While Korean Universities Lose Direction, Overseas Institutions Build Unique Strengths [University Transformation] 12

Linked to Regional Specialized Industries
Strengthening Research Functions for University-Industry Collaboration
Cases from the United States, Denmark, and France

When examining Korean universities, it is difficult to identify the unique strengths of each institution. Domestically, Seoul National University is regarded as the top university, with Yonsei University and Korea University following as second-tier schools, and other leading universities in Seoul are generally perceived as "good universities." Among them, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), both specialized in science and engineering, have established themselves as universities with distinctive strengths.

Looking at overseas universities, there are comprehensive universities with strong overall competitiveness, as well as institutions that have achieved global recognition through the reputation of specific colleges or departments. In addition, governments are encouraging universities to secure international competitiveness through structural reforms.

For local universities in Korea, whose competitiveness has rapidly declined, large-scale mergers and consolidations are inevitable. In the process of merging, it is necessary to seriously consider how to create unique identities and strengths. The current administration's initiative to "create 10 universities at the level of Seoul National University" should focus its policy capabilities on how to integrate and allocate the resources of each national university to establish 10 campuses with competitiveness equivalent to Seoul National University. In particular, considering the specialized industries of each region, it is advantageous for universities to have research functions in order to achieve practical results through close industry-academia cooperation.

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Kim Jongyoung, a professor of sociology at Kyung Hee University who proposed the "10 Seoul National Universities" initiative, stated on September 30, "University reform began with the question of why Korea is considered an 'education hell,' but it can also serve as a response to regional innovation, balanced national development, population decline, and the disappearance of local communities." He added, "This is not just about creating multiple comprehensive universities, but about fostering universities with comparative advantages based on specialization."

◆ "8 Students per Professor" at Olin College of Engineering, USA = Opened in 2002, Olin College of Engineering in the United States is a four-year undergraduate-focused engineering college. The entire student body consists of about 400 students and 50 faculty members, resulting in approximately 8 students per professor. Classes with fewer than 20 students make up 63% of all courses, enabling in-depth, student-centered education. While the majors are divided into mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and general engineering, there are no strict departmental boundaries, allowing for interdisciplinary education.

Olin College of Engineering departs from the traditional approach of teaching theory first and instead emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning from the outset. Most classes are project-based, with students and professors collaborating to design new curricula, often conducted as pilot courses without grades. During these classes, students propose ideas for improvement, consider whether to continue or modify projects, and work to make these ideas concrete. Student evaluation is based on the entire process leading up to the project outcome. Exams for evaluation are rare, held in only one or two subjects per semester. Subjects that are difficult to learn at an engineering college-such as humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and the arts-are taught through collaborative programs with nearby universities.

◆ Integration and Regional Collaboration at the University of Southern Denmark = The University of Southern Denmark was established in 1998 through the merger of Odense University, the Southern Denmark School of Business and Engineering, and the South Jutland University Centre. The university operates campuses in seven regions across Denmark, including Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Kolding, and Sønderborg.

Each campus is closely linked with the industries of its local area and develops alongside them. Graduates of the Odense campus often work at Odense Robotics, Denmark's robotics cluster. The Sønderborg campus, where electrical engineering is a major field, actively collaborates with the energy company Danfoss. The Esbjerg campus, which has an offshore wind farm and many public health-related companies, recently introduced a medical major.

Ditte Bysse, Head of the Innovation Center at the Embassy of Denmark in Korea, is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Ditte Bysse, Head of the Innovation Center at the Embassy of Denmark in Korea, explained, "The University of Southern Denmark operates specialized fields in collaboration with local industries. The goal is to provide opportunities for local students and to further revitalize the region." She added, "Having a university campus means the area is a good place to live and work. Women tend to move to big cities, but as seen in the Southern Denmark case, having a university in a regional city helps retain the female population." According to Statistics Denmark, the migration rate of women in their 20s is higher than that of men, mainly due to academic and career-related reasons.

◆ Large-Scale Integration of Universities and Grandes ?coles = Since 2018, France has been pursuing the integration of universities and grandes ?coles through the "Experimental Public Institution (EPE)" system. Sebastian Codina, Science and University Cooperation Officer at the Embassy of France in Korea, explained, "The goal of this system is to enhance the international reputation of universities, strengthen research capabilities, and improve the quality of student services, without imposing a uniform regional model."

Sebastian Codina, Science and University Cooperation Officer at the Embassy of France in Korea. Embassy of France in Korea

The purpose of the EPE is to cultivate top-tier professionals in specific fields by creating synergy between institutions. The University of Rennes, which transitioned to EPE, was integrated to enable collaboration between the university and grandes ?coles in areas such as public health, climate change, renewable energy, and chemical engineering. Paris-Saclay University brought together several universities and grandes ?coles to match the regional strengths in pharmacy and advanced technology. Codina noted, "We are supporting this transition through several years of financial assistance," adding, "Through the 'France 2030' program launched in 2021, we are striving to promote differentiation, internationalization, and educational transformation." France 2030 is a national investment plan that provides a total budget of 800 million euros over three phases. France has also introduced a new "National Professional Bachelor's Degree," a practice-oriented degree aimed at training highly skilled technicians.