The Association of Presidents of Key National Universities Calls for Voluntary Approval of Medical Students' Leave of Absence

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Presidents of national flagship public universities have requested the government to allow autonomous approval of medical students' leaves of absence by each university.

The Council of Presidents of National Flagship Public Universities stated in a proposal distributed on the 28th, "With an urgent desire to normalize the medical school curriculum by the 2025 academic year at the latest," expressing this request.

The council explained, "The conflict between the medical community and the government and disruptions in medical school academic operations have lasted over eight months since the government's announcement of healthcare reform," adding, "It is regrettable that the medical education process necessary for students to grow into healthcare professionals is indefinitely delayed."

They continued, "We urge that medical students' leave of absence requests submitted for personal reasons be autonomously approved according to each university's circumstances, and that the government recognize, together with universities, that autonomous approval of leave requests by each university is a prerequisite for students' return next year."

Earlier, the government announced an 'Emergency Plan for Normalizing Medical School Academics' on the 6th, approving students' leaves of absence only on the condition that they return in the 2025 academic year, and stipulating expulsion or grade retention if they fail to return. However, most medical students have still not returned to school despite this policy.

The medical community has been demanding that universities be allowed to autonomously approve leaves of absence unconditionally to prevent large-scale grade retention or expulsion of medical students. The council believes that proactively approving medical students' leaves of absence could rather help change the students' minds.

They also proposed, "The government and universities should cooperate to ensure that students return in the 2025 academic year and that medical school academic operations can be normalized, and work together to create an educational environment for study and training."

The council promised, "Universities will operate special programs for students on leave in the 2024 academic year to protect students' right to learn, and will prepare the academic operation plan for the 2025 academic year when students return without any setbacks."

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