[Policy Pulse] In the Era of Tech Wars, Now Is the Time to Invest in Universities

Kijoo Choi, President of Ajou University

The world is currently facing an unstable international order. With ongoing geopolitical tensions such as the war in Iran, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the clashes between Israel and Gaza, the nature of global competition is also changing rapidly. Today's competition is no longer centered solely on military power but is increasingly focused on technology and industry. The term "Chip War" has emerged, highlighting how competition over semiconductors and advanced technologies has become a matter that can determine the fate of nations.

In this era of technological warfare, the foundation of industrial competitiveness lies not only in the research and development (R&D) conducted by industries themselves but also, in the long term, in "university education" and in "basic and applied research" that support such endeavors. Industries that drive the Korean economy today—such as HBM and DRAM semiconductors, smartphones and home appliances, mobility and energy, as well as biotech—have all grown based on highly skilled talent and R&D. In this sense, the fact that "university competitiveness is national competitiveness" needs no further explanation.

However, recent university policies have been moving in a somewhat different direction. Universities are often viewed merely as policy tools to address the issue of regional extinction, or their global capacity-building efforts are overlooked in favor of remaining focused on the current reality, all while disregarding various regulations. There is no disagreement that balanced regional development is a critical challenge. However, it is questionable whether approaching the development of universities simply as an instrument of regional policy can deliver sustainable results in this challenging era of technological hegemony. Securing and advancing university competitiveness is only possible when autonomy is ensured within the university's own goals and values. Article 31, Section 4 of the Constitution stipulates, "The autonomy, expertise, political neutrality of education, and the autonomy of universities shall be guaranteed as prescribed by law," thereby guaranteeing university autonomy as a constitutional basic right.

To secure global competitiveness, what is needed is the gradual expansion of this autonomy and bold policy investment in higher education. We should pay close attention to the example of American universities in the past, which became central to national competitiveness through the expansion of special accounts for higher education, increased research funding, and regulatory easing. This means we must move away from perceiving universities as objects of management and instead recognize them as core institutions that generate national competitiveness.

Universities themselves also need to innovate. With a policy environment that enables universities to fulfill their roles responsibly, each institution should develop as a research-oriented university to cultivate highly skilled talent. Universities must expand joint research with companies and establish an innovation ecosystem that links research outcomes to intellectual property rights and startups. In strategic industries such as semiconductors, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence (AI), the role of research-oriented universities is more important than ever in maintaining global competitiveness. Non-research-oriented universities can focus on vocational and technical education, as well as nurturing talent connected to local industries. At the same time, they should strengthen their lifelong education functions, becoming platforms where people of all ages can continue learning and developing new capabilities. Through this, universities can help address the issue of regional extinction.

University policy should shift away from a uniform structure and toward recognizing the unique roles and strengths of each institution. The core priorities should be fostering research-oriented universities, nurturing talent for strategic industries, building a lifelong learning system, and developing into an educational hub that attracts outstanding students from across Asia. Regulatory relaxation and financial investment are essential for this. Investing in universities is not merely an education policy; it is an investment in the nation's future. The direction of Korea's industrial competitiveness and national development will be determined by the decisions Korea makes regarding its universities today.

Kijoo Choi, President of Ajou University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.