100 Billion KRW Government Funding Over 5 Years
Suncheon National University has been selected for the Ministry of Education's 2023 'Glocal University 30' project.
Among the prospective designated universities in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, only Suncheon National University was finally selected as a Glocal University, while Chonnam National University was not, resulting in mixed feelings.
The Ministry of Education and the Glocal University Committee announced on the 13th the universities selected for the official designation of Glocal Universities after evaluations by the Glocal University Official Designation Evaluation Committee and deliberations by the Glocal University Committee. The selected universities include ▲Future Education Innovation - Pusan National University, Pusan National University of Education, Hallym University ▲Advanced Talent Cultivation - Gyeongsang National University, Ulsan University, Pohang University of Science and Technology ▲Regional Co-growth - Kangwon National University, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Andong National University, Gyeongbuk Provincial University ▲Global Deepening - Jeonbuk National University, Chungbuk National University, Korea National University of Transportation ▲Expansion of Higher Education Services - Suncheon National University, totaling 10 universities (14 including joint universities), with 7 national/public and 3 private institutions.
The Glocal University 30 project is a program that designates 30 non-metropolitan universities to lead regional co-growth by 2026 to overcome the crisis of regional extinction, providing 100 billion KRW annually for five years.
The universities officially designated will undergo a process of revising and supplementing their implementation plans through expert consulting by February next year.
The Ministry of Education announced that this year, it will initially support up to 5 billion KRW per university and then determine the scale of support based on the annual implementation plans.
Meanwhile, Assemblyman So Byung-chul (Democratic Party, Suncheon (Gap)) stated in a press release, “As the Democratic Party's floor leader on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, I have been in a position to request practical cooperation and communication with various government ministries, and I have directly explained to the central government the justification and innovative capabilities of Suncheon National University's Glocal designation.” He added, “On behalf of 280,000 Suncheon citizens, I would like to express special thanks to President Lee Byung-woon of Suncheon National University, faculty and staff, Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam Province, Mayor Noh Kwan-gyu of Suncheon, and related officials for their efforts.”
Additionally, Mayor Noh Kwan-gyu of Suncheon said, “For the official designation, together with President Lee Byung-woon of Suncheon National University as co-chair, we have established a foundation for industry-academia cooperation from the preliminary designation to the implementation of the main plan, creating a small but solid sustainable environment for the university.” He added, “This official designation of Glocal University 30 has become an opportunity to turn the crisis of local universities into a chance. I sincerely thank President Lee, the assemblyman, city and provincial council members, Jeollanam-do, and other related parties for their hard work.”
The Ministry of Education plans to receive objections until the 22nd, conduct a final review, and confirm the official designation evaluation results by the end of this month.
Suncheon = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Yeon-kyung hss79@asiae.co.kr
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
