The article discusses the launch of the “Jeonnam Regional Innovation-based University Support System (RISE)”, which aims to promote the simultaneous growth of local regions and universities. The province of Jeonnam is seeking applications from local universities interested in enhancing their competitiveness and developing talents needed for the sustainable development of the region.
Jeonnam plans to strengthen the competitiveness of local universities and foster talent needed for the sustainable development of the region through the RISE project. The province will accept applications from participating universities until the 21st, conduct evaluations via an expert committee in April, undergo consulting and project adjustments, and announce the final selection results in May.
According to the ‘Higher Education Act’, any university located in Jeonnam can participate in this call for applications. Universities can submit project proposals either individually or in consortium form to the Jeonnam RISE Center.
The 2025 Jeonnam RISE implementation plan envisions a “GRAND Jeonnam Innovative Growth led by regions and universities” with strategies including establishing a regional-university integrated design-based Jeonnam reboot system, innovating university education centered on local talent, society, the economy, industry, culture, and jobs, and creating a co-growth ecosystem for regions, universities, businesses, and residents.
Notably, the plan includes five key “GRAND Projects”: the Global Talent Development Project (Global), the Regional Industry Innovation Challenge Project (Regional), the Advanced Professional Lifelong Education Hub Center Project (Advanced), the Hyper-connected Shared Campus Project (Nexus), and the Dynamic University-Region Co-growth Project (Dynamic). These projects, along with 15 other unit tasks, will be executed in collaboration with universities, innovation and research institutions, industries, and local governments.
Jeonnam is investing 60.3 billion KRW in the RISE project this year, with a total planned investment of 303.1 billion KRW over the next five years.