Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) has been consistently named in large-scale government-supported national R&D programs every year. This year is no exception. Earlier this year, JBNU was selected as the university receiving the largest support nationwide for the LINC Project (Leaders in INdustry-University Cooperation), which has become the major topic across universities. As the only university in the Honam region, JBNU was also chosen as a focused university for industry–university cooperation, and has secured leading positions in areas ranging from engineering education innovation to serving as a leading university for the Admissions Officer System. JBNU’s recent achievements, which genuinely demonstrate the driving force of change in the Republic of Korea, are remarkable.

  ▲Selected for the LINC Technology-Innovation Category; Highest Government Funding Nationwide
  As the new semester began, excellent news arrived at JBNU. The Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea selected JBNU for the large-scale Technology-Innovation category of the Leaders in INdustry-University Cooperation (LINC) Project, which aims to create diverse leading models of industry–university collaboration linked to regional industry.
  JBNU has also enjoyed the double pleasure of receiving the largest allocation of government project funding nationwide under this program. Accordingly, including government and local government support and institutional co-funding, JBNU will lead technology-innovation type industry–university cooperation on a scale of approximately KRW 25 billion to promote the co-development of regional universities and industry.
  In the evaluation, JBNU was commended for excellence for initiatives such as establishing a one-stop support center for industry collaboration and developing strong programs including plans to operate affiliated (family) companies.
  Consequently, to create industry–university cooperation leading models, JBNU will reform personnel systems and educational systems to be industry–university collaboration–friendly and implement support projects to aid regional industrial development. North Jeolla Province and Jeonju City will participate in promoting this as a representative industry–university cooperation initiative for the province.
  In particular, since the Ministry of Education recently announced plans to more than double the LINC Project budget as a measure to revitalize regional universities, the initiative is expected to gain further momentum.
  JBNU plans to focus substantial support on workforce development and company assistance linked to regional industry, centered on its strength in renewable energy.

  ▲Only University in Honam Region Selected as Focused Industry–University Cooperation University
  In addition, JBNU was the only university in the Honam metropolitan economic area selected as the lead university for the Small and Medium Business Administration’s 2012 Industry–University–Research Joint Technology Development Focused Industry–University Cooperation Project.
  This program was newly launched this year by the Small and Medium Business Administration to strengthen the existing industry–university–research joint technology development projects and to provide close, periodic support for R&D execution.
  Accordingly, over one year JBNU will receive up to KRW 1 billion from the Small and Medium Business Administration to support R&D projects (start-up type, growth type) for nurturing a green industry base for SMEs within the region, and non-R&D projects ranging from project planning to technology commercialization (management consulting/technical guidance/patents/technology commercialization/design/marketing/market access support).
  In particular, following selection for the LINC Project, JBNU’s successive selection for projects administered by the Small and Medium Business Administration has confirmed its status as an outstanding university for industry–university cooperation in the Honam region.

  ▲Leading Engineering Education Innovation in Korea
  JBNU achieved another milestone by being selected for the 'Support Program for Engineering Education Innovation Centers' announced by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Industrial Technology Promotion organization, and then being consecutively chosen as a hub university to lead this program.
  This initiative was launched to close the gap between the technical level of university-trained engineers and the demands of industry. JBNU will receive KRW 200 million annually from the government and implement various projects for engineering education innovation over ten years through 2022.
  Notably, among the 65 universities nationwide selected for the second-stage support program for engineering education innovation centers, JBNU was named one of only six engineering education hub universities, positioning it to lead engineering education innovation in the Honam region.
  Accordingly, the Honam Engineering Education Innovation Center will be reorganized around JBNU, and JBNU will take the lead in engineering education innovation.
  Through this selection, JBNU will refine an education system to cultivate self-directed engineers and strengthen capstone design (comprehensive design) and field training to produce creative engineering talent who meet industry needs.

  ▲Selected as a Leading University for the Admissions Officer System for Three Consecutive Years
  JBNU was also designated as a university that is leading the modernization of the Admissions Officer System, and it achieved this distinction for the third consecutive year.
  The Ministry of Education and the Korean Council for University Education selected 30 universities, including JBNU, as leading universities for the Admissions Officer System Support Program in recognition of their outstanding performance in 2011 and the suitability of their 2012 implementation plans. In addition, 20 universities were designated as 'excellent universities' and six universities were chosen for 'specialized recruitment unit operation.'
  As a result of being named a leading university for the Admissions Officer System for three consecutive years, JBNU has once again proven that it is guiding the institutionalization of this advanced university admissions system, and it has received national funding for five consecutive years since the system’s implementation in 2008.
  JBNU’s selection as a leading university for the Admissions Officer System reflects high evaluations in fairness, reliability, and expertise—factors regarded as most important in modern admissions processes—and has significantly contributed to institutional consolidation. In particular, JBNU received praise for developing diverse admissions officer selection processes that reflect the characteristics of each recruitment unit and for enhancing fairness, reliability, and expertise by appointing full-time admissions officers as well as faculty admissions officers and faculty-appointed admissions officers and strictly implementing multi-member, multi-stage evaluations.

  ▲Selected for the Trade Specialist Training Project for Six Consecutive Years
  JBNU, which cultivates convergent talent who can engage with the world, has established itself as a training ground for future global trade professionals. JBNU has been selected for the 'Global Trade Specialist Training Project' administered by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy for six consecutive years, enabling it to further accelerate the development of trade specialists through 2015.
  JBNU’s consistent selection since beginning the program in 2007 reflects the strong results achieved by the Global Trade Specialist Training Project Group (Director: Professor Yun Chung‑won) in training students to become trade professionals.
  For example, through active consultations with U.S. buyers, the project recently secured an agreement to annually export US$500,000 worth of beauty devices produced by YumiTech Co., Ltd., located in Palbok‑dong, Jeonju. Students have directly acted as buyers, assisting SMEs with export channels while gaining field work experience—achieving both objectives simultaneously. This effort has led to positive outcomes, including an employment rate of about 80% for participating students.
  Starting again in July, the project group will provide intensive training over 15 months, including 60 hours of practical trade training and 300 hours of domestic and overseas internships, totaling more than 600 hours in trade practice and export marketing. Students will earn at least 18 credits in the program.
  In addition, to develop their qualifications as trade specialists, students will sign agreements with local SMEs and conduct daily activities to identify overseas buyers and hold export consultations. They will also directly participate in international exhibitions held at home and abroad to support export promotion activities.