Daekyohyeop Summer Presidents' Seminar... Chairman Kim Incheol "University Survival Threatened, Financial Support Must Increase"

Chairman Kim In-cheol: "Delaying the Return to Normalcy in Universities Is an Urgent Task"
"We Must Refocus on Collaboration and Sharing Rather Than Competition"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a meeting on the 14th at the Korea Educational Facilities Safety Institute in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, with the presidents of the Korean Council for University Education and the Korean Council for College Education. Kim In-cheol, president of the Korean Council for University Education, is speaking. This meeting was organized to gather field opinions on the academic operation plan for the second semester, including the expansion of face-to-face classes. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Busan=Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] "The survival and ecosystem of universities are under threat. Financial support must be expanded so that universities can focus on expanding face-to-face classes and educational recovery in the second semester." (Kim Incheol, Chairman of the Korea Council for University Education, President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)

Universities facing difficulties due to declining school-age population, tuition freeze, and diagnostic evaluations have demanded increased financial support from the government.

The Korea Council for University Education (hereafter K-CUE) held a summer university presidents' seminar on the theme "Challenges and Responses of Universities in the Era of COVID-19 and Ultra-Low Birthrate" from the 1st to the 2nd at Paradise Hotel in Haeundae-gu, Busan, attended by presidents of 132 universities nationwide.

In his opening remarks, Kim Incheol, Chairman of K-CUE, said, "The prolonged non-face-to-face classes have weakened the motivation for academic achievement and self-development among first- and second-year students, and heightened anxiety about career paths among graduates. The restoration of normal university life is the top priority that must not be delayed."

Chairman Kim diagnosed, "Due to the COVID-19 situation, our traditional analog universities face a huge challenge. The rapid decline in school-age population, tuition freeze, increased taxation such as local taxes, regulations on the four major requirements (campus land, buildings, faculty, and basic property for profit), and competition-oriented diagnostic evaluations threaten the survival and ecosystem of universities."

He continued, "The university innovation support project budget for 2022 should be expanded to around 2 trillion won, and laws such as the Higher Education Support Special Account Act should be enacted to significantly increase financial support. In the third cycle of university diagnostic evaluations to be announced in August, unless there are issues, innovation support project funds should be granted to all participating universities and the usage restrictions should be lifted to convert them into general support project funds. Only then can universities focus their capabilities on expanding face-to-face classes and educational recovery," he emphasized.

Chairman Kim added, "Universities facing challenges and crises also need time for reflection. They must examine whether they have done their best to gain the trust of students, university members, and society. Rather than competition, they should prepare for collaboration and sharing, and fulfill their respective responsibilities and duties for the sound maintenance and development of the higher education ecosystem."

Jung Jongcheol, Vice Minister of Education, stated, "We will actively support efforts to expand higher education funding and normalize university education, including expanding face-to-face classes. I hope this seminar will be an opportunity for the Ministry of Education and universities to gather wisdom and seek solutions to the various challenges facing higher education."

At the event, lectures continued on the themes of ▲Understanding the MZ Generation and University Education ▲Improvement Plans for Higher Education in the Post-COVID-19 Era. Additionally, a session titled ▲"Listening to University Students in the COVID-19 Era" was held, where three enrolled students shared their opinions on university life during the pandemic.

In the comprehensive university policy discussion, Vice Minister Jung Jongcheol and directors from the Ministry of Education's Higher Education Policy Office participated as panelists to exchange opinions with university presidents.

On the 2nd, general meetings of functional presidents' councils such as the Korea Theological University Presidents' Council, the National University Presidents' Council for Teacher Training, and the Korea Women's University Presidents' Council, as well as regional presidents' councils from nine regions nationwide, were held.

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