Mokwon University and Paichai University Challenge as Glocal University Consortium

Mokwon University is challenging the ‘Glocal University 30’ project this year as a joint university with Paichai University. The ‘Glocal University 30’ is a representative project promoted by the Ministry of Education to support non-metropolitan universities. The core of the project is to designate 30 non-metropolitan universities and provide 100 billion KRW in support over five years.

According to Mokwon University on the 12th, since May last year, the two universities have launched the ‘Glocal Joint Promotion Committee,’ which includes university officials and external regional experts, and have been discussing the direction of university innovation once a month.

Since its launch, the committee has been dedicated to breaking down barriers between universities to create a new ecosystem for higher education and to establish a university-region co-growth model that meets global standards.

Led by the committee, the two universities have continuously maintained exchanges and cooperation such as unifying academic systems, jointly operating liberal arts courses, joint architecture exhibitions, university innovation support project performance exchange meetings, and industry-academia cooperation performance expansion festivals.

In May of last year, at the Glocal University 30 Promotion Declaration and Joint Promotion Committee Launch Ceremony held at the Art Convention Hall of the International Exchange Center at Paichai University, Lee Hee-hak, President of Mokwon University (left), and Kim Wook, President of Paichai University (right), are holding the agreement and posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Mokwon University

Before applying to participate in the ‘Glocal University 30’ project as a joint university, they also set the goal of “leaping to a K-Glocal university recognized by university members, the region, and the world.” To achieve this goal, the two universities plan to pour their respective capabilities and resources into science-art convergence and solving regional issues, leading sustainable regional transformation. They aim to dramatically increase the universities’ contribution to the development of strategic and specialized industries within the region.

They also plan to contribute to resolving the manpower mismatch in the regional industry and to enhance global capabilities. To realize this, the two universities intend to establish a joint single decision-making system.

The Ministry of Education and the Glocal University Committee will accept preliminary designation applications until the 22nd of this month and announce the preliminary designation results next month. Mokwon University and Paichai University plan to submit a university innovation plan themed on the joint university within the application deadline.

Lee Hee-hak, president of Mokwon University, said, “The two universities have sought and promoted sustainable cooperative activities based on strong trust, and through this, have produced a series of achievements. We will strive to ensure that the innovation plans jointly designed and promoted by the two universities become a driving force leading not only university but also regional community development.”

Kim Wook, president of Paichai University, said, “Mokwon University and Paichai University are like twin universities sharing many commonalities such as founding philosophy, curriculum, and geographical location. The two universities take pride in having already broken down many barriers and become one through continuous innovation and growth possibilities with the local community.”