Practice Competition for Employer-Provided Vocational Skills Development Training
• Contributing to talent development and job creation in Busan with the Craftsmanship Training Program
• First place ahead of companies from Seoul and the greater capital area

Global footwear manufacturer Changshin Inc. (CEO Choongil Nam; hereinafter Changshin) won the Grand Prize (Minister of Employment and Labor Award), the highest honor, at the 2024 Best Practice Competition for Employer-Provided Vocational Skills Development Training held at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the 30th, beating out companies from Seoul and the greater capital area.

Changshin earned the honor in recognition of its contribution to developing regional talent and creating jobs through the Craftsmanship Training Program, run in partnership with specialized vocational high schools in Busan. Now in its seventh year, the event is hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and organized by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea every September, in observance of Vocational Skills Development Month, to identify and share employers’ best practices in vocational skills development training and to promote quality education and human resources development in companies.

Changshin’s talent development program, the Craftsmanship Training Program, was highly rated for going beyond identifying and nurturing talent in partnership with regional specialized vocational high schools to hiring trainees as full-time employees, thereby contributing to local community development. The program also drew attention for having existing employees serve directly as instructors, providing hands-on, practice-oriented education that helps trainees adapt quickly on site and strengthens their capabilities.

A Changshin HR representative said, “We will continue to support outstanding local talent in pursuing their dreams through the Craftsmanship Training Program,” adding, “Going forward, we plan to expand regional talent development and hiring for shared growth with the local community, and to build a virtuous cycle in which the company and local industry grow together.”

Changshin’s Craftsmanship Training Program is a seven-month education program for graduates of regional specialized vocational high schools. To date, 35 graduates have joined Changshin through the program and are working at the company, and the program won the Grand Prize in the education program category of the Korea Human Resources Development Awards in 2022.