The University System of Chungbuk Pride is a higher education initiative launched in 2022, involving 15 universities within the Chungbuk region, including CBNU, and the Chungbuk Bio-Health Industry Innovation Center. This program aims to cultivate specialized talent tailored to Chungbuk’s key industries: biotechnology, semiconductors, and batteries. It is based on the Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS), a local government-university collaborative framework for regional innovation. At CBNU, students can pursue programs under the name University system of Chungbuk Bio-PRIDE (UC Bio-Pride) through Nano-degrees, Micro-degrees, or as a Double or Sub Major. To encourage student participation, the program provides Innovation Talent Support Grants. From the first semester of 2022 to the first semester of 2024, students received either 1 million or 1.5 million KRW per semester, depending on their major and coursework. Starting from the second semester of 2024, under revised regulations, students will receive 70,000 KRW per each academic credit each semester.

  However, some students are anxious due to uncertainties about the program’s continuity. They worry not only about the unpaid Innovation Talent Support Grants but also about the potential lack of clarity regarding the degrees for Double and Sub Majors, which require graduation exams.

  Seok Yeon-ji (Dept. of English Language annd Literature, 22) who is pursuing a Double Major in the Pharmaceutical Bioengineering Department under the UC Bio-Pride, shared her concerns: “I applied and was accepted for the double major in January 2024. However, just two days before the application deadline, on January 23, a sudden announcement was made regarding the termination of the program. Despite this, the 2024 application process proceeded as scheduled. Then, on July 22, I received a message stating that the RIS project, launched in Aug. of 2020 would conclude after its fifth year in February 2025. The message also mentioned that ʻdiscussions with the relevant department in Chungcheongbuk-do are ongoing, but no final decisions have been made.ʼ I never expected such an abrupt notice about the programʼs termination, and now I am unsure whether I will receive the support grant next year. It is extremely unsettling,” she said. She added, “There have been no clear responses to studentsʼ inquiries about the program. On Nov. 8, we were suddenly informed about changes to the disbursement method of the Innovation Talent Support Grant. With the guidelines constantly shifting, I am worried about whether I will even receive the grant and find it hard to trust the system.”

  Despite Seok had completed to get the required 36 credits for a Double Major under the CBNU’s regulations, she was unable to sit for the graduation exam. The graduation requirements consist of: ⅰ) completing all required credits for a Double or Sub Major as specified in the university’s regulations, and ⅱ) passing the graduation exam. Upon meeting the first requirement, students are eligible to take the graduation exam. However, in Seok’s case, the Chungbuk Bio-Health Industry Innovation Center provided a separate list of students eligible for the graduation comprehensive exam, but her name was not included. As a result, not only Seok but also other students in their final semester atCBNU, who were expected to graduate soon, were excluded from the list, leading to uncertainties regarding their ability to complete their Double Major requirements.

  Despite having completed the required courses to meet graduation requirements, students like Seok are unable to sit for the graduation exam. Therefore, if the program ends as planned, the worst-case scenario could be the inability to complete their Double Major. In this case, credits earned outside the major would be categorized as general electives, with each department setting a limit on the number of such elective credits. As a result, students may have to take additional courses through extended semesters to meet each of their graduation requirements, further increasing their concerns.

  In response, the Chungbuk Bio-Health Industry Innovation Center stated, “After the current RIS program ends, a clearer direction is expected by Feb. of 2025 when the program transitions to the RISE project. If the local government is unable to continue supporting the project, CBNU will take steps to establish a new department such as Bio-Health College to ensure that students can complete their degrees and graduate. If the program can be transferred and operated under the RISE project, it will proceed as planned, similar to the current system.”

The anticipated transition to RISE stands for Regional Innovation System & Education, a program aimed at activating the local government-led collaborative framework for the establishment of a regional-based university support system in its first year. The main difference between the two programs is that RIS is a project, while RISE is a system. In response to the need for a system capable of transferring educational projects from the Ministry of Education to local governments, the RISE program has now expanded to include the metropolitan areas.

  Another key difference is the entities responsible for each program. The RIS program is led by national flagship universities, whereas the RISE program is led by local governments. As a result, depending on local government decisions, the UC Bio-PRIDE may no longer receive support. In order to ensure that universities can take appropriate measures and implement necessary systems for students, discussions about the direction of the UC Bio-PRIDE should not be delayed until Feb. of 2025, but should begin promptly to allow for timely decisions.