Aftermath of University Competency Assessment... 52 Universities Demand Financial Support Even if They Fail

Fairness Issues Raised in Basic Competency Assessment of 52 Universities Including Sungshin Women's University
Request for Increased Financial Support Submitted to Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Education
Objection Results Announced on 31st... Ministry of Education Strengthens Evaluation System to Three Stages

Sungshin Women's University students posted messages throughout the campus urging a re-evaluation of the competency assessment.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Universities that failed to qualify for general financial support in the University Basic Competency Diagnosis Evaluation raised concerns about the fairness of the evaluation process and demanded financial support from the government.

On the 26th, 52 universities including Sungshin Women’s University, Inha University, and Sungkonghoe University sent a petition to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Education, challenging the results of the 3rd cycle University Basic Competency Diagnosis Evaluation and requesting budget allocation for universities that were not selected. These universities argued, "Universities participating in the government financial support project evaluation meet certain minimum requirements, so while support should be differentiated based on evaluation results, please consider allowing all participating universities to receive support."

Among the 285 universities subject to the general financial support project evaluation announced by the Ministry of Education on the 17th, 52 universities were excluded from the selection. The universities pointed out issues with the lack of transparency in the financial support project evaluation process and unfair distribution of evaluation indicators. Some current students found it difficult to accept the basic competency diagnosis evaluation criteria and claimed that the qualitative evaluation criteria, which have significant point deductions, were unfair.

A vice president of a private university in the metropolitan area criticized, "Many universities that received low scores expressed difficulty understanding the point deductions in the curriculum operation improvement category," adding, "Although these universities are not subject to financial support restrictions, they were stigmatized as poorly performing universities after failing to qualify for the general financial support project."

Yang Bo-gyeong, president of Sungshin Women’s University, stated, "Despite increased equipment costs and decreased tuition revenue due to the rise of non-face-to-face classes, we have raised education expenses per student to improve the quality of higher education, but it is no longer feasible to sustain tuition investment solely with the university’s own finances." She urged, "Since participation in the financial support project was canceled due to a small score difference in this evaluation, budget allocation should allow financial support for universities that were not selected."

The Ministry of Education explained that the students’ claim that "one evaluation committee member evaluates one university" is not true. Evaluation committee members appointed by universities are assigned to evaluate universities ensuring no overlap in their alma mater or affiliation. Each university is evaluated by 45 members, and 15 members divide the evaluation of 25 detailed indicators.

A Ministry of Education official said, "Evaluation committee members were appointed even from universities that failed, and since it is difficult to assess competency and potential solely with quantitative indicators such as faculty securing rate or student enrollment rate, qualitative evaluation is conducted." He added, "Unlike other financial support projects, the evaluation manual was distributed to each university two years in advance to allow preparation, and scores for each category were disclosed so universities could sufficiently explain themselves during appeals."

The Ministry of Education will announce the results of the appeal review on the 31st. Since only one case has been reflected in appeals so far, it is expected that few universities will be granted relief this year as well. The Ministry has strengthened the appeal review system into three stages this year and appointed a majority of appeal evaluation committee members as external experts who did not participate in the diagnosis evaluation.

A Ministry of Education official said, "Since it is unknown which universities will be selected through appeals, no relief measures are being considered at this time," and explained, "The University Competency Diagnosis Evaluation has been conducted for 10 years, and although universities that failed have filed lawsuits every year, there have been no cases of losing in court."

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