A Study of Joint Liberal Arts Curriculum Operation for College Students in the Shared University System

This study aims to present the development and implementation case of a joint liberal arts curriculum for college students through the Shared University system, and to derive implications for operating shared liberal arts curricula among regional universities. The research procedure was as follows: First, Focus Group Interviews (FGI) were conducted with 16 college students and 3 faculty members to understand the difficulties faced by college students in regional universities. Next, the core competencies and curricula of universities in the Gangwon region were investigated and analyzed to develop a joint liberal arts curriculum. Finally, a survey was conducted and analyzed with 130 college students who completed the joint liberal arts curriculum developed by the shared university system. The common liberal arts courses of Shared University were positively evaluated in terms of diversity and convenience of classes. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between satisfaction with the curriculum and the desire to remain and form lasting ties in the region. The findings highlight how shared universities, as unified educational platforms, can facilitate the exchange of liberal arts education, enhance inter-university collaboration, and generate educational outcomes challenging to achieve by individual institutions alone. This suggests shared universities can significantly enhance regional education capabilities and act as a pivotal hub connecting various regional universities.