Chungnam’s Education Ministry RISE Plan and Implementation System Evaluation Receives Top Marks
Chungnam Province invests a total of 136.2 billion KRW this year The regional innovation-centered university support system (RISE) project is being actively pursued starting this year, with Chungnam’s RISE receiving a ‘best in the nation’ evaluation.
Kang Sung-ki, the Director of Planning and Coordination at the Chungnam Provincial Government, held a press conference at the provincial government press center on the 4th. He announced that the regional RISE plan and implementation system evaluation, supervised by the Ministry of Education, received ‘top marks,’ securing 17.4 billion KRW from the national budget.
The RISE initiative aims for local governments to assume administrative and financial authority for university support from the Ministry of Education. This strategic support is aligned with regional development, fostering mutual growth between regions and universities.
Chungnam’s RISE plans to tackle regional innovation and youth employment challenges by promoting four major projects, involving 16 specific tasks: cultivating new growth industries, establishing a regional industrial innovation ecosystem, reinforcing the transition of the regional higher education system, and realizing a community of growth and sharing.
To this end, the province has established governance with universities, industries, innovation institutions, and local governments, and formulated a five-year plan for Chungnam RISE.
The direction focuses on university structural adjustments, expanding contract-based programs, specialization, and bridging the education-business mismatch, all in response to the declining future student population and changes in industrial structure.
This evaluation was conducted by the Ministry of Education to enhance the quality of RISE plans developed by each province and to solidify horizontal governance with universities ahead of the full implementation of RISE.
Evaluation grades were determined through reviews and Q&A processes by selection committees comprising experts from various fields.
Chungnam Province received top marks in both categories, thus securing an incentive of 17.4 billion KRW. Including this incentive, the province plans to invest a total of 136.2 billion KRW this year to advance the RISE project.
Director Kang said, “We will support local universities through the RISE project so they can grow hand-in-hand with their regions.”
He added, “Universities will nurture talent needed by the region, and these regional talents will find quality jobs locally, creating a virtuous cycle and establishing robust universities comparable to any nationwide.”
Meanwhile, the province is currently establishing detailed plans for the selection, performance management, and other aspects of the project, including the establishment of the Chungnam RISE Center.