Universities Take on Regional Extinction Solutions... Gyeongnam Jeongbo University Selected as First 'Local Content Focus University'

Focusing on Local Creator Development and Job Creation

A new project that awakens the potential of the region through industry-academia cooperation has emerged in the form of a ‘Hub University.’

Gyeongnam Jeonbo University (President Kim Dae-sik) announced on the 2nd that it has been selected as a ‘2023 Local Content Focus University’ by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The Local Content Focus University project utilizes regional universities as hubs for non-technology-based startups and innovation for small business owners, fostering creative local talent and creating jobs. This project was newly established this year to address issues such as regional extinction.

Gyeongnam Jeonbo University has linked the Hotel Culinary Arts Department, Hotel Bakery and Pastry Department, Media Video Department, and K-Beauty Department to establish two new majors: Local Gourmet Major and Media & Beauty Content Major.

The university plans to cultivate local creators with the ability to develop local content and interdisciplinary skills to lead problem-solving and revitalize the regional economy.

Gyeongnam Jeonbo University has set business items in local food and regional value, as well as regionally specialized tourism fields, to maximize the effect of creating regional value.

They plan to operate regular curricula that enhance local content development capabilities by linked majors, as well as extracurricular programs such as Idea Challenge, Local Startup Week, and Performance Expansion Festa to nurture young local creators.

List of Local Content Focused Universities.

To ensure the success of this project, they signed a business agreement with the Industry-Academia Cooperation Division of Busan City to collaborate. In the future, they plan to designate a Local Startup Week to provide local startup experiences and spread the startup culture within the university, operating various programs such as pop-up stores together.

President Kim Dae-sik of Gyeongnam Jeonbo University said, “We will utilize Busan’s geographical and environmental characteristics to develop new recipes and products and cultivate specialized talent in the local gourmet field.”

President Kim also stated, “We will devote efforts to producing many young talents equipped with professional skills in media and beauty fields and content development capabilities.”

Previously, this project was open for applications from four-year universities and junior colleges nationwide, and Gyeongnam Jeonbo University was the only university selected in the Southeast region.