Four private universities in the nation, including Yeungnam University, selected as technology-innovation types
Procure national funding of 20 to 25 billion won for 5 years, Improve the structure of the university in being a industry-university cooperation friendly
[Mar 28, 2012]

 
 YU was selected for LINC sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

 On the 28th, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(MEST) and the National Research Foundation of Korea announced that it made its final selections for 51 universities for the 'Leaders in INdustry-university Cooperation (LINC)' in order to create various industry-university cooperation models connected to local industries.

 They were selected from either technology-innovation types or on-site types. For technology-innovation types, 3 to 5 billion won will be granted to each university. A total of 14 were selected for this including Yeungnam University, Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, Pusan University, Kyungpook National University and Chonnam National University. Two to four billion won will be supported to each university for on-site types, and 37 universities such as Dongkuk University, Konyang University, Gwangju University, and University of Ulsan were selected.

 Among the fourteen selected for technology-innovation types, only four are private universities (Yeungnam University, Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, Chosun University). In the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, only Yeungnam University and Kyungpook National University were selected for technology-innovation types. Kyungwoon University, Keimyung University, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu University, and Andong National University were selected for on-site types.

 The 'LINC Project' is in its first year this year initiated by MEST. The 'Metropolitan Human Resource Development Center for Economic Region Leading Industry Project', 'Industry-University Centered University', and 'Regional Core Research Program' to which 145.5 billion won were granted to 44 universities until last year, were combined this year into the LINC project. It will thus provide a total of 170 billion won to 51 universities.

 By being selected for the LINC, YU procured national funding of 20 to 25 billion won over the next 5 years. Thus, while newly hiring 'professors for industry-university cooperation', it will also newly construct a 'Business Startup Education Center' and 'Field Training Support Center', while strengthening its industry-university cooperation friendly education curriculum such as 'interdisciplinary/business-connected Capstone Design Project' and 'industry-university cooperation track'. In particular, based on the research abilities and educational capacities in the green sector that YU accumulated thus far, it is planning to lead the region's green industry development by fostering specialized 'Green Collar', such as newly offering green energy and green car courses in the graduate school. It is also planning to continuously create win-win models for the university and local companies by providing a 'one-stop service' for companies such as retraining and reeducation of employees, utilizating common equipments, etc through the establishment of the 'corporate support center'.

 
 Lee, Hyo-soo, president of YU, emphasized, "By developing and using various industry-university cooperation models linked to local industries, our university will be reshuffled into being more industry-university cooperation friendly." He also added, "It will resolve the mismatch in the job market and construct an infrastructure that strengthens the competitiveness of local industries."