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국가거점국립대총장협, 제2차 고등교육 정책포럼 개최
Flagship national universities presidents meet for education forum

Council of the Presidents of the Flagship National Universities (Chaired by Song, Seok-eon, President of Jeju National University) and the National Assembly’s Education Committee (Chairperson Cho, Hae-jin) held ‘2021 Second Higher Education Policy Forum’ at Glad Hotel, Yeouido, Seoul, on Nov. 22, at 3 pm.

The forum was co-hosted by the CPFNU and NAEC and organized by Chungnam National University (President Lee, Jin-sook) in a hybridized way of both face-to-face and online meeting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyHLyUhI3io).

The topic of the forum was the ‘balanced national development and the future direction of higher education.’ Professor Ma, Gang-rae of Jungang University Department of Urban Planning and Real Estate presented on ‘national crisis caused by the overconcentration of the capital region,’ and Professor Bahn, Sang-jin of Chonbuk National University Department of Education on ‘turning point for national universities and major assignments.’

Chairperson Song, Seok-eon of the CPFNU said in his opening remarks, “To achieve national competitiveness in the 4th Industrial Revolution, structural reforms in universities and fundamental measures for balanced national development are urgently required. I hope the forum would serve as valuable venue for us the national universities to face the crisis directly, and publicize whereabouts and future direction of higher education.”

In her congratulatory speech, Yoo, Eun-hye, Minister of Education said, “Universities are coming up with various plans to adapt to changes, including reinforcing linkage with regional communities, innovations through sharing and cooperation between schools, and specialization. The forum is truly a meaningful opportunity for us to find a new way for the university and higher education of the nation as we adapt to challenges in this field.”

Chairperson Cho, Hae-jin of the NAEC said, “The forum is prepared to discuss higher education at the level of the nation’s balanced development. The reinforcement of regional universities should become our national objective. This should be backed up by enhancing the competitiveness of regional universities as schools share resources based around the flagship universities.”

President Lee, Jin-sook of Chungnam National University, the organizer of the event, said, “Flagship universities have the role as a think-tank for various purposes which are to: bring innovation to higher education; overcome difficulties; proliferate public education; deal with balanced national development, industrial innovation; and improve national competitiveness. The forum will suggest paradigm shift in higher education, a direction for flagship universities and the national education to take, and frameworks of future education in this everchanging environment.”

Professor Ma said on his presentation, “Since 2010, the rapid change in the industrial structure accelerates overconcentration of leading companies in the capital region, which in t urn adds up to the risk of other regions. While the population of non-capital regions decreases, the overconcentration of capital region bears social issues such as increase in house price, and low birthrates.”

Professor Ma also mentioned, “As there are opinions calling for urban environment in the non-capital regions that match that of the capital area, plans for building mega-urban regions in Chungcheong, Daegu-Gyeongsangbukdo, Gwangju-Jeollanamdo, and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeonsangnamdo regions are becoming reality as the regions establish industrial ecosystems, create jobs, and linking universities with the industries. National universities located within the mentioned regions are to ponder as to their responsibilities as they face changing industrial structure and overconcentration in capital region.”

Professor Bahn said on his presentation, “Universities in Korea are at risk of weakened education capabilities, hollowing out, financial crisis, increased cost since COVID-19, serious educational and research gap, and failure to obtain public credibility. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Education’s budget is constantly decreasing every year. Only short-term plans exist to influence.”

Professor Bahn also said, “Rather turning to inter-university competition, taking to a paradigm shift is required so that national universities can share and cooperate. The ‘share-and-growth union model’ requires a union system for research at the graduate school level and a regional cluster at the undergraduate school level. Regional Innovation System (RIS) capabilities should be led by the university-local authority-industry body in this paradigm shift.”

General discussion and Q&A session were held afterwards, by Hong, Won-hwa, President of Gyeongbuk National University, Kim, Dong-won, President of Chonbuk National University, Kim, Soo-gap, President of Chungbuk National University, Yoon, Young-deok, member of the National Assembly, Shin, Ik-hyeon, Ministry of Education Higher Education Policy Officer, and Lee, Jong-seung, Vice General Director of Dong-a Ilbo Newspaper.

Meanwhile, the first higher education policy forum of 2021 was held on Aug. 26, under the theme of ‘Challenges and Future of Higher Education of Korea.’ Presentations were given by Chair Professor Song, Ho-geun of POSTECH on ‘University at Risk: Changing Risk into Opportunity’ and Professor Cho, Young-tae, Seoul National University on ‘Survival Strategy for Flagship National University: with Demographic Perspective’ to diagnose the risk of universities and discuss survival strategies.