Beyond Rote Instruction: Soongsil University Reaps Results from Problem-Solving 'EL+' Education

[Financial News] University classes are moving beyond one-way knowledge transmission by professors toward problem-solving education, in which students identify social issues themselves and seek ways to address them.
Soongsil University said on the 30th that it recently held the 2026 First-Semester EL+ Class Outcomes Showcase at Baird Hall on its campus in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, sharing the outstanding results of innovative classes conducted during the semester.
The event was organized to share learner-centered teaching practices developed by faculty members and expand new approaches to education across the university.
The event featured a diverse range of courses that strengthened students' initiative and ability to apply what they learned in real-world settings. In a School of Social Welfare course, students identified rights violations in welfare services, analyzed their structural causes, and proposed alternatives. Other courses combined public data with field interviews to develop solutions to real social problems into policy proposals, while another had preservice teachers create digital portfolios to build their practical skills.
Faculty members who participated in the classes cited their changing roles as educators as the most significant outcome. Lee Ji-ha, a professor in the School of Social Welfare, said, "When we gave students ownership of the inquiry process, their motivation to learn and sense of responsibility came alive." Lee Jeon Ju-seong of the Department of Lifelong Education also emphasized, "By moving beyond the traditional approach of delivering knowledge and taking on the role of a facilitator who helps students solve problems proactively, I was able to see their potential."
Soongsil University's Engaged Learning+ (EL+), which has been offered since 2019, is a learner-centered teaching model that helps students connect disciplinary knowledge with real-world problems, analyze those problems, and develop solutions. Starting this year, the university has refined the model into three formats aligned with educational goals and activities: topic inquiry, project-based learning, and field-linked learning. These formats provide students with tailored problem-solving experiences.
Lee Jeong-hyun, director of Soongsil University's Institute for University Education Innovation, explained, "The essence of innovation in higher education lies in helping students develop the ability to ask questions and find answers for themselves." Lee added, "EL+ classes are becoming learning environments where students define and solve problems themselves, rather than simply receiving predetermined answers."
Soongsil University's Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation plans to continue identifying outstanding teaching practices and expand a student-centered culture of educational innovation across the university.

[email protected] Kim Man-ki Reporter