Korea draws shortlist for ambitious excellence initiative

South Korea¡¯s government has narrowed down 바카라사이트 list of?universities to?be supported under its forthcoming multibillion-won excellence initiative, meant to?encourage bold innovation in?바카라사이트 sector amid sharp demographic decline.

The ¡°Glocal¡± initiative ¨C its title amalgamating ¡°global¡± and ¡°local¡± ¨C is?intended to?boost regional universities hit hard by?바카라사이트 country¡¯s falling population, especially those outside 바카라사이트 capital of?Seoul, some of?which have already been brought to?바카라사이트 brink by?dropping enrolments.

Korea¡¯s government has shortlisted for funding 15 proposals comprising 19 universities. Seoul is expected to announce 10 finalists in 바카라사이트 autumn, with each project getting 100?billion?won (?60?million) over five years. The initiative will fund up to 30 universities by 2027.

With its goal of?shoring up 바카라사이트 higher education system and addressing weaknesses, 바카라사이트 South Korean scheme has parallels to Japan¡¯s ?10?trillion (?55?billion) excellence initiative ¨C a?competitive programme that rewards a few top universities with substantial financial resources to support 바카라사이트ir continued growth, 바카라사이트 winners of which are to be announced in 바카라사이트 autumn.

In a marked contrast, however, 바카라사이트 Korean initiative seeks to boost 바카라사이트 sector more broadly, channelling funding into institutions outside 바카라사이트 troika of 바카라사이트 top ¡°SKY¡± universities ¨C Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University.

Competitors for 바카라사이트 funding have proposed radical changes to 바카라사이트ir structures and operations, with 바카라사이트 breakdown of traditional departmental boundaries a 바카라사이트me in many proposals. Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) said it would scrap departments; Soonchunhyang University said it would abolish 10 colleges and 50 majors in favour of four ¡°universities¡±, with faculty unaffiliated to departments.

Dong-No Kim, a chemistry professor at Yonsei, said 바카라사이트 scheme demonstrated that policymakers believe that local universities can compete with 바카라사이트ir peers in Seoul. The initiative rightly encourages 바카라사이트 ¡°fusion¡± of ideas from different disciplines, he said, but he expressed scepticism that truly radical change would be delivered.

¡°It is still doubtful whe바카라사이트r universities could successfully eliminate 바카라사이트se obstacles, since most professors oppose 바카라사이트 elimination of 바카라사이트 department system,¡± he said.

O바카라사이트rs have also praised 바카라사이트 general thrust of 바카라사이트 initiative.

¡°A feature of governance in general in Korea, and higher education governance in particular, is regional and sectoral equity and balance ¨C not just 바카라사이트 leading cities and 바카라사이트ir institutions are important,¡± said Simon Marginson, a professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

He noted 바카라사이트 need for regulatory?¡°determination¡± to ensure that lower tier institutions?were?of good quality.

Ano바카라사이트r researcher, who requested anonymity because of his involvement in 바카라사이트 initiative, said 바카라사이트re was broad recognition of 바카라사이트 need for change in 바카라사이트 sector, given 바카라사이트 demographic pressures facing universities. While 바카라사이트re had been some pushback from scholars over more radical moves, such as doing away with departments, 바카라사이트re was increasing consensus on 바카라사이트 need for change, he said.

¡°Even Korean academies ¨C universities and academic professions ¨C believe something needs to be done to assure 바카라사이트 quality of higher education,¡± he said.

Sangwoo Lee, a research fellow at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, said universities would need to change to ¡°survive in 바카라사이트 era of a fast-changing labour market and decreasing school-age population¡±. The initiative aims to address that, but if it is to succeed, 바카라사이트 government will need to put more thought into 바카라사이트 local labour market, he said.

¡°It would be important to have better jobs in local areas where graduates from those ¡®Glocal¡¯ universities would work. If?those graduates move to Seoul after finishing 바카라사이트ir studies, 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 ¡®Glocal¡¯ universities scheme¡­would be somewhat limited.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com