Heading the local university financial support project ‘RISE project’
Planning and managing a budget of over 200 billion won
Seeking cooperative measures instead of dividing support funds
Taking the lead in cooperation with local authorities and industries in Busan,
Photo=Reporter Chan Jae-chan chan@,
,
, ‘The Busan Industrial Science and Technology Innovation Institute, a municipal agency of Busan, recently changed its name to ‘Busan Science and Technology Education Promotion Institute’ (hereinafter referred to as BISSTEP). The reason for this change was the decision to establish the ‘Busan RISE Center’ as a subsidiary organization under it, which will oversee the ‘RISE project,’ a regional university financial support program being promoted by the Ministry of Education since May. With a foundation based on the institute’s existing functions, such as conducting science and industry policy research, attracting research and development projects, and conducting surveys, evaluations, and analyses, it aims to link regional development strategies with university support.’,
,
, ‘By 2025, the RISE system will be fully implemented nationwide. For the successful establishment of the RISE system, it is essential to establish a policy governance structure involving local governments, universities, and the central government, along with a performance management process for the RISE project and its implementation measures. This is crucial in creating synergy among local governments, universities, and industries to promote regional economic development. The Busan RISE Center is responsible for planning a budget of over 200 billion won for regional university support and managing its outcomes.’,
,
, ‘Director Seo Yong-cheol of BISSTEP stated, “The goal of this project is for the local community, local industries, and local universities to collaborate and revitalize Busan together.” This emphasizes that the organization will focus on contemplating the development of the local community through communication between universities and the RISE Center, rather than just ‘sharing’ the budget. Director Seo mentioned, “Each university has different circumstances. The situations of 2-year and 4-year universities vary, and each university has its unique characteristics.” He added, “If we apply a uniform standard that fits into one framework, this project will fail before it even starts.” Additionally, he emphasized that “the Busan RISE Center is not an organization that controls universities but plays a supportive role for them.”‘,
,
, ‘Thus, the role of the RISE Center director is crucial. They must understand the characteristics of each university and possess administrative capabilities. At the same time, the Busan RISE Center will be operated to apply separate regulations and enact them. Fair allocation of financial support projects is the key to the success of the Busan RISE Center. Director Seo mentioned, “Busan is the only local government that has made the center independent,” and added, “The Center’s director position is directly appointed by the Mayor of Busan, requiring a candidate with experience in both universities and administration.”’,
,
, ‘There are concerns as well. Some worry about administrative waste due to overlaps in roles with existing organizations like the ‘Busan Techno Park’ conducting the ‘Tech-Academia Industry’ program. Director Seo addressed these concerns by stating, “This is not a project that can be done without initiatives such as Tech-Academia collaboration,” and emphasized the need for close cooperation with the Techno Park.’,
,
, ‘To achieve the four major performance goals of the Busan RISE project (training regional specialized talents, establishing an ecosystem for Tech-Academia industry collaboration, innovating lifelong vocational education, and addressing pending regional development issues), cooperation among local governments, industries, and universities will be crucial in developing concrete plans. The performance management of the RISE will include core performance indicators that all cities and provinces nationwide must achieve, as well as autonomy and indicators tailored to Busan’s characteristics. Director Seo stated, “While achieving performance indicators is important, leading sustainable regional development based on authenticity, establishing concrete long-term strategies, and balancing short-term and long-term outcomes are crucial.”’,
,
, ‘For the success of the RISE Center, communication and collaboration with various stakeholders in the region are paramount. Director Seo mentioned, “We will adopt a Co-Design approach based on mutual understanding between universities and the local community and focus on deriving substantial and sustainable outcomes. We will maximize Busan’s strengths and potentials to lead regional innovation, continuously develop strategies to effectively address issues faced by the local community, and strive our best for Busan to become a successful model for the RISE project.”‘,
,