Launch of the 'University Regulation Improvement Council' to Revise Key Requirements and Enrollment Regulations

Composed of 17 civilian members, chaired by Jeong Jin-taek, President of Korea University

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education is forming the 'University Regulation Improvement Council' to revise key regulations that have long constrained universities, such as the four major requirements and enrollment restrictions.

On the 28th, the Ministry of Education announced plans to establish and operate the University Regulation Improvement Council, composed mainly of private sector members from universities, industry, and local governments, to identify and discuss tasks for improving university regulations.

The council will be chaired by Chung Jin-taek, President of Korea University, and will include 17 members along with a government official (Director of Higher Education Policy). The term is two years with the possibility of renewal.

To ensure discussions are aligned with on-site perspectives, members recommended from various fields such as industry, local governments, universities and education sectors, and the National Assembly will participate. Among the 10 university and education sector members, not only regulatory experts but also students and faculty staff are included.

The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has decided to establish a promotion system for improving university regulations as a national agenda, and as part of this, the Ministry of Education launched the University Regulation Improvement Council. This is to discuss improvement measures for key regulations such as the four major requirements, university mergers and closures criteria, and enrollment restrictions.

A Ministry of Education official stated, "Within this year, we will prepare concrete outcomes or plans related to the improvement of the four major requirements and university evaluations through the council."

They plan to accelerate improvements through joint inter-ministerial discussions on improvement tasks proposed by universities and regulations under the jurisdiction of other ministries. They also intend to discover and share best practices of regulatory improvements from within universities, such as removing barriers between departments and majors.

Unlike typical advisory committees or expert councils, the University Regulation Improvement Council’s decisions will be systematically implemented with practical support provided through the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Policy Research Institute.

A partial amendment to the Higher Education Act to establish the legal basis for the installation and operation of the University Regulation Improvement Council is planned to be proposed within the year.

Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education, said, "The launch of the University Regulation Improvement Council is significant in terms of establishing a system to continuously identify and discuss tasks for improving university regulations," and added, "We expect the council to play a major role in supporting university innovation."