Second Semester University Lab and Small-Scale In-Person Classes Allowed... Gradual Expansion from October (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Education Announces Stepwise Expansion Plan for In-Person University Activities in 2nd Semester of 2021
Colleges with 70% Practical Classes Actively Expand Face-to-Face Instruction
63% of University Students Support More In-Person Practical Classes, Oppose Increased Theory Classes
Concerns Over 'Grade Inflation' Persist as Online Classes Remain Unavoidable This Year

On the 21st, when the revised social distancing measures to be applied from July are announced, students preparing for their final exams at Dongyang Mirae University in Guro-gu, Seoul are getting ready for their tests. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education announced a plan to start face-to-face classes from the second semester at universities, beginning with experiments, practical training, and small-sized classes, and to ease the criteria for face-to-face classes starting in October. Considering that university students have not yet been vaccinated and that each university faces different circumstances, the decision on whether to hold face-to-face classes will be left to the autonomy of each university, so the actual operation of face-to-face classes is expected to vary significantly by school.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Education announced a phased expansion plan for face-to-face activities at universities for the second semester of the 2021 academic year at the Government Seoul Office. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "The degree of face-to-face classes at each university will be decided independently, considering the conditions of each university, but vocational colleges will actively promote face-to-face classes so that many students can participate," and added, "The full-scale expansion of university face-to-face activities will be judged in connection with the vaccination results in the third quarter."

After the start of the second semester, face-to-face classes will first be conducted for experiments, practical training, and skill classes, as well as small-sized classes where there is demand from university members, and will be gradually expanded from October onward, considering the vaccination situation. Vocational colleges, where the proportion of experiment, practical, and skill classes reaches 69%, are expected to see a significant increase in face-to-face classes starting in September. Face-to-face classes can be prioritized for courses linked to employment, such as nationally certified qualifications.

Nam Seong-hee, chairman of the Korea Council for Vocational Colleges, said, "About 60% of vocational college departments are two-year programs, and many students are worried about graduating without ever attending school in person after enrollment," adding, "Mandatory on-site training for obtaining national qualifications or licenses has also been disrupted, leading to shortened practical hours and substitution with indirect online practice, resulting in low student satisfaction and concerns about national exam pass rates."

63% of University Students Support Expansion of Face-to-Face Practical Classes... Opposition Prevails for Theory Classes

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education targeting 94,803 university students showed that 63.1% supported the expansion of face-to-face experiment, practical, and skill classes in the second semester. However, opposition (47.0%) to expanding face-to-face theory classes was higher than support (36.9%). Regarding extracurricular campus activities, opposition to expanding face-to-face activities (45.6%) also outweighed support (32.8%). This indicates that many university students still have concerns about infection. In the first semester, 93% (305 universities) operated a mix of face-to-face and non-face-to-face classes, while only 1.5% (5 universities) conducted fully face-to-face classes.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "The survey generally showed agreement and support for expanding face-to-face classes, but since vaccinations are not yet complete, there are concerns about infection risks; however, it was understood that this does not mean face-to-face classes are unnecessary," and explained, "Full reopening will inevitably vary by school and region because it must be operated in connection with infection status and quarantine measures."

The Ministry of Education plans to prohibit large-scale face-to-face events such as festivals in the second semester. However, extracurricular campus activities such as student councils and clubs will be allowed starting in October, when the first dose of vaccination is completed. Until September, density standards will be applied to campus facilities according to social distancing levels, and student autonomous activities will be limited to the number allowed for private gatherings.

Expansion of Face-to-Face Classes Left to School Autonomy... Concerns Over Grade Inflation Remain

Even if universities partially resume face-to-face classes, it is expected that only some classes will be conducted face-to-face for the time being. This is because vaccination for people in their 20s has not been completed, and the spread of variant viruses could also be a variable. The Ministry of Education said, "We are consulting with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to include necessary details in the quarantine guidelines to be announced in July."

Concerns about 'grade inflation' have also been raised because many universities apply absolute grading for non-face-to-face classes. A representative example is the significant increase in students' grades last year when non-face-to-face classes became widespread. In 2020, the proportion of enrolled students who earned a B grade or higher per course was 87.5%, an increase of 15.8 percentage points from the previous year (71.7%).

Kim In-cheol, chairman of the Korea Council for University Education, said, "I expect many universities to significantly increase face-to-face classes," but added, "Many universities implemented absolute grading during non-face-to-face classes because it was difficult to achieve a perfect class atmosphere or technical level, but in the second semester, more universities are expected to evaluate students based on the existing relative grading standards."

Some universities have announced academic operation plans for the second semester focusing on partial expansion of face-to-face classes. Seoul National University allows face-to-face classes according to social distancing levels: under level 2, classes with fewer than 100 students are allowed; under level 3, fewer than 50 students. They plan to stagger class times, with lower-year students attending in the morning and upper-year students in the afternoon, in lecture rooms where a 2-meter distance between seats is possible. Dongguk University allows face-to-face classes only for theory lectures or experiment, practical, and skill classes with fewer than 30 students before midterms, and after midterms, theory lectures with fewer than 50 students are also allowed face-to-face. Yonsei University permits face-to-face classes once a week for courses with fewer than 50 students when assigning experiment, practical rooms, or lecture halls that can accommodate twice the enrollment. Seoul National University operates rapid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing and a movement tracking app, and Yonsei University plans to supplement quarantine measures by introducing rapid PCR testing.

One Seat Apart Until Level 2... Autonomous Activities Follow Private Gathering Standards

The Ministry of Education also presented guidelines for classroom quarantine management. Until social distancing level 2, one seat apart is required; from level 3, two seats apart. If there are no seats, the standard is one person per 4 square meters at level 1, and one person per 6 square meters from level 2 onward. Singing or playing wind instruments must be done behind partitions. Preemptive testing is recommended for dormitory residents. Foreign international students must undergo three PCR tests, quarantine for 14 days, and be monitored twice daily.

September, before the first vaccine dose is completed, will be designated as a 'University Special Quarantine Period' to inspect quarantine measures in multi-use facilities such as libraries, dormitories, and student cafeterias. From August, when vaccination becomes available for those under 40, students will be encouraged to get vaccinated.

The Ministry of Education is also working to secure a quarantine support budget to strengthen campus quarantine. Along with this, universities can use innovation support project funds to cover costs such as student observation personnel expenses, quarantine management costs, and student transportation expenses. The Ministry of Education, the Korea Council for Vocational Colleges, and local governments plan to operate a 24-hour call center for COVID-19 emergency response support.

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