BK 21 PLUS is a national human resources development project initiated to produce creative master’s and doctoral-level human resources that will lead Korea's economy and promote the development of new knowledge and technology based on creativity. It is focused on promoting a creative university education and research environment by strengthening the roles of institutions and becoming a hub for the generation of actual results.

Stage-by-Stage Project Goals

• 01

  BK21 Project (1999~2005. 200 billion KRW per year)

  • - Establish an advanced human resour ces development system for the placement (con centration) of distinguished master and doctoral level students in outstandung education and research groups
  • - Establish a normalized and stabilized university education and research environment through the reduction of enrollment quotas, implementation of an open-door policy, and the encouragement of competition

• 02

  BK21 Project 2006~2012. 290 billion KRW per year)

  • - Establish a competitive human resources development system through dismissal and re-entry placement (concentration) of distinguished master and doctoral level students to outstanding education and research groups
  • - Establish an innovative evaluation management system based on a choice and focus strategy to promote graduate program specialization and ensure competitive environment
  • - Focuse on university-industry cooperation, globalization, and the balancing of national growth

• 03

  BK21 PLUS Project (2013~2019. 252.6 billion KRW per year)

  • - Support becoming a global research-oriented university
  • - Cultivate talented individuals for each academic and convergence field
  • - Enhance higher education system and research qualities

Project Vision

• 창조경제 실현을 위한 석박사급 “창의인재” 양성
  • Performance-oriented projects
  • Increased university autonomy
  • Increased university responsibility
• Strengthening of the research goundwork as a research-oriented university & Improving global competencies
  • Establishment of the groundwork for cultivating global human resources through improvements in graduate education & research quality
  • Establishment of research infrastruc- tures to promote research oriented university development
• Cultivation of advanced human resources based on creativity
  • Cultivation of advanced human resources who will contribute to job creation and national growth
  • Establishment of an environment where students can focus on learning and research
• Strengthening of regional graduate schools’ education & research competencies
• Strengthening of regional graduate schools’ education and research competencies through collaborations between universities and middle-sized & regional enterprises
• Concentrating specialization support on strongest undergraduate programs in universities

Basic Objectives

Strengthen the groundwork as a research-oriented university through improvements in graduate education and research quality

Strengthen regional graduate schools’ education and research competencies

Evaluate plans and achievements of university-industry collaboration to promote close links between graduate education and research, and relevant industries to produce more field-oriented knowledge, technology, and master and doctoral-level human resources

Introduce new fields such as digital multimedia, cultural content, tourism, and information security, to promote advanced human resources who are specialized in fields with high social demand

Complete re-selection of project groups

Increase support funds for graduate students and young researchers by taking inflation rate into account so that students can focus better on learning and research without worrying about life expenses

Project Groups