An appointed Chief of Social Policy suffered because of plagiarizing a treatise. The Korean Research Foundation said that among all the suspicious treatises, two treatises were related to the BK21 (Brain Korea 21) project. BK21, which is a think tank of researchers and scholars, has often been associated with or accused in many similar issues.
The first aim of the BK21 is to raise university standards, so that they can conduct world-class research with the graduate school as the central figure. Regional industry’s have a strong interest in these types of programs. Through this project, industrial experts can produce products and services, which are a joint production from academic-industrial cooperation. These products and services are expected to become competitive products in the world stage. The second aim of this project is to normalize elementary and secondary education through restructuring university reforms.
This time, the BK21 project is in its second stage. This project will proceed for seven years (2006~2012). The total expense is approximately 2 trillion won. (That is about 290 billion won a year.)
 
In the field of applied science (Information Technology, Bio Technology, Nano Technology) and other basic science fields, 16 thousand people are supported. In the field of professional services (management and medical service), a thousand people are supported. Three thousand researchers of human knowledge & social fields are also supported.
 Some subsidies are paid to students personally. Researchers who are doing the master’s course and the doctor’s course get 5 hundred thousand won and 9 hundred thousand won each. Professors get 2.5 million won.
But the principle of money payment is quite rigid. If the research project makes poor progress or does not perform to its proposed agenda, the budget can be cut or the research group can be excluded from the BK21 project.
 As stated above, the BK21 project is in its second stage. According to the result of its first valuation, 120 project groups in the 42 universities are classified to be in the lowest position. As a result, approximately 6.8 billion won was cut down from the total working expenses. Among many BK21 project groups, Chung-Ang University is also actively competing for these funds.
-Here are some BK21 projects, which Chung-Ang University is doing.

The Graduate school of Advanced Imaging Science, Multimedia & Film (GSAIM)
-Division of Korean Digital Image
School of Mechanical Engineering
-Application of Function Reinforced Materials
School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
-Transceiver Core Technology for Next Generation Mobile Communication
School of Chemistry
-Advanced Green Chemistry and Its Applications Using Unconventional Reaction Media

BK21, which supports Korea, can achieve a balanced national research and development program. In addition, through this project, the elevation of Korea’s international competitiveness might come true. By developing and participating in these projects, Chung-Ang University should play an important role among many universities.

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