SOUTH KOREA SEEN INCREASE IN FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDYING FROM 12124 TO 89537 IN 2011 AND WORRIED IN THE LONG TERM WILL LOSE ITS COMPETITIVENESS IN GLOBAL EDUCATION SECTOR Concerns are rising that in the long term, Korea will lose its competitiveness in the global education scene, but in recent years, the number of foreign students has grown. According to the Ministry of Education, the number of foreigners studying in Korea has been steadily increasing from 12,124 in 2003 to 89,537 in 2011. Accommodating students is not the only problem, foreign students say. With the increase of foreign students, most notably a 27 percent increase at Seoul National University, controlling their attendance is a growing challenge. A report by the Ministry of Education in 2012 showed that 10 percent of foreign students enrolled in universities are currently “absent without leave.” But the universities are confident in their current efforts. Seoul National University recently built a dormitory exclusively for foreigners. “We plan to increase our foreign student ratio to 6 - 7 percent of total students in coming years,” said Kim Kic-chun, an official at Seoul National University’s international relations department. Not everyone is so enthusiastic though. Young-Ah Park, a professor at Myongji University said, “We need to put tougher restrictions on [the number of] foreign students.” Her opinion is now backed by the government, which announced this year that 17 universities, including Kaya and Hyupsung universities, would not be allowed to accept foreign students.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 02:09:56 +0000
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