Gyeongnam Has Most Glocal Universities Designated ... Changwon University and Inje University Actively Support Innovation

The consortium of Changwon National University, Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang College, Gyeongnam Provincial Namhae College, Korea Lift College, and Inje University has been finally selected as Glocal Universities for 2024, making Gyeongnam Province the region with the highest number of official Glocal University designations in the country this year.

On the afternoon of the 28th, Gyeongnam Province announced this achievement at the provincial government press center, sharing the results of the Ministry of Education's 2024 Glocal University official designation evaluation.

The Ministry of Education, after reviewing 20 preliminary designated universities through an evaluation committee since last April, announced 10 universities for the final designation on this day.

Changwon National University, in consortium with Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang College, Gyeongnam Provincial Namhae College, and Korea Lift College, and Inje University, as a single institution, both competed for the Glocal University official designation and achieved successful results.

With the final designation, over the next five years, the Changwon University consortium will receive up to 200 billion KRW and Inje University up to 100 billion KRW in government funding, along with priority application of customized regulatory exemptions.

Yoon In-guk, Director of the Youth Division at Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education, and university officials are announcing the final designation of Glocal University. Photo by Lee Seryeong

Previously, Changwon National University set its innovation direction as a research-oriented university leading the future of the Changwon National Industrial Complex, by integrating with Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang College and Gyeongnam Provincial Namhae College, and forming a consortium with Korea Lift College and government-funded research institutes such as Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute and Korea Institute of Materials Science.

Going forward, they will pursue eight major initiatives and 21 detailed projects for comprehensive DNA+ specialization, encompassing research and development, as well as the cultivation of advanced and technical personnel.

DNA+ refers to adding Data, Network, and Artificial Intelligence to the region’s key industries: Defense, Nuclear, and Autonomous Smart Manufacturing.

Changwon University plans to strengthen world-class education and industry-academia-research joint research functions in the DNA+ field by: operating the Glocal Advanced Science and Technology College (GAST) for DNA+ specialized talent development; establishing the Gyeongnam Changwon Institute of Science and Technology (GCIST) through a consortium with Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute and Korea Institute of Materials Science; and nurturing local talent through the integration of national and public universities.

Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang College will specialize in anti-aging and bio, nursing, drones, and smart manufacturing, while Gyeongnam Provincial Namhae College will focus on aviation manufacturing, tourism, defense-nuclear convergence, and defense weapon manufacturing, cultivating customized technical talent required for local industries.

Through these efforts, they aim to: supply 1,000 DNA+ talents; enter the top 20 in the QS Asia Rankings for specialized fields; achieve a 60% local talent retention rate; and reach 55% satisfaction with the youth settlement environment.

In addition, with March 2026 as the deadline for the launch of the integrated university, they plan to gather opinions from university members and local residents on each university’s specialization and integration details to further specify innovation plans.

Inje University, based on its key strategy announced last year, the ‘All-City Campus,’ has presented ‘A city responsible for the university, a university responsible for the city’ as its innovation direction.

After being a preliminary Glocal University last year, Inje University has now been included in the final list on its second attempt.

Inje University will implement four major initiatives and 15 detailed projects with the goal of a major urban transformation encompassing education, industry, and the region.

Plans include: establishing the Gimhae Talent Development Foundation as a joint governance body led by Inje University and Gimhae City; building field campuses at 100 excellent local companies and core facilities; introducing local settlement-based admissions and major self-selection systems; and promoting joint operation of major and liberal arts curricula and region-specialized tracks among local universities, as well as activating student exchanges for the co-growth of regional universities.

Through these efforts, they aim to: secure at least two-thirds of new students from the local area; increase the local employment rate of graduates to over one-third; establish 100 field campuses; ensure that international students make up over 15% of the total student body; involve 3,000 citizens in program participation; and improve residents’ life satisfaction by at least 10.1%.

Gyeongnam Province will sign a Grand Leap Implementation Agreement with Glocal Universities, the Ministry of Education, and local industries, outlining the roles and tasks each party must fulfill to support the implementation and achievement of the action plans proposed by local Glocal Universities.

They will also provide substantial local government funding, together with cities and counties, for innovative curriculum development such as securing top-level faculty domestically and internationally, corporate tracks, contract departments, project-based classes, as well as scholarships and research funding to nurture outstanding talent.

In particular, to spread and utilize the achievements of Glocal Universities in talent development, research and development, and industry-academia collaboration throughout the region, they will focus on strengthening cooperation between Gyeongnam Province, universities, and local industries, including enacting the (tentatively named) ‘Gyeongsangnam-do University Innovation and Local Talent Development Ordinance.’

They also plan to actively participate in the implementation process of Glocal University plans and address regulatory innovation and system improvements that arise during the process.

For Gyeongnam University and Yeonam Institute of Technology, which did not make the final list, they will review the Ministry of Education’s report and address shortcomings to support another attempt next year.

Yoon In-guk, Director of the Education and Youth Bureau, said, “We will use this Glocal designation as a cornerstone for all universities in the province to innovate, and we will do our utmost to help them become world-class universities that students want to attend and that companies and the region need.”

Governor Park Wansoo stated, “Following Gyeongsang National University last year, I am very pleased, together with our 3.3 million residents, that Gyeongnam Province has achieved the highest number of Glocal University designations in the country. We will actively support the creation of world-class universities that nurture outstanding talent connected to Gyeongnam’s key industries, based on university integration and innovation.”

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