'Meister University' Expanding Master's Degree Programs at Junior Colleges in 2023

Announcement of the 2023 Academic Year Basic Plan for Master's Degree Programs in Specialized Technology at Junior Colleges
Expansion of Target to Junior Colleges Operating Associate Degree and Major Advanced Courses

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Starting next year, the number of vocational colleges that can establish and operate the professional technical master's program called 'Meister University' will increase.

On the 27th, the Ministry of Education announced the "2023 Academic Year Basic Plan for Professional Technical Master's Programs at Vocational Colleges." Vocational colleges can establish professional technical master's programs with the approval of the Minister of Education.

Meister University refers to a university that organizes and operates an advanced curriculum focused on job-centered education in cutting-edge fields and industry demand areas, including short-term programs, professional associate degrees, major deepening courses (bachelor's), and professional technical master's programs.

In December last year, the Ministry of Education approved the professional technical master's programs for the 2022 academic year for 13 curricula at 8 pilot Meister Universities. The pilot universities are Daelim University, Dongyang Mirae University and Yeonseong University, Dong-Eui Science University and Dongju University, Youngjin College, and Korea National University of Arts and Ajou Automobile University.

From the 2023 academic year, Meister University will be expanded to include vocational colleges that open and operate professional associate and major deepening courses, in addition to the pilot universities.

To receive approval to establish and operate a professional technical master's program, institutions must secure at least five full-time faculty members and adjust the admission quotas for professional associate degrees and professional technical master's programs at a 1:1 ratio, among other establishment requirements.

Starting from the 2023 academic year, reflecting cross-ministerial demand, additional points will be awarded during the approval review if the field matches cross-ministerial professional technical talent needs such as clinical trials and biopharmaceutical production processes.

The Ministry of Education will accept operation plans for approval to establish professional technical master's programs for the 2023 academic year until the 28th of next month. The final approval results will be notified to the applying universities by June 30.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "We will continue to support the cultivation of professional technical talents who can respond to new industry demands through solid operation of professional technical master's programs and activation of the system."