Regulations on Remote Classes at Private Academies Lifted... Establishing Collaboration Framework Between Local Governments and Regional Universities

Legal Basis Established for Remote Teaching at Lifelong Vocational Education Institutes
Enactment of Local University Promotion Act Enforcement Decree... Regulations for Regional Cooperation Committee
Head of Regional Cooperation Committee Eligible to Apply for Higher Education Innovation Special Zone

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is speaking at an expert advisory meeting on child and adolescent protection held on the 24th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Regulations on remote classes at private academies are being lifted. Remote classes, which were previously only allowed at subject-specific tutoring academies, will now be permitted at lifelong vocational education academies as well.

On the 25th, the Ministry of Education announced that it reviewed and approved a partial amendment to the "Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Establishment, Operation, and Private Tutoring of Academies" at the Cabinet meeting.

With this amendment, lifelong vocational education academies that provide lifelong or vocational education will also be able to conduct remote classes. As demand for non-face-to-face education increased due to COVID-19, the government had temporarily allowed remote classes since March last year, but this amendment establishes a legal basis through system improvement.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "This amendment to the enforcement decree is expected to activate various learning methods that consider the characteristics of education demanders in the lifelong learning era," adding, "We will continue to improve necessary matters so that learners can receive lifelong vocational education in a more convenient environment."

At the same Cabinet meeting, the "Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Promotion of Local Universities and Balanced Regional Human Resources Development (hereinafter referred to as the Local University Promotion Act)," which includes provisions on establishing a cooperation system between local governments and local universities and designating and operating specialized regions for higher education innovation, was also reviewed and approved.

The Local University Promotion Act stipulates that a Regional Cooperation Committee, composed of up to 30 members, shall be formed to deliberate and decide on matters necessary for operating the cooperation system between local governments and universities. The Regional Cooperation Committee may consist of heads of local governments, higher education institutions, companies, and research institutes. When the Minister of Education designates a dedicated institution to support the cooperation system between local governments and universities, requirements for designation such as securing dedicated personnel and organizations are regulated to ensure operational effectiveness.

The head of the Regional Cooperation Committee may apply to the Minister of Education for designation as a "Specialized Region for Higher Education Innovation" to promote local university innovation. The head of the Regional Cooperation Committee can apply for this designation. They may autonomously decide on the contents and extent of regulatory exemptions, as well as the scope of higher education institutions to which these exemptions apply, after establishing a plan for the specialized region for higher education innovation and collecting residents' opinions. Regulatory exemptions apply only to higher education institutions participating in the dedicated institution.

The Ministry of Education plans to establish and announce the operation plan for the specialized regions for higher education innovation by the end of June and support the creation of higher education innovation models in the second half of the year.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "Cooperation among regional innovation actors is essential to overcome the crisis of local universities and regions," adding, "With the institutional foundation established through the amendment of the enforcement decree, I hope this will be an opportunity for local universities to innovate and strengthen competitiveness by collaborating with local governments."

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