Among the 'Glocal University' Preliminary Designated Universities,
14 Universities Plan Department Restructuring
Experts Say "It Should Not Be Just for Receiving Support"
Regional universities facing existential crises due to a sharp decline in the school-age population are undertaking structural reforms for survival. The Ministry of Education plans to focus support on schools that break down interdepartmental barriers within universities and offer students flexible major selection opportunities by encouraging structural adjustments in regional universities.
The Ministry recently confirmed the preliminary designation of 15 universities and university consortia as candidates for the ‘Glocal University 30’ project. The ‘Glocal University 30’ project aims to nurture 30 world-class regional universities by 2026, providing each selected school with 100 billion KRW in government funding over five years. A total of 94 universities applied, and after a final evaluation by October, 10 will be selected from the 15 preliminarily designated candidates.
The preliminarily designated universities and consortia include ▲Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University ▲Hallym University ▲Yonsei University Mirae Campus ▲Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation ▲Soonchunhyang University ▲Gyeongsang National University ▲Inje University ▲Pusan National University and Pusan National University of Education ▲Ulsan University ▲Andong National University and Gyeongbuk Provincial University ▲Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) ▲Handong Global University ▲Sunchon National University ▲Chonnam National University ▲Jeonbuk National University.
Analysis by Asia Economy of the innovation plans submitted by the preliminarily designated schools to the Ministry of Education revealed that universities proposing large-scale structural reforms such as mergers or transitions to non-departmental and non-major systems received favorable evaluations.
Except for Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University, the other 14 universities planned university mergers and major integration. Pusan National University and Pusan National University of Education plan to merge into a single university. Handong Global University proposed integrating its existing 14 departments into a single university. Jeonbuk National University also plans to reduce its 105 department-based recruitment units to 20 large integrated recruitment units.
Soonchunhyang University, Yonsei University Mirae Campus, Ulsan University, Inje University, Jeonbuk National University, Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation, Pohang University of Science and Technology, and Hallym University pledged to transition to non-departmental and non-major systems. They proposed a comprehensive academic restructuring by breaking down barriers between disciplines and departments.
Many universities also reduced their admission quotas in response to the declining school-age population. Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University reduced their admission quota from 6,283 to 5,800, Andong National University and Gyeongbuk Provincial University from 1,716 to 1,378, and Gyeongsang National University plans to reduce its admission quota by about 5%. Nine universities, including Gyeongsang National University, planned to differentiate faculty and staff treatment based on ability by reforming personnel systems and introducing performance-based pay.
An official from the Ministry of Education said, "Most of the innovation plans submitted by the 94 applicant universities, besides the 15 preliminarily designated ones, included plans for interdisciplinary integration," adding, "Apart from the Glocal University 30 project, we will support the overall structural improvement of domestic regional universities to proceed as planned."
Admissions experts believe that if regional universities reform their structures into integrated and merged education systems, student preference will increase compared to before. However, they advised that sustainable strategies capable of operating integrated departments must back this up.
Lim Seong-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, said, "Examinees will be interested in universities that integrate majors centered on existing stable core departments," adding, "If regional universities gain new competitiveness through projects like the Glocal University initiative, structural reform will succeed. However, if they merely create new departments or majors just to receive government support, the situation could worsen compared to now."
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