Sungshin Women's University Urges Ministry of Education to Conduct Fair Evaluation, Strongly Demands Reassessment of 'University Hit List'

Sungshin Women's University 'Competency Evaluation Objection Team' is conducting a post-it note campaign on campus. Messages from current students urging for re-evaluation are posted. Photo by Sungshin Women's University Competency Evaluation Objection Team

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Since the Ministry of Education announced the preliminary results of the '2021 University Basic Competency Diagnosis,' voices of opposition questioning the fairness of the evaluation have been spreading, especially among some universities who find it difficult to accept the results.

◆Sungshin Women's University Student Council: "Cannot Accept Preliminary Results... Petition Demanding Re-evaluation"

On the 19th, a petition titled "We demand a fair competency diagnosis evaluation from the Ministry of Education that writes a university 'death list'" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

This petition was written by the Emergency Committee of the Student Council of Sungshin Women's University, demanding a re-evaluation citing two issues regarding Sungshin Women's University being excluded from financially supported universities in the Ministry of Education's '2021 University Basic Competency Diagnosis.'

The Student Council stated in the petition, "Sungshin Women's University was not selected as a general financial support university in the preliminary results of the university basic competency diagnosis conducted by the Ministry of Education on August 17," and added, "We express our inability to accept these preliminary results and intend to raise issues with the 'evaluation method' of the 2021 University Basic Competency Diagnosis."

First, they questioned the evaluation method of this diagnosis. The Student Council argued, "This year's 'regional evaluation' method inevitably causes 'failure for the sake of failure,' which contradicts the true purpose of the basic competency diagnosis."

They explained, "The selection of financially restricted universities, so-called failing universities, in 2018 was conducted with the participation of all domestic universities."

In contrast, "This year's diagnosis allowed universities to choose whether to participate, and within participating universities, general financial support universities were selected or not selected," clarifying, "The designation of financially restricted universities, commonly referred to as failing universities, was already decided last year, and Sungshin Women's University is not subject to this."

They continued, "The problem lies in the 'regional evaluation' applied differently this year," noting, "Although regional evaluation was also used in 2018, the selection ratio per region has changed this year. Moreover, since this evaluation method sets the number of universities not to be selected per region and announces the non-selected universities accordingly, it raises doubts whether the non-selection was truly based on the basic competency diagnosis results or was a failure for the sake of failure."

Sungshin Women's University 'Competency Evaluation Objection Team' is conducting an on-campus Post-it note campaign. Photo by Sungshin Women's University Competency Evaluation Objection Team

Next, they questioned the fairness of the evaluation itself. The Student Council explained, "The university basic competency diagnosis consists of quantitative evaluation, qualitative evaluation, and face-to-face evaluation," adding, "The qualitative evaluation is conducted by submitting a self-assessment report for each diagnostic indicator, which is then evaluated by an evaluator. However, only one evaluator is assigned per university."

They further noted, "In the case of our Sungshin Women's University, there were no point deductions for sanctions related to fraud or failure to reduce enrollment."

However, "We confirmed that about 7 points were deducted in the qualitative evaluation indicator of 'curriculum operation and improvement.' The point we cannot accept is this deduction," they said, explaining, "Points were deducted in the establishment and operation of the curriculum system in liberal arts, major, and teaching-learning fields, but our university significantly improved the liberal arts curriculum through consulting with the Korea Council for University Education in 2017 until 2019, and based on that, received an A grade and PASS in the 2018 and 2020 diagnosis and monitoring, passing with excellent results."

They added, "Compared to the previous diagnosis where this indicator scored 10 points, it suddenly increased significantly to 20 points this year, raising its importance. However, since it is a qualitative evaluation, having only one person evaluate the overall system of a university comprising students, staff, and professors raises doubts about whether this is a fair diagnosis."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board

The Student Council stated, "The qualitative evaluation can result in pass or fail depending on a single evaluator, and the Korea Educational Development Institute, which conducts the diagnosis, also severely limits appeals regarding this diagnosis," arguing, "Not disclosing the basis for score calculation in a diagnosis that can greatly affect a university's future and survival raises even greater doubts about the fairness of the diagnosis."

They emphasized again, "Not only are appeals against the score calculation basis not accepted, but the fact that appeals against the basic competency diagnosis have not been reflected for years raises questions about the purpose of having an appeal system."

Finally, they strongly urged the Ministry of Education and the Korea Educational Development Institute to establish fairness in the university basic competency diagnosis, transparently disclose evaluation criteria and grounds to ensure a fair university competency diagnosis, and fairly review the appeals against the preliminary results of Sungshin Women's University.

As of 1 PM on the 20th, this petition has received over 4,800 endorsements.

◆Ministry of Education: "University Diagnosis Cuts Financial Support for Bottom 27% of Universities"

Earlier on the 17th, the Ministry of Education announced the preliminary results of the 2021 University Basic Competency Diagnosis, selecting 136 four-year universities and 97 junior colleges as universities eligible for general financial support. According to the diagnosis results announced that day, 52 universities, corresponding to the bottom 27%, failed and will not receive government general financial support. In the metropolitan area, 11 universities including Sungkonghoe University, Sungshin Women's University, University of Suwon, Yongin University, Inha University, Chongshin University, Chugye University for the Arts, KC University, Pyeongtaek University, Hansei University, and Hyupsung University failed, along with 14 local universities and 27 junior colleges.

Universities listed in the final roster are expected to face structural adjustments such as reduced financial support and enrollment cuts, along with the stigma of being labeled 'failing universities,' leading to strong opposition from universities.

◆Sungshin Women's University Community Responds with Statements, Post-it Notes, and Hashtag Campaigns

In response, members of Sungshin Women's University, including staff, the faculty association, the student council, and the alumni association, have raised their voices by jointly issuing statements. Additionally, student members of Sungshin Women's University have formed an 'Appeal Team for Competency Evaluation' and are conducting post-it note campaigns on campus and hashtag campaigns on social networking services (SNS).

Meanwhile, the final results are scheduled to be confirmed at the end of August after review by the University Structural Reform Committee following university appeals.

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