Glocal University 30 project eases restrictions to support private universities

Ten universities and coalitions will be selected for this year's Glocal University 30 funding project, with restrictions to form coalitions eased to allow more private universities to apply.

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, center, explains about the Glocal University 30 project during a meeting with South Jeolla-based universities in November last year. The Ministry of Education announced Wednesday it will select 10 universities and coalitions for this year's Glocal University 30 project. [NEWS1]

Ten universities and coalitions will be selected for this year's Glocal University 30 funding project, with restrictions to form coalitions eased to allow more private universities to apply.

The Ministry of Education announced this year's plans for the funding project on Wednesday, aiming to select 10 universities and coalitions that will each receive funding of 100 billion won ($74.9 million) over the next five years.

A total of 20 will be shortlisted in April, with 10 winners announced in July.

The project aims to support universities outside the greater Seoul region as the student population declines, while the remaining population prefers schools in greater Seoul.

One major change in this year's plan is that universities that form coalitions are given more time to merge.

For last year's project, universities could only apply as a coalition if they could submit plans to merge within a year following their selection. But this year, universities will eventually have to merge, but a set time frame isn't given.

Coalitions will have to form partnerships, which require them to create a joint decision-making body and work closely with each other.

The change comes as it is harder for private universities, backed by different foundations, to merge compared to national or public universities.

Last year's project selected four coalitions, but all of them were national or public universities.

"During last year's selection process, we found out that we need to restructure universities as our student population decreases," said a spokesperson for the Education Ministry. "It is difficult for private universities owned by different foundations to immediately merge, so we will allow universities to form coalitions if they agree to form a close partnership with each other."

"However, they must continue to maintain that partnership even after the five years and eventually merge in the future."

The Education Ministry will make it easier for last year's shortlisted universities to apply again.

The five universities that made it past the first round of the selection process, but failed to get selected in the final round, will immediately be able to move past the first round if their action plans are similar to last year's or improved.

If their plan has been significantly changed, they will have to apply from the start like other universities.

The five shortlisted universities are Soonchunhyang University, Chonnam National University, Inje University, Yonsei University's Mirae Campus and Handong Global University. All of them said they will give a second shot this year.

Apart from the five shortlisted universities, many others have announced they will also apply.

Changwon National University will apply as a coalition of three, teaming up with the University of Gyeongnam Namhae and University of Gyeongnam Geochang.

Chungnam National University said it will apply as a coalition with Hanbat National University. Chosun University, Namseoul University and Tongmyong University are some of the individual applicants.

The government plans to continue with the Glocal University 30 project in 2025, selecting another 10 universities and coalitions that year.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]