National Universities, 'USG Gongyu University' Community Innovation Major Students Gather

Starting Point for Training Community Problem Experts

Applications Open from 13th to 17th on USG Shared University Website

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The Smart Community Project Group at Gyeongsang National University, the lead institution of the Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Innovation Platform, is recruiting additional students majoring in Community Innovation at the nation's first USG (University System of Gyeongnam) Shared University.

Any currently enrolled student who has completed or is expected to complete at least four semesters at their home university located in Ulsan or Gyeongnam, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, is eligible to apply.

Applicants who have completed prerequisite courses or have excellent foreign language scores can receive additional points. The application period is from December 13 to 17, and applications can only be submitted through the USG Shared University website.

The ‘USG Shared University’ is part of the ‘Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Innovation Platform’ project, a large-scale talent development initiative where local governments, universities, companies, and innovation institutions collaborate to cultivate local talent and establish a virtuous cycle system for regional development. Since 2021, over five years, funding from the Ministry of Education and local governments has supported a consortium of 13 universities in Ulsan and Gyeongnam operating interdisciplinary programs.

The Community Innovation major recruiting its second cohort at the USG Shared University is led by the Department of Sociology at Gyeongsang National University. Participating departments include the Department of Sociology at Gyeongnam National University, the School of Public Talent at Inje University, the Department of Sociology at Changwon National University, and the Social Welfare major at Ulsan University. These five departments develop practical, problem-solving curricula necessary for regional innovation and participate as faculty to nurture talent specialized in community innovation.

Specialized courses focused on professional social issue research and practice include ‘Understanding and Drafting Local Autonomy Ordinances,’ ‘Community Problem Analysis Capstone Design,’ ‘Village Making Living Lab,’ and ‘Village and Archiving.’ Systematic extracurricular programs such as ‘Facilitator Training Course,’ ‘Big Data Analysis,’ and ‘NCS’ are also specialized. Major students receive separate innovation talent support funds distinct from internal and external scholarships until graduation. Additionally, internship opportunities are provided at public institutions and local community partner organizations.

Professor Kim Ju-ho of the Department of Sociology at Gyeongsang National University stated, “The first cohort of students who enrolled in the summer of 2021 have already produced and archived village records in Jinju and are actively working as facilitators promoting local events, showing remarkable growth,” adding, “We will lead an educational model of university and regional coexistence and serve as a catalyst for nurturing local talent.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.