Community Problem-Solving Curricula in Liberal Arts Education : Values and Directions for Korean Implementation Based on International University Case Studies

This study analyzed community problem-solving liberal arts courses at major overseas universities to explore the educational and administrative value of a liberal arts college centered approach and propose application strategies for Korean university liberal education. Through qualitative case studies of Portland State University (USA), University of Brighton (UK), and Griffith University (Australia), the research identified four key advantages of the liberal arts college-centered approach: effectiveness of interdisciplinary traditions and holistic educational goals in addressing complex community issues; capacity for sustainable partnership building through neutral positioning and flexible operational systems; implementation of democratic partnership models based on mutual learning and knowledge co-production; and creative adaptability to cultural contexts. Based on these findings, the study proposes Korean application strategies across five dimensions: analysis of structural characteristics of Korean liberal education, Korean reconstruction of reflection-centered learning and collaborative problemsolving approaches, partnership strategies with local governments and social economy organizations, creative utilization of Korean characteristics such as collectivism and jeong culture, and establishment of comprehensive support systems encompassing faculty-student-administrative-financial aspects. This study theoretically and practically demonstrates that liberal education can play a pivotal role in fulfilling universities’ social responsibilities in the 21st century. It is significant for revealing the essential alignment between Korea’s hongik-ingan ideal and the public nature of modern liberal education, and for presenting concrete pathways for Korean university liberal education to develop beyond basic literacy education toward education that cultivates civic competency and public values.