By 2025, Admission Quotas to Decrease by 16,000... 88% at Regional Universities

Submission of Appropriate University Size Plans by 96 Schools, Reduction of 16,197 Students
Reduction of Admission Quotas, Adjustment of Undergraduate and Graduate Quotas, Transition to Lifelong Education
Reduction in Universities Located in the Capital Area Accounts for Only 12% of Total
140 Billion KRW Support for University Innovation Project... All Top Schools Are Regional Universities
Concerns Over Increase in Enrollment Through Advanced Departments Like Semiconductors After Receiving Appropriate Size Support Funds

On the 23rd, students are walking through the green campus of Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that the whole country would generally be clear, with the highest apparent temperature rising above 31 degrees Celsius, showing summer weather. Fine dust levels are expected to be 'moderate' in most regions nationwide. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] To prevent a recurrence of large-scale freshman enrollment shortfalls in response to the declining school-age population, universities will reduce their freshman quotas by about 16,000 by 2025. Of the reduced quotas, 88% will be allocated to regional universities.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Education announced that 96 general and vocational universities have autonomously established plans for appropriate scaling, aiming to reduce 16,197 students by 2025. The universities formulated these plans including reducing admission quotas, adjusting quotas between undergraduate and graduate schools, converting to adult learner-dedicated programs, and deferring admission quota recruitment.

Since experiencing a large-scale enrollment shortage last year, the Ministry of Education has accelerated quota restructuring. As of March 2021, the freshman enrollment rate was 91.4%, leaving 40,586 students unfilled. The admission quota last year was 474,000, but maintaining this scale would result in a shortage of 100,000 students compared to the estimated 373,000 available for admission in 2024.

Among the universities that submitted appropriate scaling plans this time, regional universities will reduce 79.95% of the total quotas. By region, the Seoul metropolitan area (1,953 students) has the smallest reduction, followed by the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam area (4,407 students), Chungcheong area (4,325 students), Honam-Jeju area (2,825 students), and Daegu-Gyeongbuk-Gangwon area (2,687 students). Non-metropolitan universities account for 87.95% of the planned reductions. Among the 16,197 planned reductions, vocational universities (8,206 students) exceed general universities (7,991 students).

Unlike metropolitan universities where freshman enrollment is not difficult, universities in the Chungcheong and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam areas actively participated in submitting appropriate scaling plans. The participation rate by region shows the Seoul metropolitan area with the lowest at 22 out of 84 universities (26%). In non-metropolitan areas, Chungcheong (58%) and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (51%) had over half participation, followed by Honam-Jeju (47%) and Daegu-Gyeongbuk-Gangwon (42%).

Universities that reduce more than the unfilled quota receive more support funds

The Ministry of Education will provide 140 billion KRW in university and vocational college innovation project support funds to universities that reduce their quotas. These funds will be given to universities that establish appropriate scaling plans reaching at least 90% of the 2021 unfilled quota. Pure admission quota reductions are recognized at 100%, but if reductions include graduate school or adult learner-dedicated program conversions and recruitment deferrals, only 50% of those numbers are recognized.

Universities that reduce beyond last year's unfilled quota will receive 84 billion KRW, and those reducing within the unfilled quota will receive 56 billion KRW. For universities that proactively reduce beyond the unfilled quota, general universities receive 37.2 million KRW per person, and those within the quota receive 6.5 million KRW per person. Vocational universities receive 15.14 million KRW and 2.51 million KRW per person, respectively.

Based on the support amount per recognized person, general universities receive from 13 million KRW up to a maximum of 7.036 billion KRW, and vocational universities receive from 23 million KRW up to 2.832 billion KRW. The appropriate scaling support funds can be freely used by universities, and the carryover range for innovation support funds this year and next will also be preferentially treated.

More than half participation in Chungcheong and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam areas

Among the universities receiving the most appropriate scaling support funds, the top three general universities are all regional universities. Gwangju University received 7.036 billion KRW, Ulsan University 6.567 billion KRW, and Daegu Han Medical University 6.371 billion KRW. Among the top 10 universities, Daejin University (6.033 billion KRW) is the only Seoul metropolitan university and ranks fourth in support funds received.

Based on the amount of appropriate scaling support funds for general universities, 5th place is Songwon University (6 billion KRW), 6th is Silla University (5.987 billion KRW), 7th is Joongbu University (5.987 billion KRW), 8th is Gyeongnam University (5.913 billion KRW), 9th is Wonkwang University (4.675 billion KRW), and 10th is Kyungil University (3.716 billion KRW).

Among vocational universities, four of the top five are regional universities. The vocational university receiving the most support funds is Busan Women's University (2.832 billion KRW), followed by Wonkwang Health University (2.611 billion KRW), Busan Gyeongsang University (2.551 billion KRW), and Daekyung University (2.538 billion KRW). Among Seoul metropolitan universities, Seojeong University receives the most support funds (2.4 billion KRW), ranking fifth.

First enrollment maintenance check on October 1... Higher education master plan to be announced by year-end

The Ministry of Education will check the enrollment maintenance rate for all general financial support universities (257 schools) to balance between metropolitan and regional universities. The first check will be completed by October, and universities in the bottom 30-50% of enrollment maintenance rates within each region will receive appropriate scaling consulting. A second check will be conducted in the second half of next year to recommend appropriate scaling. The Ministry plans to give preferential treatment to regional universities that actively participate in appropriate scaling when recommending quota reductions. After the second check, implementation results will be linked to university innovation support fund allocations in 2024.

Additionally, to systematically promote the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's national agenda in higher education, the Ministry plans to establish a 'Higher Education Development Master Plan' for the next five years by year-end. The master plan will include blueprints for regulatory reform, financial support, and balanced development of regional universities. Furthermore, a special account for higher and lifelong education support will be established to stably expand higher education finances and support regional universities facing declining school-age populations or financial difficulties.

Separately from the university quota reduction policy, the Ministry of Education is implementing policies to relax quota regulations for advanced departments such as semiconductors through talent cultivation measures. By allowing quota increases if the faculty recruitment rate reaches 100%, policy conflicts are inevitable. It is also possible that universities may fill the reduced quotas, which they cut to receive support funds, by increasing quotas in advanced departments.

An official from the Ministry of Education said, "The appropriate scaling plan is a decision made by the universities themselves, and increases in advanced departments such as semiconductors are carried out through separate plans or project application procedures, so they should be viewed differently. While there may be some correlation as universities proactively reduce quotas to strategically specialize in their strengths, it is difficult to make definitive statements as it requires strategic thinking from the universities' perspective."

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