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Internationalization and Regional Revitalization in South Korean Universities outside the Seoul Metropolis: An Analysis of Good Practices That Go beyond Policy Frameworks

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Title: Internationalization and Regional Revitalization in South Korean Universities outside the Seoul Metropolis: An Analysis of Good Practices That Go beyond Policy Frameworks
Language: English
Authors: Wonhwa Park (ORCID 0009-0006-0193-3488), Ayako Tsukada (ORCID 0009-0004-6777-9933)
Source: International Journal of Comparative Education and Development. 2026 28(2):108-123.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Best Practices, Educational Policy, Global Approach, Community Involvement, School Community Relationship, Models, Private Colleges, College Faculty, School Personnel, Employee Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Strategic Planning, Rural Areas, Geographic Regions
Geographic Terms: South Korea
DOI: 10.1108/IJCED-03-2025-0036
ISSN: 2396-7404
2309-4907
Abstract: Purpose: This study examines how regional universities in South Korea are integrating internationalization and community engagement in response to demographic decline and uneven development. It focuses on the implications of the 2023 Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) initiative, which shifts university planning authority to local governments. Design/methodology/approach: Using a case study methodology, the study applied the Civic University and Policy Learning frameworks to interpret institutional strategies. Data was collected through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with the faculty and staff at two private non-metropolitan universities and thematically analyzed to identify key patterns. Findings: Four enabling factors were identified--global-local integration, region-rooted specialization, inclusive governance and shared institutional vision and culture. These findings illustrate how regionally embedded practices that predate RISE can offer grounded insights for shaping future approaches to internationalization and regional revitalization. Originality/value: This study highlights the need for context-sensitive policy design grounded in locally embedded institutional practices, rather than relying on standardized or Western-centric models. It advances comparative debates on higher education reform by demonstrating how regional universities can act as civic agents and learning organizations, offering policy-relevant insights for emerging frameworks such as RISE.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506321
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Internationalization and Regional Revitalization in South Korean Universities outside the Seoul Metropolis: An Analysis of Good Practices That Go beyond Policy Frameworks
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wonhwa+Park%22">Wonhwa Park</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0193-3488">0009-0006-0193-3488</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ayako+Tsukada%22">Ayako Tsukada</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6777-9933">0009-0004-6777-9933</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Comparative+Education+and+Development%22"><i>International Journal of Comparative Education and Development</i></searchLink>. 2026 28(2):108-123.
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  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
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  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 16
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Best+Practices%22">Best Practices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Global+Approach%22">Global Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Involvement%22">Community Involvement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Community+Relationship%22">School Community Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Models%22">Models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Colleges%22">Private Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Personnel%22">School Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employee+Attitudes%22">Employee Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Strategic+Planning%22">Strategic Planning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Areas%22">Rural Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geographic+Regions%22">Geographic Regions</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Korea%22">South Korea</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1108/IJCED-03-2025-0036
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 2396-7404<br />2309-4907
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This study examines how regional universities in South Korea are integrating internationalization and community engagement in response to demographic decline and uneven development. It focuses on the implications of the 2023 Regional Innovation System and Education (RISE) initiative, which shifts university planning authority to local governments. Design/methodology/approach: Using a case study methodology, the study applied the Civic University and Policy Learning frameworks to interpret institutional strategies. Data was collected through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with the faculty and staff at two private non-metropolitan universities and thematically analyzed to identify key patterns. Findings: Four enabling factors were identified--global-local integration, region-rooted specialization, inclusive governance and shared institutional vision and culture. These findings illustrate how regionally embedded practices that predate RISE can offer grounded insights for shaping future approaches to internationalization and regional revitalization. Originality/value: This study highlights the need for context-sensitive policy design grounded in locally embedded institutional practices, rather than relying on standardized or Western-centric models. It advances comparative debates on higher education reform by demonstrating how regional universities can act as civic agents and learning organizations, offering policy-relevant insights for emerging frameworks such as RISE.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1506321
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        Value: 10.1108/IJCED-03-2025-0036
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Best Practices
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
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      – SubjectFull: Strategic Planning
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      – SubjectFull: Rural Areas
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      – SubjectFull: Geographic Regions
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      – SubjectFull: South Korea
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