Kangwon National University Education Research Institute

EDUCATION FINANCE

Education Finance Center

Designated as a National Center for Education Finance Research, the center has been conducting a wide range of research since 2021 under the theme “Expansion and Rational Operation of Education Finance in Preparation for Future Education.” These research activities cover educational finance issues, policies, and institutional improvements across preschool to lifelong education sectors.
By building a research platform grounded in global networks, the center is growing as the only national hub institute specializing in education finance in Korea. It takes a multidisciplinary approach to analyze investment areas, financial demands, and strategies for securing and allocating resources for future education.

Major Education Finance Center Activities

Conducting Research Projects and Publishing Outputs

Through collaboration with various departments, such as the Budget Division, Regional Innovation University Support Division, and Lifelong Learning Support Division, the center selects research topics and conducts high-quality research annually with domestic and international education finance experts.

Research Reports: At least two foundational projects and three or more ad-hoc projects conducted each year, addressing global and national trends, issues in education finance, and sector-specific concerns (preschool to lifelong education)
Academic Publications: Academic papers, issue papers, webzines, and e-news content produced in connection with research findings
Expansion of External Research Contracts: Projects commissioned by the Ministry of Education, the Korean Council for University Education, Seoul Lifelong Education Promotion Agency, etc.

Expansion of Academic Events such as Conferences and Forums

The center continuously expands joint academic forums, seminars, and conferences by identifying education finance agendas and responding to emerging issues through MOUs and academic exchanges with various institutions.

Participating Institutions:
Government-affiliated organizations such as the Ministry of Education, Korean Council for University Education, Korea Educational Development Institute, and Korea Education and Research Information Service
Academic societies such as the Korean Society for the Economics and Finance of Education, Korean Educational Administration Society
Ministry-designated research centers such as Sungkyunkwan University’s Education and Future Research Institute, Korea National University of Education’s Research Institute for School Management.

Training of Specialist in Education Finance

A new Education Finance major has been established in the interdisciplinary graduate program, Department of Regional Education Cooperation, at the Graduate School of Education Research. The curriculum has expanded to include 8 courses as of 2025. The center cultivates master’s and doctoral-level experts through participation by faculty in the education finance major and working experts (e.g., department heads or higher) from the education offices.

Key Areas of Research

Local Education Finance (Preschool, Primary, Secondary) Research Topics: Domestic and international trends in local education finance; mid- to long-term projections and investment effectiveness analysis in response to future education demands in preschool, primary, and secondary education.
Higher Education Finance Research Topics: Domestic and international trends in higher education finance, securing funding to support innovation and enhance educational and research capabilities in higher education institutions; performance-based financial projections and analysis of mid- to long-term financial conditions.
Lifelong Education Finance Research Topics: Domestic and international trends in lifelong education finance; improving financial support systems for lifelong education according to responsible funding bodies (central government, local governments, etc.); expanding financial resources to vitalize lifelong education.

Related Academic Societies

Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS)
Higher Education Research Institute of the Korean Council on University Education
Education and Future Institute, Sungkyunkwan University
Institute of School Violence Prevention, Ewha Womans University
The Center for Future Education Research, Ewha Womans University
The Institute of Educational Research, Chonnam National University
Educational Science Research Institute, Cheju National University
Research Institute for School Management, Korea National University of Education
Korean Educational Research Association (KERA)
The Korean Society for the Economics and Finance of Education
The Korean Educational Administration Society
Korean Society of The Politics of Education
The Korean Society for the Study of Teacher Education
The Journal of Local Education Management (TJLEM)
The Korean Society for the Study of Lifelong Education

PROJECTS

EDUCATION FINANCE