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.