"Rebuilding from Basic Math and Science"... Up to KRW 13.5 Billion in Support for Educational Innovation at Regional Science and Engineering Universities

Ministry of Science and ICT Selects Two Non-Metropolitan Universities
Focus on Strengthening Basic Competencies
Through Curriculum Reform and Laboratory Development

The Ministry of Science and ICT is set to launch a major educational innovation project aimed at boosting the basic mathematics and science skills of local science and engineering university students. The core of the initiative is a comprehensive overhaul of everything from the curriculum to the experimental and practical training environment, targeting the growing issue of students dropping out of their majors at the undergraduate level due to a lack of foundational competencies.

The Ministry, in partnership with the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, announced the 'Regional College Students Basic Science and Engineering Competency Enhancement Support Project' and stated that two non-metropolitan universities will be newly selected for this year. The selected universities will receive support totaling up to 13.5 billion won over a period of five years.

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Recently, there has been a growing number of cases where new science and engineering students struggle to keep up with basic mathematics and science courses, raising concerns that this could result in more students dropping out of their majors in higher years. This issue has been particularly pronounced at non-metropolitan universities, fueling concerns that disparities in basic competencies could further widen the gap in regional talent development.

"From Curriculum to Experimentation and Student Support"... University-Led Innovation in Basic Education

This project is structured as a 'responsibility-based model,' where each university independently designs and operates its own basic education innovation model. Universities will develop their own 'Basic Competency Enhancement Plan' reflecting the academic level and major demands of incoming students, and will focus organizational and budgetary resources through a presidential committee.

In addition, a 'Basic Competency Enhancement Center' will be established to provide ongoing support for diagnosing students' basic skills, academic counseling, and customized educational programs. The basic mathematics and science curriculum will be restructured in stages to offer prerequisite courses to students who need them, and teaching density will be improved by combining small-group lectures of around 30 students with assistant-led practical sessions.

Connections between major and basic courses will also be strengthened. The curriculum will be designed so that basic learning is translated into actual major competencies, utilizing problem-solving courses and team teaching approaches.

Furthermore, universities will establish dedicated spaces for basic experiments and practical training and upgrade outdated equipment to improve the training environment. The goal is to enhance students' perceived learning effectiveness through curricula that integrate theory and practice.

The government plans to expand this educational innovation model to universities and high schools within each region, thereby strengthening the talent development infrastructure on a regional scale. Initiatives such as credit exchanges with other universities and advanced educational programs for local high schools will also be promoted.

Joonbae Lee, Director General for Human Resources Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "Innovation in cutting-edge technologies like AI begins with strong basic math and science skills," adding, "We will systematically strengthen basic science and engineering competencies centered around regional universities to enhance the foundation for talent development."

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