[Viewpoint] Why Is a 'Great University Transformation' Necessary?

Lack of Creativity Education Undermines Korea's Competitiveness
University Innovation Is the Key to National Growth Strategy

Each year, 43,000 students graduate from artificial intelligence (AI) departments at universities in China. This is twice the total student population of Seoul National University. By 2023, 585 universities in China had established AI departments. Prestigious institutions such as Tsinghua University and Peking University have also set up AI departments, attracting gifted students to study there. Leading universities in the United States-including MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and UC Berkeley-are also establishing AI-focused colleges, making large-scale investments, and actively pursuing industry-academia collaboration. Universities are at the forefront of the US-China power competition.

Meanwhile, South Korea remains gripped by the medical school craze. The trend of top-performing students flocking to medical schools is nothing new. The main concern is how much stable income one can earn after graduation. Even if students pursue science and engineering, it is difficult to earn as much as doctors. The government, the scientific community, and much of the public all agree on the need to revive science and engineering, but there have been no innovative measures. Last year, five Korean universities were ranked among the world's top 100 in the QS World University Rankings, but this year, the number has dropped to three. In a survey conducted by Asia Economy targeting 30 leading Korean companies, only two companies responded that "university education contributes to cultivating the ideal talent needed by companies." The most needed graduates were those from science and engineering fields.

The Korean economy now stands at a crossroads: will it advance to become a world-class developed nation, or slide back into developing country status? Next year, Korea's potential growth rate is expected to fall below 2%. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts Korea's potential GDP growth rate at 1.98% for next year. This is the first time since 1986, when related data began to be compiled, that the potential growth rate has fallen to the 1% range. Low growth is an urgent issue for us. Due to the rapid decline in birth rates and an aging population, we are facing multiple challenges.

The competitiveness of Korean companies is already declining. While it is often said that Korean companies are being chased by their Chinese counterparts, in reality, Chinese companies have already surpassed Korean firms in many respects. Even in industrial technology, which was Korea's last stronghold, Chinese companies are now far more innovative. Korean companies are being squeezed out by China's advanced industry promotion policies and the United States' ability to absorb global capital and technology. The only options left for us are creativity and the innovation that enables it.

Creativity is not developed overnight. It requires a mindset of constant questioning from a young age, an education system that fosters inquiry and debate, and students raised in such an environment entering university. Universities composed of creative individuals must stand at the forefront of innovation in partnership with businesses. Only then can Korea rise to become a world-class developed nation.

The 'Great University Transformation' is about innovating Korea's education system with universities at its core. It is about ensuring that universities can function properly in our society. Universities should not simply supply labor to companies; they must produce talent capable of leading both industry and society. For universities to stand strong, the admissions system must be reformed, which can also lead to the normalization of elementary and secondary education. This process will also help nurture members of society who value dialogue, compromise, concession, and consideration. It could lead to a nationwide renewal of human resources, helping to overcome a backward political culture and an excessively competitive society.

There will be considerable resistance in the process of innovating universities. That is precisely why we cannot afford to delay any longer. The 'Great University Transformation' is the core 'growth strategy' that must be implemented immediately.