Changwon National University alliance earns sole S rating, winning up to 2.8 billion won in incentives

Integrated Chungbuk-Korea National University of Transportation model faces designation cancellation

Education Ministry warns merger reversal could trigger clawback of funds already disbursed

Open evaluation format introduced with live YouTube Q&A sessions

Results of the performance evaluation for the glocal university project, which provides 100 billion won in support over five years. [Created with ChatGPT]
Results of the performance evaluation for the glocal university project, which provides 100 billion won in support over five years. [Created with ChatGPT]

By Kim Yong-jae, The Herald Business

A university model is set to become the first stripped of its designation under the glocal university project, a government initiative providing 100 billion won ($64.9 million) over five years. The integrated model combining Chungbuk National University and Korea National University of Transportation was found to have made insufficient progress on core reform tasks, including restructuring its academic and organizational systems and differentiating its campuses.

The Ministry of Education on Tuesday announced results of its 2026 performance evaluation covering 27 models across 35 universities in the glocal university support project. The program selects innovation models designed by universities and their surrounding regions that show strong potential for results, then provides 100 billion won over five years.

The ministry had previously noted that, given the scale of fiscal support involved, a performance management framework would apply — allowing funding to be reduced on a tiered basis for underperforming institutions and, if necessary, their designations to be revoked.

High-performing universities — including the Changwon National University-Korea Institute for Elevator Engineering alliance, Gyeongsang National University, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Mokpo National University and Soonchunhyang University — will receive additional incentives ranging from 500 million won to 2.8 billion won. Underperforming universities will see their funding cut according to their rating, while the integrated Chungbuk-Korea National University of Transportation model will enter the designation cancellation process.

The integrated Chungbuk-Korea National University of Transportation model has been referred for designation cancellation proceedings. In a progress evaluation of the 10 models selected in 2023, the model was found to have pursued innovation on the basis of a planned university merger but was judged to have been delayed or insufficient in carrying out key reform tasks — including restructuring its academic and organizational systems and differentiating its campuses.

Lee Ju-hee, director of the ministry's university support division, said a 10-day window for objections would open after formal notification Wednesday, with a final decision to follow after review. "This is not a clawback of funds already disbursed — it is a suspension of future support," Lee said. "However, if the merger itself is reversed, the portion of already-disbursed funds spent on the merger process can be calculated and recovered."

The ministry said the total funding scheduled for the integrated Chungbuk-Korea National University of Transportation model through 2026 stands at approximately 71 billion won. The actual amount to be affected, however, would need to be confirmed after the cancellation process is finalized, the ministry added.

The annual evaluation of universities selected in 2024 also revealed a performance gap between integrated and alliance models. The Changwon National University-Korea Institute for Elevator Engineering alliance was the only institution among those evaluated to receive an S rating. It was recognized for realizing its innovation model through university integration and ties with government-funded research institutes, and for attracting major corporate research centers — generating tangible results in regional industry linkage.

By contrast, the Dong-A University-Dongseo University alliance received a D rating after evaluators found it had failed to make sufficient use of the alliance framework. The ministry said it would determine the funding reduction for that model after additional deliberation. The alliance of Daegu, Gwangju and Daejeon Health Universities, along with Inje University, were also found to have produced insufficient differentiated innovation outcomes and will each see their funding cut by 3 billion won.

This year's evaluation also introduced an open assessment format for the first time. Each university's presentation of best practices and an in-depth question-and-answer session were broadcast live on YouTube — a measure aimed at improving the fairness and credibility of the process. The role of local governments and their compliance with agreed commitments were also factored into the performance evaluation.

Deputy Minister of Education Choi Eun-ok said the progress evaluation had been a process of reviewing three years of results and holding institutions accountable, while the annual evaluation was designed to diagnose problems early and lay the groundwork for improvement. "We will provide more robust support to universities with strong results, continue tailored support for those that need improvement, and firmly hold all institutions accountable for their performance — establishing a results-driven support system," she said.


brunch@heraldcorp.com