[Insight & Opinion] Impact of Expanding Medical School Admissions... Science and Engineering Departments Must Also Be Saved

Science and engineering universities are facing an emergency. Securing new students is not easy. Almost all universities, except for some top-tier ones, are failing to fill their admission quotas. Even SKY universities, which are relatively better off, cannot feel secure. The number of dropouts is increasing uncontrollably. Last year, 2,131 students (2.8%) among enrolled students dropped out. It is said that the number of repeat test-takers (N-su students) will reach 90,000 in this year's college entrance exam. Consequently, transfer students are also rapidly increasing.

The situation is becoming more serious. The government's will to fully commit to nurturing science and technology personnel was never trustworthy from the start. Scientists have been stigmatized as part of a 'predatory interest cartel' that divides research and development funds, and the national research and development budget was cut by 5.2 trillion won (16.6%). The normal operation of the heavy ion accelerator is uncertain, and the dream of space development seems to have to be put on hold for the time being. Basic science and government-funded research institutes have also been directly hit by the cartel.

The flashy semiconductor contract departments cannot save science and engineering. In fact, it is utterly embarrassing to encourage students to pursue the path of a scientist. To make matters worse, the admission quota for medical schools is sure to increase next year. Universities have lost the capacity to respond to the increase in medical school admissions. This is because they have had their souls completely drained trying to understand the true nature of the numerous 'reform' tasks created behind closed doors by the Ministry of Education.

The confusion in science and engineering universities caused by the dramatic expansion of medical school admissions will be far more serious than expected. The position of science and engineering departments at top-tier universities, which had degenerated into preparatory institutions for medical professional schools and the distorted pharmacy school admissions, is very difficult. It is uncertain whether they can fully withstand the successive waves of the 'last train' rush to medical schools.

Basic science departments in science and engineering are already in a serious crisis of survival. Only 37 universities nationwide operate physics departments at four-year universities. Chemistry departments remain at only 44. Over the past decade, nine physics departments have disappeared, and a staggering 37 chemistry departments have vanished. This absurd reality was created by the declining school-age population and the Ministry of Education's erratic reform demands.

The difficulties of mid- to lower-tier universities will also be considerable. Even so, a new Advanced Convergence Department with 218 seats was established at Seoul National University, and the admission quota of metropolitan area universities increased by 817. The number of college entrance exam takers, which once exceeded one million, has now dropped to 400,000. All departments in both humanities and sciences will suffer even more severe pains to secure new students. Regional universities will inevitably close in the order that cherry blossoms bloom. The damage to universities and local communities caused by the closure of private universities will be far more serious than expected.

The nationwide shortage of doctors is certainly urgent. The 'emergency room rotation' and 'pediatric open run' must be resolved for the health and safety of the public. Keeping medical school admission quotas frozen for 18 years was not a reasonable choice either. However, increasing medical school admissions will not immediately solve all problems in the medical field. The Korean Medical Association's demand that a comprehensive reform of the medical system is more important than a simple increase in medical school admissions is by no means mere collective selfishness. The Ministry of Education's remarks on 'liberal major departments' will not help either science and engineering university education or the doctor shortage problem. More attention and investment in science and engineering university education are necessary.

Lee Deok-hwan, Professor Emeritus at Sogang University

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