Ministry pushes for gradual merger of public universities

The government is proposing a phased amalgamation of state universities as its efforts to restructure ailing institutions have been faltering in the face of stiff resistance from schools.

Under the plan, three or more universities in the same region will form an alliance with a single decision-making system yet maintaining their separate campuses, before fully merging within three years.

The Education Ministry has for years pushed for the integration or closure of scores of state-run universities deemed unviable due to difficulties in recruitment and finance.



"The conventional restructuring model, in which one university absorbs others, has caused side effects such as resistance from school members," a ministry official said.

Under the new gradual model, overlapping departments among partner universities will be scrapped or consolidated and each institution will center on its separate specialty, the ministry said.

"Existing campuses will be retained and functions will be adjusted among the schools in a way that could minimize side effects while the positive effects of the structural reform could be maximized."

The ministry said that it referred to the university system in California.

California has three major schools -- University of California, California State University and California Community College -- with their separate specialties, which set a good example for Korea, officials said.

The ministry will receive applications from universities which want to adopt the partnership model. It will give its approval by the end of this year. Authorized universities will get financial assistance from the government.

As part of efforts to restructure private universities, the committee on university enhancement, affiliated with the ministry, has been conducting an audit into some 30 schools facing "serious management problems."

The committee plans to announce a list of "badly-managed" schools in December and will decide whether to order their closure by the end of this year.

(sshluck@heraldm.com)

By Song Sang-ho