Box 15 - Human resources development in South Korea.
South
Korea developed a massive effort in the fields of
education, Science and Technology since the 1960s, as
part of their strategy of industrial conversion. Besides
the sheer size of the effort, there are some strategies
worth stressing, regarding the bridges they sought to
create between the worlds of education and research and
the world of industrial production:
- Long-term programs of institutional development.
Universities, individual professors and research
centers received support for 5 to 6 years long
projects, time deemed necessary for the creation
of groups of graduate students.
- well-known scientists were dissuaded to lend
their names just to fatten the curriculum of
projects. Those who gave their names had to be
involved. With this, it became easier for young
scientists to take the leadership of important
projects.
- scientists and engineers were sent systematically
to short courses abroad, in selected fields.
Typically, their courses lasted two months, but
they received four months fellowships. During
their courses, their had to negotiate with their
professors for training internships in European
firms, to absorb technology.
- An excellent researcher had difficulties linking
to the productive sector. He received a grant to
organize monthly lunches with business leaders,
to discuss questions related to the interaction
between basic science and applied technology.
Claudio M. Castro and Joćo B. Oliveiradio M. Castro and Joćo B. Oliveira,
1992.
|
