The Ministry of Education is moving to ease regulations to support innovation at regional universities. The core measures allow joint degree conferral between four-year universities and junior colleges, and permit the appointment of external figures to major posts at national universities. The aim is to lower institutional barriers so regional universities can flexibly adapt their education and operations to industrial demand and local conditions.
The ministry said Wednesday it has newly designated Gangwon as a Higher Education Innovation Special Zone and revised the designations of Busan, Gwangju-South Jeolla, Daegu-North Gyeongsang, and Daejeon-Sejong-South Chungcheong, granting a total of 16 regulatory exemptions. The Higher Education Innovation Special Zone is a system that temporarily eases or removes relevant regulations, limited to applicant universities, so regional universities can pursue innovation tailored to local characteristics.
The most notable change is the allowance of joint degree conferral between four-year universities and junior colleges. Chungnam National University and Kongju National University will be able to confer bachelor's degrees jointly with junior colleges that operate advanced major programs aligned with joint curricula. Previously, cooperation was limited to measures such as credit exchange, but joint curriculum operation and degree conferral will now be possible. Chungnam National University plans to cooperate with junior colleges in the fields of bio-health and future mobility to nurture talent for regional strategic industries.
The scope for opening up national university operations will also widen. Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University will be able to appoint external figures to major posts including vice president, graduate school dean, and college dean. Currently, only faculty members within the school can hold such posts, but the exemption will allow external experts from industry and research circles to participate in university operations.
Regulations related to field training and university operations will also be eased. Universities in Gangwon, Busan, Daegu-North Gyeongsang, and Daejeon-Sejong-South Chungcheong will be able to expand the threshold for training support payments from 25 percent to 50 percent of the minimum wage when conducting field training at industrial sites, public institutions, and government-funded research institutes designated and managed by the government or local governments. The scope of leased buildings universities can use as educational facilities will also be broadened from the same basic local government area to the same metropolitan local government area.
The ministry also decided to apply exemptions by region, including exceptions to open recruitment of non-tenured faculty, eased retirement age standards, and expanded lecturer teaching hours. "This is about removing institutional obstacles so that regional universities can design and implement innovation on their own," Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin said. "For regulatory exemptions whose effectiveness is confirmed, we will also consider revising laws and regulations going forward."
