Council of National Public University Presidents Proposes Higher Education Measures for Balanced National Development

Proposal to Create 20 Balanced Development Campuses

The Council of Presidents of National Public Universities, consisting of 19 national and public universities across the country (hereinafter referred to as the Council, chaired by Song Hacheol, President of Mokpo National University), announced on the 26th that it held the "National Public University President Summit" jointly with the Korea University Newspaper at the National Assembly Members' Office Building from the 21st to the 22nd.

The presidents of 15 national public universities who attended the event engaged in intensive discussions on securing financial resources for higher education and the role of national public universities in promoting balanced regional development. They also formulated higher education development proposals to be submitted to the new government.

The Council of Presidents of National Public Universities, centered on the nation, took a commemorative photo at the "National Public University President Summit" held jointly with the Korea University Newspaper from the 21st to the 22nd. Provided by Mokpo National University

At the event, the Council presidents agreed that the Democratic Party's presidential campaign pledge to "create 10 Seoul National University (research-oriented universities)" for balanced national development is a necessary policy for securing the nation's technological edge and advancing future industries.

They assessed that national public universities located in small and medium-sized cities are making significant contributions to preventing regional extinction and helping young people settle in local areas. They agreed that in order to promote more in-depth balanced regional development, it is essential to implement policies such as "creating 20 balanced development campus innovation cities," which would foster the growth of large and small enterprises around university campuses located in small and medium-sized cities with core regional industries, designate specialized research institutes at universities to nurture professionals for regional industries, promote industry-academia joint research, and improve cultural and welfare conditions for young people in the region.

The Council decided to compile the discussions from the two-day summit and deliver them to the government, the National Assembly, and major presidential candidates.