Pukyong Takes Lead for University Renovation
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
BUSAN ― ``Specialization,'' ``Globalization'' and ``Pragmatism'' are three key words for the head of Pukyong National University (PKNU) in his plan to accelerate renovation and upgrade the school. ``I will continue to push for the specialization of our university in the environmental, marine sciences and technology fields, and we can distinguish ourselves from other universities with our firm relationship with industry in the areas of science and engineering. I am also responsible for bringing more diverse nationalities and global project to our campus,'' said PKNU President Park Maeng-eon.
``It is my mission to nurture competent talent according to the demands of industry,'' he added. The 56-year geologist has been at the helm of the school since August, last year. Under his leadership, the school has created a post of vice president for better management ― the first among state-funded universities ― and adopted a new incentive system to bring fresh competition between departments and professors.
``It's not easy to reform a university system and change the way members think. It is especially more difficult when it comes to national universities where many people are usually insensible to innovation, though I will continue to bring more changes to our school. Our staff will have more autonomy and at the same time they will take more responsibility,'' Park said in an interview with The Korea Times at his office, last Thursday.
Located in the country's largest port city, Busan, Pukyong has six colleges with 27,000 students and 600 professors in its two nearby campuses; Daeyeon and Yongdang, and has produced some 80,000 alumni. The university was newly created in 1996 by unifying two national universities; the National Fisheries University of Busan and Busan National University of Technology, the first-ever tertiary educational merger in Korea in more than 80 years.
With the successful integration, which required harsh reorganization and a sacrificed admission quota of 17,000 students, Pukyong became a good example for the renovation of national universities and has been named as the best example by the government.
Universities today have been pushed to restructure and specialize in certain areas of study and research, in which they can exceed other schools to cope with severe global competition and a decreasing number of students. But many of them have difficulties re-inventing themselves, with resistance from staff. Especially state-run universities have stuck to bureaucratic management barring attempts to change. This is the reason why the education authorities recognize Pukyong as the most outstanding university for its change and renovation.
Multiversity and Localization
Park, who is also a life-long professor at the university, mentioned ``multiversity'' as a means to develop universities located outside of Seoul.
``We are seeking to build an alliance of four national universities in Busan. If the four are allied, each school can further specialize in study fields where it has strength and be more competitive. The government also doesn't need to make unnecessary investment, and needless competition among the universities will disappear so that we can operate our schools more efficiently," he said.
There are four state-run universities in the southeastern city including Pukyong, Pusan National University, Korea Maritime University and Pusan National University of Education.
Park sees universities moving out of Seoul seeking a better educational environment. ``In the past many universities flocked to Seoul areas, but more are moving out of Seoul quickening localization, just like there are many excellent U.S. universities out of capital. Hence, it's a time for our local universities to attract students from Seoul,'' he said. In this regard, the president established a branch office in Seoul to scout more students.
Eco-versity and Internationalization at Home
``Eco-versity'' is another concept that Pukyong is promoting in an effort to protect the environment and build a greener planet. The university made academic contributions to society in environmental protection projects long before other universities started green campus campaigns. Pukyong has strengths in marine engineering, science and bio technology along with applied research centers for the study of the marine environment. ``I want to produce talented people who respect life and ecology in line with the eco-versity project,'' Park said.
Pukyong is also struggling to build an international education environment at its campus. Under its global programs, foreign students from more than 40 countries are studying at the school. Especially, the university has invited students from developing countries such as Ghana and Vietnam and helped them work at Korean companies back in their own countries.
``The living cost is relatively cheap here and we are trying to invite more foreigners through financial aid so that our students can be more exposed to an international education environment. We will enhance cooperation with overseas universities and research centers,'' Park said. ``We will strengthen our global network and encourage quality international students to come and study here with us in order to try and develop a curriculum to meet their academic needs.''
Pukyong aims to be listed among the world's top 100 universities ― specifically, it plans to have at least three fields of study ranked in the world top 10.