Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University are pursuing university integration with the goal of ‘establishing a brand new national medical school.’ Nonetheless, attributable to the unprecedented constitutional situation of the passage of President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment and the medical community’s opposition to the expansion of medical school seats, this plan faces great difficulties in point of fact.
As well as, the decline within the school-age population, differences in the dimensions of every university, and budget utilization plans are more likely to function aspects that may result in diverse opinions regarding the effectiveness of integration.
Nevertheless, university integration might be a very important stepping stone for regional development and academic innovation. Nonetheless, as an alternative of an approach focused on short-term results, a long-term and practical strategy that considers the sustainable way forward for the region and university is required.
Specifically, smooth communication and cooperation with faculty, students, and native residents are essential throughout the integration process. The opinion collection process have to be operated transparently, and the vision and plan after integration have to be clearly presented.
▪ Beyond establishing a brand new medical school: The true meaning of university integration have to be redefined.
If the main focus is just on the goal of building a brand new medical school, there may be a high possibility that conflicts will arise between universities by way of size and number of scholars enrolled, even after integration. Due to this fact, the aim of integration mustn’t be limited to the establishment of a brand new medical school, but slightly, it’s vital to reset the direction by specializing in research that leverages the strengths of the 2 universities and contribution to the community.
For instance, Mokpo University conducts research linked to the marine industry, and Suncheon University makes a speciality of agriculture and bioscience, making use of points that may maximize the synergy of integration, and constructing a future-oriented smart campus using AI and digital technology to offer students with cutting-edge technology. A learning environment have to be provided.
▪ How will the Glocal University support fund be used?
Moreover, the Glocal University project is proscribed to temporary support of 5 years. If this subsidy is used simply to construct a constructing, there may be a high possibility that only maintenance costs will remain as a burden over time, and the constructing may turn out to be unusable and remain vacant.
Due to this fact, we must deal with creating sustainable results linked to the local people by investing in future-oriented areas akin to expanding research infrastructure, supporting students, and securing faculty. Specifically, there may be a must focus resources on establishing research institutes and strengthening international cooperation vital for future industries akin to AI and bio healthcare.
With a purpose to grow right into a regional base university with global capabilities, international exchange and research cooperation have to be expanded. At the identical time, it must play a task closely related to the local people and contribute to solving local social and economic problems.
The financial status of integrated universities have to be thoroughly examined, duplication of costs have to be reduced, and government and native support have to be secured. We must lay the muse for financial independence by strengthening our own profit model (industrial-academia cooperation, research results, and company linkages).
Integration shouldn’t be simply a matter of mixing two universities, but needs to be viewed as an revolutionary change that prepares the longer term of the region and the country together. Due to this fact, thorough planning and execution for this is important.
▪ Declining school-age population and the importance of regional specialized strategies
Crucial thing to bear in mind when Suncheon National University and Mokpo National University pursue integration in response to the challenge of declining school-age population is securing sustainable competitiveness and contribution to the local people.
The decline within the school-age population is already having a big impact on latest student recruitment in any respect universities across the country. To beat this, latest student recruitment strategies have to be diversified by attracting international students and developing regionally specialized departments. Lifelong education and reeducation programs for adult learners and office employees have to be expanded.
By strengthening talent training programs specialized for regional industries akin to agriculture, marine, and tourism in reference to the economic structure of the Jeollanam-do region, a model that may create a virtuous cycle of the local economy and education might be established.
▸Efficient integration of overlapping departments and resources = Waste of resources needs to be reduced by integrating similar departments, and competitiveness needs to be increased by strengthening the specialized fields of every university. We must construct a picture that’s differentiated from other universities by differentiating research and academic capabilities suited to regional characteristics.
▸Close reference to local industries = Academic fields linked to Jeonnam region’s specialized industries (agriculture, fisheries, energy, AI, etc.) have to be fostered. We must cooperate with local firms and public institutions to extend the employment rate of graduates and create a model that coexists with the local economy.
▸Student-centered integrated course = After integration, careful management is required to be sure that there are not any disadvantages to students’ learning rights and welfare. Strengthening the smart education system (distant lectures, academic linkage) to unravel the issue of physical distance between campuses also needs to be fastidiously examined.
▪ From conflict to cooperation: constructing an integrated model with the community
Throughout the integration process, communication with various stakeholders not only throughout the two universities but in addition in the local people is important. With a purpose to reduce internal conflicts attributable to differences in size between universities, it’s vital to ascertain a versatile organizational system and lay the muse for cooperation while maintaining a certain degree of independence of every university through the twin campus system.
As well as, we must construct a win-win relationship with the local people through lifelong teaching programs, public health services, and industrial cooperation projects that provide practical advantages to local residents. To ensure that universities to operate as core assets of the local people, these efforts have to be accompanied.
▪ Direction for sustainable development even amid political uncertainty
The present political situation and opposition from the medical community are major obstacles to college integration. Nonetheless, we must design a vision for integration from a long-term perspective slightly than being swayed by short-term circumstances.
To ensure that the community and university to construct a sustainable development model together, it’s vital to set a balanced direction for research, education, and regional development beyond specific goals akin to establishing a brand new medical school.
In conclusion, the mixing of Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University mustn’t be a way to easily expand facilities or establish a brand new medical school.
As an alternative, we should always deal with designing the longer term along with local communities and making a sustainable development model. Fairly than dwelling on short-term results, now could be the time to take into consideration a brand new integrated model that brightens the longer term of the community through education and research.
Reporter Yang Jun-seok kailas21@aitimes.com
