Changwon National University earns sole 'S' rating in national Glocal University review

Changwon National University has become the only university in the country to receive an S rating — the highest possible grade — in the Ministry of Education's Glocal University performance evaluation.

The university's Glocal University project team announced Tuesday that it had earned the S rating in the "2026 Performance Evaluation for Specialized Regional Universities (Glocal Universities)," conducted by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

The evaluation assessed 35 universities participating in 27 Glocal University project models nationwide, examining overall project progress, innovation outcomes and sustainability.

Results were graded on a scale from S to D, and Changwon National University was the sole institution to receive the top rating. As a result, the university will receive an additional 2.8 billion won ($1.82 million) in government incentives on top of its existing project funding.

The university attributed the high marks to its structural reform through integration with provincial colleges and the establishment of an industry-academia-research cooperation framework linking regional research institutions and companies.

Changwon National University completed its merger with Gyeongnam Provincial Geochang University and Gyeongnam Provincial Namhae University in March, launching a unified national university system across four campuses.

The university has also expanded joint research and education programs with government-funded regional research institutes — including the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute and the Korea Institute of Materials Science — and established a cooperation framework connecting academia, research institutions and industry, including by attracting and operating an LG Electronics HVAC research center.

Building on these efforts, the university has pursued the development of specialized talent and technology innovation support tailored to the key industries of Changwon and South Gyeongsang Province.

"Receiving the sole S rating in the country is the fruit of collaboration among university members, local governments, industry and research institutions," President Park Min-won said. "We will further advance education and research innovation to drive regional industrial development and complete a university innovation model that contributes to balanced national development."