Analysis of Innovation Plans from 15 Glocal University Candidates
10 of 15 Preliminary Designated Schools Finally Selected
Includes Campus Integration, Department Barriers Removal
Selection Focused on National Universities, Criticism of Private University Neglect
The government has selected 10 universities for the official designation under the ‘Glocal University 30 Project’ aimed at resolving imbalances among regional universities. Most of the universities that failed to pass from the 15 preliminarily designated schools are private universities, leading to criticism that the selection focused mainly on national universities.
Kim Woo-seung, Vice Chairman of the Glocal University Committee, is answering reporters' questions after announcing the results of the '2023 Glocal University Main Designation Selection' on the afternoon of the 13th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The glocal universities announced by the government on the 13th are ▲ Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University ▲ Gyeongsang National University ▲ Pusan National University and Pusan National University of Education ▲ Sunchon National University ▲ Andong National University and Gyeongbuk Provincial University ▲ Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology ▲ Jeonbuk National University ▲ Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation ▲ Pohang University of Science and Technology ▲ Hallym University, totaling 10 institutions. The government will provide up to 100 billion KRW per university over the next five years.
Most of the selected universities were recognized for their plans to pursue structural reform through campus integration. Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University announced plans to merge into one school to create the ‘One National University per Province in Kangwon’ model. Pusan National University and Pusan National University of Education will also integrate to establish an ‘Education-Focused University.’ Andong National University and Gyeongbuk Provincial University plan to merge and create a ‘Public-Type University Innovation Model’ together with seven educational and research institutions in Gyeongbuk. Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation plan to develop industry-specialized campuses.
Six universities?Kangwon National University and Gangneung-Wonju National University, Sunchon National University, Andong National University and Gyeongbuk Provincial University, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation?announced plans to abolish departmental barriers or admit freshmen without departmental divisions through academic structure reforms.
Innovative plans to create regional industrial cluster (new industrial zone) models were also proposed. Pusan National University and Pusan National University of Education presented plans to develop as an edutech hub in cooperation with local governments, education offices, and companies. Jeonbuk National University aims to establish a university-industry-city triangle to unify regional industries such as secondary batteries, bio-agriculture, and pet bio. Pohang University of Science and Technology also plans to build a ‘Global Startup Pacific Valley’ to support ventures and startups.
Meanwhile, five universities preliminarily designated earlier?Sunchonhyang University, Yonsei University Future Campus, Inje University, Handong Global University, and Chonnam National University?were excluded from the official designation. Among the 10 selected universities, seven are national universities, while four of the five universities that failed are private. There is criticism that the government selected mainly national universities, where integration is relatively easier to pursue. The private universities that were excluded submitted their own innovation plans. The Ministry of Education stated, "Evaluation committee members seemed to place importance on the sincerity of integration plans."
The innovation plans submitted by the universities that failed are not significantly different from those of the selected universities, except for the integration aspect. Sunchonhyang University proposed building a high-tech city in Chungnam in cooperation with local governments and abolishing barriers between majors through departmental restructuring. Yonsei University Future Campus submitted plans to establish a health care-AI industry-academia convergence zone within the university. Inje University proposed creating an urban university innovation model with Gimhae City, and Chonnam National University presented plans to specialize each campus. Handong Global University also proposed creating a new industrial hub valley in cooperation with Pohang City.
Professor Kim Seong-cheon of the Department of Educational Policy at Korea National University of Education criticized, "There is no visible roadmap on how to comprehensively solve the problems of regional universities in the Glocal University Project." The Ministry of Education and the Glocal University Committee are considering recognizing the preliminary designation status for universities that failed the official designation this year in next year’s project.
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