Chungnam National University and Kongju National University, which are in the process of merging, have reached a significant agreement on key issues such as the new name and headquarters location. The two institutions will officially begin the process of becoming a major national university under the name 'Chungnam National University,' encompassing Daejeon and Chungcheongnam-do.
On August 13, during the third merger committee meeting, the universities announced that they had deliberated and approved adjustments on three major issues: the name of the merged university, the legal address, and the governance structure of the merged headquarters.
On August 14, the presidents of both universities and the merger preparation committee held a mid-term announcement at the Sejong Joint Campus Academic and Cultural Support Center to present the results of their discussions.
New Name 'Chungnam National University', Legal Address in Daejeon... Dual Structure for Headquarters
The most anticipated aspect, the name of the merged university, has been confirmed as 'Chungnam National University.' The presidents stated in a joint announcement, "The name 'Chungnam National University' reflects a commitment to nurturing talent and fostering regional innovation across Daejeon and Chungcheongnam-do, rather than being limited to a specific area. We will also inherit and develop the long history and capabilities of Kongju National University as valuable assets of the merged institution."
The legal and administrative address has been decided to be 'Daejeon.' However, this does not imply a single location for the headquarters. The merged headquarters will operate under a 'dual structure,' with functions distributed between Daejeon and Gongju.
To prevent concentration of functions at any one campus, the president's office and two vice president offices will be established at both campuses. The Daejeon campus will leverage its existing strengths, while the Gongju campus will strategically distribute key functions such as research, international exchange, educational innovation, admissions management, and integrated industry-academia cooperation.
Additionally, a 'campus president system' will be introduced to ensure autonomy and accountability at each campus, allowing for specialization that aligns with regional characteristics.
“Innovation Through Collaboration, Not Just Expansion”... Submission to Education Ministry Planned for September
The two presidents emphasized that the essence of this merger is not merely about increasing size but about 'innovation through collaboration.' They envision connecting Daejeon's science and technology research infrastructure with the educational and industrial bases of Gongju, Cheonan, and Yesan to elevate the universities as a leading national institution.
With the resolution of these key issues, the merger process is expected to gain momentum. The universities will prepare a draft merger application based on this agreement and hold individual briefings and a joint public hearing in August and September to gather feedback from their members.
Following this, a vote will be conducted involving all members of both universities. If the vote is favorable, the final merger application will be submitted to the Ministry of Education in September after review by the academic council and university council.
The presidents stated, "Chungnam National University and Kongju National University will responsibly pursue this merger, respecting each other's history and strengths, to develop further and represent both Daejeon and Chungcheongnam-do, leading education, research, industry-academia cooperation, and regional innovation as a national university."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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