Ministry of Education announces Glocal University 30 project shortlist

K-campus

Published: 16 Apr. 2024, 15:15

Ministry of Education announces Glocal University 30 project shortlist

Kim Joong-su, chair of the Ministry of Education's Glocal Institution Committee, announces the universities shortlisted for the Glocal University 30 project on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

The Ministry of Education announced the universities shortlisted for this year's Glocal University 30 project, where institutions could receive multibillion-won government funding over the next five years.

A total of 20 teams, made up of 33 universities, made it to the shortlist, said the Ministry of Education on Tuesday.

There were 109 universities that applied for the project, with 39 being individual applicants, 20 applying as teams that will make a joint decision-making body and six teams applying on the condition they merge.

Shortlisted universities will have to submit a detailed plan on how they plan to use the funding by the end of July. The Education Ministry will select the final winners, which will be around 10 teams, in August.

Of the shortlisted universities, 11 are universities that applied individually. Konyang University, Kyungnam University, Kyungpook National University, Daegu Haany University, Mokpo National University and Hannam University are part of the list.

Another five universities — Soonchunhyang University, Chonnam National University, Inje University, Yonsei University Mirae Campus and Handong Global University — are also individual applicants that were shortlisted, but they didn't have to go through additional screening. The universities were allowed to immediately move past the first round as they were shortlisted for last year’s project, but failed to make it to the final list.

Another six teams, applying as coalitions that will create a joint decision-making body, were also shortlisted. These are: Tongmyong University and Silla University; Dongshin University, Chodang University and Mokpo Science College; Dong-a University and Dongseo University; Daegu Health College, Gwangju Health University and Daejeon Health University; Yeungnam University and Kumoh National Institute of Technology; and Ulsan College and Yonam Institute of Technology.

Of the shortlisted universities, two are coalitions formed on the condition they merge: Wonkwang University and Wonkwang Health Science University, and Chungnam National University and Hanbat National University.

The universities will have to submit merger plans within a year of the final selection if they make it to the final stages.

The team between Changwon National University, University of Gyeongnam Geochang, University of Gyeongnam Namhae and Korea Lift College was also shortlisted. However, only three universities — Changwon National University, University of Gyeongnam Geochang and University of Gyeongnam Namhae — are forming the team on the condition they merge. Korea Lift College is also part of the team, but will only be forming a joint decision-making body with the three universities.

Attracting more international students to enhance competitiveness was one of the plans proposed by the shortlisted universities.

Chonnam National University plans to create a Global Residence Hub at its campuses in Yeosu and Gwangju if it wins the funding. According to the university, the hubs will offer support for international students to study at the university and reside in Korea after graduation.

The university will also create Global Innovation Hubs in countries abroad. The hubs will be in charge of creating more joint research opportunities and dual degree programs. Wenzhou Medical University in China is one of the universities that Chonnam National University will partner with to offer a dual degree program.

The team between Yeungnam University and Kumoh National Institute of Technology aims to create a Global Youth Village, an organization that will focus on offering support to international students.

Mokpo National University aims to focus on inviting students from Indonesia. To do so, the university plans to create dual degree programs with Indonesian universities such as Padjadjaran University, University of Indonesia and IPB University.

This is the second year the government is offering funding to universities through the Glocal University 30 project. The project will continue, with the government planning to select an additional five universities in both 2025 and 2026.

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