Estimated Budget for "Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" at 3 Trillion Won
"Universities Must Prevent Budget Waste to Enhance Policy Feasibility
Government and National Assembly Should Seek New Funding Sources
Guaranteeing University Autonomy Is Essential"
Nine national universities, including Seoul National University, have proposed to the new government that the "Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" pledge should not remain a mere slogan, but must be realized through concrete and actionable measures.
On June 20, the National Association of Professors of Flagship National Universities (NAPFNU) issued a statement urging the new government led by Lee Jaemyung to immediately implement its regional university support pledge, which was promised to all citizens, as soon as the cabinet is formed. The association also called on universities to pursue reforms to enhance competitiveness without hesitation. This stance reflects concerns that the "Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" pledge, which was a key campaign promise, may become hollow due to the lack of concrete preparatory and implementation measures.
The NAPFNU identified "securing the budget" as the most urgent issue. The core of the "Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" initiative is to raise the per-student educational expenditure at the nine flagship national universities to 70% of that at Seoul National University, thereby enhancing their competitiveness. Currently, Seoul National University spends about 60.59 million won per student annually, while regional flagship universities average 24.5 million won. It is estimated that at least 3 trillion won will be required to close this gap. However, no plan for securing the necessary funding has yet been presented.
The NAPFNU warned, "If the budget for higher education, which is currently at only 70% of the level of advanced countries, is not expanded, and if the 'Special Account for Higher and Lifelong Education Support Act' (Special Account Act), which is set to expire this year, is not extended, there is a high risk that funds will be diverted from Seoul National University, universities in the Seoul metropolitan area, or other national and public universities to the flagship universities, resulting in a zero-sum situation." The association further cautioned, "Such a scenario would inevitably lead to self-destructive competition among universities, regression in higher education, and increased conflict among Seoul National University, metropolitan universities, flagship universities, and regional universities."
The Special Account Act is a special budget established to alleviate financial difficulties at universities and support costs related to education and research to enhance competitiveness. It was introduced as a temporary measure in 2023 and is set to expire on December 31 of this year.
The NAPFNU requested that the government "ensure flexibility for expanding higher education funding." Regarding the RISE (Regional Innovation-led University Support System) project promoted by the previous administration, the association stated that "measures should be taken to prevent undue interference from local governments and to guarantee university autonomy."
The association also called on the National Assembly to "refrain from proposing populist education policies and to work toward abolishing unnecessary regulations on universities."
The NAPFNU emphasized that efforts must be made not only by the government and the National Assembly, but also by the universities themselves. The association stated, "For universities to have autonomy, they must fulfill their public responsibilities," adding that "in order to receive government funding sourced from taxpayers, universities must ensure transparent financial management, eliminate administrative inefficiencies, and guarantee objective evaluations of university operations." For example, the association advised against engaging in showcase projects that result in financial leakage. It also proposed full disclosure of accounting records, external consulting by independent organizations, and rigorous evaluation of university financial management as measures to enhance transparency. These steps are intended to reduce the government's financial burden and maximize the efficiency of support.
Additionally, the association suggested that flagship and other national universities should make use of the advanced facilities and equipment available at Seoul National University and metropolitan universities to avoid redundant investments in infrastructure and equipment. They also noted that this could serve as a catalyst for activating joint degree programs and exchanges based on university specialization.
The NAPFNU concluded, "These proposals are not limited to developing concrete implementation plans for the 'Creating 10 Seoul National Universities' initiative, but will also help establish the basic infrastructure needed to address accumulated social issues such as regional decline due to population decrease, concentration in the metropolitan area and university stratification, the deterioration of public education, and excessive private education costs." The association expressed hope that, after a comprehensive overhaul of national education policy, the new government would achieve balanced regional development by building a sustainable social and industrial ecosystem across the country through the coexistence of metropolitan and regional universities.
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