'100 Billion Won Support' Glocal Universities, 10 More Designated in July This Year

Selection of over 30 schools by 2026
10 designated this year following last year
Support available for 'Yeonhap University' format as well

The government will designate 10 additional Glocal Universities this July, providing up to 100 billion KRW in support over five years.

On the 31st, the Ministry of Education and the Glocal University Committee announced the '2024 Glocal University Designation Plan' following regional public hearings and committee deliberations. The 'Glocal University 30 Project' is a government policy initiative aimed at selecting and supporting 30 non-metropolitan universities by 2030 to respond to the declining school-age population and cultivate talent tailored to local communities.

Last year, 10 universities were selected, and this year, an additional 10 universities will be designated as Glocal Universities. By 2026, a total of about 30 universities are expected to be designated as Glocal Universities. The 10 universities selected last year 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.

Universities aiming to be designated as Glocal Universities must submit an innovation plan within five pages by March 22. The Ministry of Education plans to announce the preliminary designation evaluation results in April and disclose the final designation evaluation results in July.

This year's Glocal University designation plan largely maintains the basic directions such as vision and goals presented in last year's 'Glocal University 30 Promotion Plan.' However, unlike last year, this year’s designation allows 'federated universities'?two or more universities that have established governance together?to apply. Last year, only single universities or those based on integration could apply.

An official from the Ministry of Education stated, "A fundamental restructuring of universities is necessary amid the declining school-age population, which was a key point confirmed in last year's evaluation. Since it is difficult for two or more private universities with different foundations to integrate immediately, we will allow federations for now, but with the prerequisite that the federation must be maintained after five years and ultimately reach the integration stage."

For the five universities that passed the preliminary designation last year but failed the final designation, maintaining and supplementing their innovation directions will allow them to be recognized as preliminary designated universities this year as well. These five universities are ▲ Soonchunhyang University ▲ Yonsei University Mirae Campus ▲ Inje University ▲ Chonnam National University ▲ Handong Global University.

Additionally, unlike last year, this year’s preliminary designation evaluation will form evaluation committees according to university types such as national, public, private, specialized, and comprehensive universities, and conduct more in-depth evaluations. While face-to-face evaluations were conducted only when necessary until last year, from this year, all applicant universities will undergo face-to-face evaluations.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, said, "The Glocal University 30 Project initiated last year has created an atmosphere of innovation throughout the university community. In this second year, we expect many universities to develop the innovation models proposed last year to a higher level and present new innovation models."

Kim Joong-soo, Chair of the Glocal University Committee, emphasized, "Glocal Universities should become universities that lead the globalization of their regions based on community-centered innovation. We plan to designate Glocal Universities through strict and fair evaluations."