Additional Support for Universities Failing Capacity Assessment... The Issue Is the 'Criteria'

Daekyohyeop "All 52 Universities Should Be Given a Second Chance"
Previous Day Education Committee Budget Subcommittee Approves Additional Support for 13 Universities
Final Budget and Support Targets to Be Confirmed Through Education and Budget Committees Discussions
Additional Support Likely Possible Through Separate Evaluation and Budget Allocation

The Inha University Student Council, Faculty Association, Labor Union, and Alumni Association held a rally and press conference on campus on August 23rd to condemn the Ministry of Education in response to the Basic Competency Diagnosis Evaluation results.

The University Education Council's chairpersons have argued that all 52 universities that failed to qualify for the general financial support under the university basic competency diagnosis should be given a second chance, in response to plans to provide additional budget support to only some of these universities.

On the 16th, the chairpersons of the University Education Council issued a statement to the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee and the Education Committee, urging, "A separate plan should be prepared to provide a second chance to all 52 unselected universities and to select as many universities as possible with the will and capacity for innovation for additional support."

The chairpersons pointed out, "All 52 unselected universities are capable institutions that passed the government's financial support restriction evaluation," adding, "If general financial support is not provided to these universities, there is a concern that the competitiveness of higher education will decline, and the cultivation of future talents and regional development will be hindered."

There is strong opposition to limiting the support targets without increasing the budget. Even among the 52 universities that failed, their fortunes will inevitably differ depending on whether they receive support, and the criteria for selection remain ambiguous.

Jang Je-guk, president of Dongseo University (Chairman of the Private University Presidents' Council), stated, "While I agree with providing budget support to universities that failed the basic competency diagnosis evaluation, cutting the support funds for selected universities without increasing the budget will inevitably divide opinions among universities," and added, "This will also raise doubts about the credibility of the basic competency diagnosis evaluation system itself."

On the same day, the Education Committee discussed plans to provide additional financial support to universities that failed the third cycle of the basic competency diagnosis. The day before, the National Assembly's Education Committee Budget and Accounts Subcommittee changed the '2022 Ministry of Education budget plan' from providing 5 billion KRW each to 147 general universities eligible for general financial support to providing 4.593 billion KRW each to 160 universities. This means that while the number of supported universities increased by 13, the support amount per university decreased by 407 million KRW. Since the budget plan will be finalized at the Education Committee plenary session and the Budget and Accounts Committee on the same day, the support targets and budget may change.

Additionally, the chairpersons demanded a significant increase in the scale of the University Innovation Support Project budget. They stated, "We urge the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and the National Assembly to increase the University Innovation Support Project budget to secure additional support funds for unselected universities," and added, "The next year's budget plan includes support funds for 244 universities selected for general financial support, and an increase in the University Innovation Support Project budget is essential to provide additional support to unselected universities."

A representative from the University Education Council said, "Although the universities unselected in the basic competency diagnosis have basic capabilities, they were inevitably excluded due to relative evaluation by region and thus stigmatized, but their basic competency has not declined," and added, "A reasonable plan should be prepared by the system improvement council."

Opinions also differ regarding the method of selecting support targets among the failed universities. While the plan to provide opportunities through re-evaluation is prominent, many also suggest utilizing the existing competency diagnosis evaluation results. The Ministry of Education plans to form a university basic competency diagnosis evaluation improvement council and establish a basic plan by next month.

An official from the Ministry of Education said, "Many opinions suggest providing opportunities through separate evaluations regarding the scale of evaluation, timing of support, and evaluation indicators," but added, "We will comprehensively consider the opinions of the National Assembly, the consultative body, and universities."

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