Busan RISE University Presidents' Council Officially Launched... Choi Jaewon Appointed as Inaugural Chair

Inaugural Ceremony Held on the 29th
Presidents' Council Convenes First Meeting as Central Platform for Joint RISE Response

An official council has been launched to lead innovation in Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, as it prepares for a leap onto the global stage.

Busan RISE University Presidents' Council.

The "Busan RISE University Presidents' Council," established to promote mutual cooperation among universities in the Busan region and to efficiently advance the Ministry of Education's RISE (Regional Innovation System for Education) initiative, held its inaugural ceremony and first meeting on the 29th at the Crystal Ballroom of the Busan Lotte Hotel.

At the first meeting, Choi Jaewon, President of Pusan National University, was elected as the inaugural chair of the council, while Jang Soonheung, President of Busan University of Foreign Studies, and Kim Youngdo, President of Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, were each elected as vice chairs.

The council includes the presidents of 21 universities in Busan and has set its core objectives as joint response to the RISE initiative, policy proposals, information exchange, and the promotion of joint projects. During the meeting, discussions focused on strengthening collaboration with the government and local authorities, sharing best practices and activating joint research among universities, and identifying collaborative projects linked to local industries.

In particular, the council also discussed specific directions for inter-university cooperation projects, such as attracting international students and co-hosting job fairs, establishing a new international student festival, jointly developing humanities programs, and spreading RISE achievements at each university.

In his inaugural address, Chair Choi Jaewon stated, "Busan faces challenges such as a declining population, changes in industrial structure, and intensifying global competition." He emphasized, "To overcome these challenges, universities in the Busan region must join forces to forge new growth paths." He added, "The 21 universities are pursuing 122 projects, which will be shared and further developed into a common vision through the council of presidents. We will take the lead in advancing Busan by promoting joint projects in collaboration with the local community and industry."

Going forward, the council plans to support Busan-style higher education innovation by continuing its collaborative activities through regular meetings and subcommittees, sharing RISE project outcomes, planning joint initiatives, and making policy recommendations.