Now Even PhD Degrees Are Untact, Challenging at Cyber University

Ministry of Education Reviews Deregulation of Remote Universities
Plans to Establish General and Professional Graduate Schools
Focus on 4th Industrial Revolution Projects and Data

Implementation Starting with Fields Facing Workforce Shortages
Operation of Doctoral Programs Under Revised Laws
No Need to Use Mandatory Terms Like Digital

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Amid the unprecedented introduction of remote classes in general universities due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), fierce debates over 'lecture quality' have arisen. However, the history of remote classes in South Korea spans 20 years. Remote universities, known as 'Cyber Universities,' have produced over 300,000 graduates since the first one opened in 2001. Currently, 22 remote universities operate, including one Korea National Open University and 21 cyber universities under the Higher Education Act. The government recently announced plans to ease regulations, such as allowing 'doctoral programs' at cyber universities. According to the Ministry of Education on the 16th, they have begun foundational policy research related to this and plan to hold a public hearing soon to gather opinions. The goal is to release a basic plan within this year.

First, the Ministry of Education is considering allowing remote universities, which were previously only permitted to establish special graduate schools (master's programs), to also establish general graduate schools and professional graduate schools. Once the relevant law is amended, cyber universities and Korea National Open University will be able to operate doctoral programs as well. This will initially start in fields where a shortage of social workforce is expected, such as data, artificial intelligence, and software. Additionally, the establishment of general and professional graduate school programs will be considered in fields with high demand from adult learners. The United States and the United Kingdom have no restrictions on degree programs based on whether classes are remote. Japan also offers doctoral programs at its Open University.

The Ministry of Education also plans to allow two-year cyber universities to establish advanced major courses similar to professional colleges. Students with a two-year associate degree can study for two more years to obtain a four-year degree. According to a survey of students at two-year cyber universities, 87.9% responded that such courses are necessary.

Universities will also be able to decide independently whether to include specific words like 'Digital' or 'Cyber,' which were previously mandatory in the names of remote universities. Industrial universities and professional colleges have already been able to freely name themselves since a law amendment in May 2011. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education will allow universities autonomy over the proportion of part-time registration systems, where students take only some courses at remote universities, currently limited to 50%, similar to the credit bank system.

Expansion of In-house Universities to SMEs with High Employee Training Demand
Review of Credit Recognition Lifelong Education Programs

These measures are responses by the Ministry of Education considering environmental changes such as the diminishing boundaries between general universities and remote universities. As part of digital-based higher education innovation support, the Ministry is working to abolish the current regulation that limits remote class operation to within 20% of total credits at general universities and allow universities to decide autonomously.

The Ministry of Education will also partially ease regulations on 'in-house universities,' which were only allowed to be established by companies with 200 or more employees. They are considering permitting 'credit recognition lifelong education programs' for small and medium-sized enterprises (with fewer than 200 employees) where employee training demand is high.

Additionally, the Ministry will continue to expand the scale and target of lifelong education vouchers. The support amount per person will increase from 360,000 KRW to 700,000 KRW, and the target will expand from only low-income groups to include career-interrupted women and job seekers. A system will also be established to recognize job training results, work experience, and certifications as 'learning outcomes.' For example, Mr. A, who graduated from a specialized high school and has 20 years of manufacturing work experience, was recognized for his work experience as credits and transferred to a professional college in addition to the credits he had already earned through the credit bank system.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.