The Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional University Presidents Association (Chairman: President Jung of CNU) held a meeting on May 1 with Deputy Prime Minister / Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho, Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jeong, Jeonnam Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Moon Geum-ju, and presidents of 18 member universities to discuss university innovation policies. 
  
At the meeting, President Jung said, “No matter how much we innovate universities, young people in the region have no choice but to leave the region in search of culture, jobs, and quality of life in the current social conditions. Please consider strategies for revitalizing the region and regional universities through comprehensive policymaking for the balanced development of the nation.”

In particular, President Jung emphasized the importance of support and countermeasures for this, saying, “The current policy cannot make a sufficient condition to maintain and expand the various academic ecosystems.”

Along with this, the presidents who attended said, “Please come up with policies not only for world-class talent and the best talent in Korea but also for local talent who want to settle down in the local community and find a job.” They also requested universal student welfare support regardless of scale.
 
They also appealed for countermeasures, saying, “Grants for various support projects have suffered from various regulations and reducing efficiency.”
 
Gwangju Mayor Kang said, “Gwangju City will establish an education policy bureau, initiate a university-private-public cooperation governance system, and form a regional university innovation advisory group to strive for coexistence with universities.” Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Moon said, “Personnel exchanges between national universities, local governments, and the Ministry of Education are necessary to strengthen the capacity of local governments to promote higher education reform.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee said, “The current government has a mission to open the era for local regions, and the Ministry of Education is also promoting the Glocal 30 and RISE Project to upgrade the region to the next level with the power of universities. We want to communicate about policies, solve misunderstandings, and share the vision for university development.”

He also said, “The long-term direction for university innovation is to break down the walls between the university and the local community (culture, industry, etc.) and between majors within the university. The Ministry of Education will also boldly remove regulations to reduce inefficiency.”