Pukyoung National University, local maritime university begin merger talks

Pukyong National University's campus in Nam District, Busan [PUKYONG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

Pukyong National University and Korea Maritime & Ocean University will start discussions to merge, aiming to apply for next year's Glocal University 30 project as a coalition.

The maritime university sent an official request to be merged with Pukyong National University on Wednesday, and Pukyong National University is creating a task force to oversee the potential merger and gather students' opinions.

Pukyong National University's president will be meeting student representatives on Dec. 14. The student council will take surveys from students regarding their stance on the issue, and the results will be shared with the university later.

The universities hope their potential merger will give them an upper hand in the upcoming Glocal University 30 project, as they plan to apply as a coalition.

The government project offers universities outside the greater Seoul area 100 billion won ($76 million) over five years to enhance their competitiveness and quality of education.

This year's winners were announced in November, but another ten will be selected for the same project next year, with applications opening in January. The project will choose five more in 2025 and 2026, bringing the total number of recipients to 30.

Some coalitions won the funding by deciding to merge with other schools specializing in similar fields.

Four coalitions were among the 10 winners selected for this year's funding.

Pusan National University and Busan National University of Education, forming one of the four coalitions that won the funding, plan to merge and strengthen their curricula in teacher training.

If a merger between Pukyong National University and Korea Maritime & Ocean University is decided, the two will be able to become a university specializing in maritime studies.

The maritime university offers marine officer training programs, and Pukyoung National University traces its roots back to the National Fisheries University of Busan before it merged with Busan National University of Technology in 1996.

"After the successful merger between the National Fisheries University of Busan and Busan National University of Technology in 1996, which became Pukyong National University, we were able to become a renowned local university," Jang Young-soo, president of Pukyong National University, said. "So we are going to be open to all discussions that allow us to innovate and will put in a lot of effort to benefit the local industry and higher education."

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]