<Anchor> The



Ministry of Education is scheduled to announce a comprehensive plan next month in accordance with the president's directive to nurture semiconductor manpower.

In particular, a plan to increase the number of semiconductor-related departments is being discussed at universities in the metropolitan area, but the presidents of local universities expressed their opposition with one voice.



The background was covered by reporter Kim Kyung-hee.



<Reporter>



Deputy Minister of Education Jang Sang-yoon asked the presidents of 133 universities across the country to actively cooperate in preparing a plan for nurturing semiconductors.

[Jang Sang- yoon



/Vice Minister of Education: I hope that the presidents will give special interest and active advice so that a policy that is suitable for reality and highly effective can be prepared (please)]



sharply divided.



According to the Metropolitan Area Reorganization Planning Act, universities in the metropolitan area cannot expand the quota for undergraduate students.



On the other hand, 92.9% of regional university presidents expressed the opposite opinion.



This is because the concentration in the metropolitan area is accelerating, but it is inevitable that local universities will be hit hard to recruit new students.



When it becomes difficult to secure local talent, it becomes impossible to attract high-tech companies, and there is concern about the disappearance of local areas.



[Min Young-don / President of Chosun University: When the equation of 'High-tech departments go to the metropolitan area' is established, it becomes more difficult in the provinces.

It will have a great impact not only on nurturing talent but also on the local economy (I am concerned.)]



Recently, the Ministry of Education inquired about 14 universities in the metropolitan area and 30 local national universities about whether to build or expand high-tech departments in the future, the required budget, and the number of teachers.



Eight organizations, including the professors' union, pointed out that the new government's policy to foster semiconductor manpower only promotes unnecessary conflicts rather than alleviating the imbalance between the provinces and the metropolitan area.



(Video editing: Kim Jong-mi, CG: Hong Seong-yong, VJ: Shin So-young)