by Lee Jungyun
Published 26 Apr.2023 19:42(KST)
Starting as early as next year, it will be possible to transfer majors even during the first year of university. Additionally, universities that have integrated junior colleges and four-year general universities will be able to operate both bachelor's degree programs and associate degree programs.
On the 26th, the Ministry of Education held the 5th University Regulatory Reform Council and announced that they discussed the "Improvement Plan for Academic Systems Centered on Students and Industry Demand," which includes these details.
The Ministry of Education plans to amend the Higher Education Act, specifying the principle that university academic affairs will be autonomously designed according to university regulations, and the operation of academic affairs will shift to a negative regulation system where only the minimum basic matters are stipulated by law. This is expected to be the core of the amended law.
Furthermore, regulations that have been frequently requested for improvement on the ground will be changed immediately. First, the Ministry of Education will push for an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act to allow universities to autonomously determine the timing of major transfers according to their regulations, which was previously only permitted from the second year onward. First-year students will also be able to change their majors.
The scope of credit recognition obtained through joint education programs between universities is also expected to expand.
The Ministry of Education plans to amend the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act to abolish the upper limit on recognized credits and allow universities to autonomously decide the recognized credits through inter-university agreements.
The Ministry also plans to abolish the employment period requirement for participants in industry-commissioned education. Currently, to receive industry-commissioned education, one must have at least nine months of work experience.
The admission rate for adult learners outside the quota, which is currently limited to within 5% of the admission quota for non-metropolitan junior colleges, is also expected to be abolished.
At the council meeting, the agenda of "Establishing grounds for operating associate degree programs in integrated junior colleges and general universities" was also discussed. The Ministry of Education decided to establish legal grounds to allow universities that have integrated junior colleges and general universities to operate both associate degree programs and general bachelor's degree programs. Previously, when junior colleges and general universities were integrated, there was no legal basis for general universities to award associate degrees, which led to the abolition of competitive associate degree programs.
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