On the 4th, students wearing masks are passing in front of a banner with guidelines for preventing the novel coronavirus infection at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) increase, the government has begun urgent on-site inspections focusing on universities with many Chinese international students.
On the 20th, the Ministry of Education announced that it will form and operate on-site inspection teams to support universities in systematically managing international students arriving from China in line with the university semester start. The inspection teams, composed of Ministry of Education staff, will be organized in pairs of two and plan to inspect each university at least once a week.
Starting from the previous day, the 19th, staff were dispatched to 17 universities with more than 1,000 Chinese international students to begin inspections on the protection and management status of Chinese international students arriving at universities.
From next week, on-site inspections will also be conducted at 105 universities with between 50 and 1,000 Chinese international students.
The on-site inspections will check whether universities are properly managing international students at each stage?before arrival, upon arrival, during the 14 days after arrival, and after 14 days?using a checklist as the main tool.
A Ministry of Education official stated, "We will continue to work closely with universities, related ministries, and local governments to ensure that international students arriving from China are systematically protected and managed."
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