Glocal University 30 deadline nears as regional institutions finalize pitches

There's a little more than a week until applications for this year's Glocal University 30 project close, with many universities announcing their bid.

Representatives of Mokwon University and Pai Chai University pose for a photo in May last year, when they first announced the bid for the Global University 30 project. The universities announced Tuesday they will be giving a second shot this year. [MOKWON UNIVERSITY]

There's a little more than a week until applications close for this year's Glocal University 30 project, with many universities announcing their bid.

Pai Chai University and Mokwon University announced Tuesday they will apply for the project as a coalition, which marks their second attempt.

The universities aim to use the funding to enhance their competitiveness in interdisciplinary majors regarding art and science.

Applying as a coalition, the two said they will soon be creating a joint decision-making body.

The Glocal University 30 project offers government funding of 100 billion won ($75.2 million) to each university, to be split over five years. The government hopes regional universities will use the funding to enhance their competitiveness amid most students preferring schools in greater Seoul.

Pai Chai University and Mokwon University will also work with Daejeon, the city the two universities are located in, to establish more industry-academia partnerships and offer opportunities for students to reside and work in Daejeon after graduation.

"Pai Chai University and Mokwon University have been closely working with each other through mutual trust," said Lee Hee-hak, president of Mokwon University. "Innovation strategies shared by the two universities will help the local community grow."

The Ministry of Education will be accepting applications for the project until March 22 and many other universities are also making their participation official.

Woosuk University and Kunjang University College also announced Tuesday they will be applying as a coalition, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form a joint decision-making body.

This is the first time the universities are applying for the funding.

Following the MOU, they will develop a joint curriculum, participate in more joint research projects, and share various infrastructure such as their faculty and facilities.

"[Kunjang University College] will also create more vocational training programs for our students, international students and local residents in partnership with Woosuk University, benefiting the universities and our local community," said Lee Kye-cheul, president of Kunjang University College."

Gwangju University is another that will be applying again, vowing to offer more career support in hopes of being selected this year.

The university announced it signed an MOU with Gwangju Technopark and Korea Prime Pharm on Monday, with each institution planning to offer students more employment and research opportunities.

"Industry-academia partnerships will offer opportunities for students to develop practical skills through joint research projects," said Kim Dae-ik, CEO of Korea Prime Pharm. "We will do our best for the partnership to be a mutually beneficial opportunity, introducing talented students to the company and allowing universities to help their students get jobs after graduation."

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