고등교육의 글로벌 경쟁력 강화방안

Abstract

지식기반 경제사회에서 지식창출과 이를 감당할 핵심인재 양성이 국가경쟁력과 사회적 미래 결정에 차지하는 비중이 커짐에 따라, 지식창출 및 인재양성의 사회적 거점이자 지식기반 경제 활성화의 근본적 토대로서 '고등교육'의 중요성이 크게 주목받고 있다. 이 연구는 계량적·질적 분석을 통하여, 고등교육의 전통적 기능들이 외부세계의 경쟁력 요구와 변화에 어떻게 조응하고 대응하며 기여하였는지, 특히 글로벌 단위로 변화한 외부세계의 지형 속에서 고등교육이 경쟁력을 유지하고 발전시키는 요인은 무엇인지를 탐색함으로써 궁극적으로 우리나라 고등교육의 경쟁력을 높이기 위한 방안을 모색하였다. 분석을 통하여, 우리나라 고등교육이 글로벌 경쟁력을 확보하기 위해서는 연구, 교육 및 산업적 기능 강화를 위한 기본적 인프라 확충, 자율적 경쟁시스템의 구축 및 지원, 고급 인재 유인력 및 글로벌 네트워크 역량 제고, 시장 개방 및 대학 특성화 지원 등의 정책 방향이 필요함을 제시하고 이에 따른 세부과제도 아울러 정리하고 있다. ○ 주요내용 - 글로벌 인재 양성 정책 국제 동향 - 우리나라 고등교육의 글로벌 경쟁력 현황과 과제 - 고등교육기관의 글로벌 경쟁력 사례 연구 - 고등교육의 글로벌 경쟁력 강화 방안

With knowledge-based society bringing rapid changes in labor market and social environment, there is more attention paid to the role of higher education. In terms of the educational function of the university, there is a growing importance of providing high skilled workers to be available in the global market. The university's research function is increasingly being highlighted due to the emphasis placed on intellectual property formation and technological renovation. It is well-known that the scope of the university-industry relations and the commercialization in the university sector expands to create industrial added value. This study focuses on the extension of the three functions of higher education, namely, education, research and social service. It questions how each function corresponds and contributes to the competitiveness of individuals, organizations and nations in the global era, and examines the factors that drive Korea's higher education to improve competitiveness under the pressure of global competition. The international comparison on the total expenditure on teaching and R&D in higher education shows that the ratio of R&D expenditure to GDP is much lower in Korea than in other developed countries, while the ratio of expenditure on teaching to GDP is not much lower but inefficient in use. The regression analysis on the policy on inbound overseas students shows that the universities in Korea take the revenue-generation approach rather than the skilled migration approach. The case analyses on competitiveness policies of higher education in 4 countries(U.S., France, Japan, Singapore), which are considered to be typical in appearance for attracting overseas students, show that the national and institutional policy of higher education focuses on inviting high-grade students and scholars abroad and, for this, active investments are made in education and research. For instance, Ritsumeikan APU in Japan which appear to adapt skilled migration policy has made an ambitious plan for filling 50% of the students and professors with foreigners. Singapore National University motivated by skilled migration policy has already filled more than 60% of the scholars and students with foreigners, especially in the graduate school level. Based on the above quantitative and qualitative analyses, following policy directions are identified and specific policy tasks are suggested as follows: 1) expand basic infrastructure for reinforcing the functions of education, research, and social service in higher education institutions; 2) construct a competitive system among higher education institutions and among faculty members; 3) strengthen the global network and enhance the ability to attract high-ranking talented scholars and students; 4) open the higher education market to the world more and induce quality competition among colleges in Korea.