Human Capital Development in Korean Innovation Strategy

Nov.17~18, 2008OECD/Germany workshop

Mi-Jung UMSTEPI, KOREA

Background

Korea has focused on Innovation strategy and national human resources development.

For the its comprehensive policy, each Prime minister for NHRD and S&T was appointed at previous government.

With the government change, two prime ministries were combined into ‘Ministry of Education and S&T’.

Assessment of two prime ministries system

trial to coordinate related policies in view of NHRD or National Innovation strategy

Overview chance to check the relationship btn HRD and Innovation policies

Little trial to integrate policies between innovation and HRDTwo prime ministries

The Strategy

2nd Basic plan for Innovation policy, 577 initiative, issued in August, 20085% R&D expenditure of GDP7 focusing technology and system infra

Science as culture Improving S&T skills for childhood and the

public7th strong Korea in S&T field

New government’s 100 themes pronounced in last month, ‘Strong Korea in Human capital’ is one of four gover

nmental goals S&T and Education policy go together to pursue futu

re potential improvement, supported by administrative structure reform

New Minister has tried to build integrated goals btn S&T and HRD policies

Main human capital focus

Life-long learning skillsUnderstanding S&TEstablishing life-long learning system

Childhood’s and youth’s math, S&T capability

Strengthening Universities’ Capability and enhancing future potential

Impetus

old age society rapidlyInnovation system transition from

catch-up to creative systemIndustrial structural change into

Service based economyAdministrative structure reform

To pursue small and efficient governmentTo integrate the education and innovation

policy to enhance the future potential

Types of policies

Strengthening childhood’s STEM capability Curriculum redesigning to improve creativity and

problem-solving skills Supporting the programs and contents development

for students to have opportunity to contact science Assurance assessment for university students

Expanding the investment to communicate between the S&T experts and the publics or the other field experts

Expanding the support of intermediate program between S&T and social and economic fields, for example, MOT, financial engineering etc.

Expanding the investment to support Adult S&T learning program

Enforcing reform of Higher education institutions to respond the life-long learning needs

Developing agenda related with education and S&T simultaneously, especially curriculum, university policy, etc.

Ministries involved

Ministry of Education and S&TMinistry of Knowledge EconomyCouncil of National S&T Advisory Committee for Education

and S&TMinistry of Labor

Implications

Korea takes a beginning step to integrate education and S&T issues.Two prime ministers system of Korea

did not work well, especially integrate human capital policy with innovation policy

Establishing ministry of education and S&T is one another experience to integrate both policy.