"High School-University Credit Recognition Linked"...Pilot Program to Launch Next Year in Five Regional High Schools

Ahead of Full Implementation of the High School Credit System
Opening Out-of-School Education in Connection with Universities
Planned for Full Expansion from 2026

Starting next year, high school students who complete high school-university credit recognition courses offered by universities will be able to receive credit not only for high school but also for the corresponding university credits. The Ministry of Education will conduct a pilot project centered on 15 universities within five metropolitan and provincial offices of education next year.

On the 10th, the Ministry of Education announced the "Operation Plan for Establishing a High School-University Linked Credit Recognition System" containing these details. This was prepared to activate out-of-school education ahead of the full implementation of the high school credit system next year, aiming to reduce the burden of course offerings at schools and increase course demand and satisfaction.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho attended a roundtable meeting held on July 16 at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss the preparation status and challenges of the high school credit system with on-site teachers. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the plan, universities will develop courses based on support from metropolitan and provincial offices of education under mutual agreements between the offices and local universities. The offices will confirm the demand from students (high school grades 1 to 3 next year) and inform the universities, which will then conduct classes after school, on weekends, or during vacations using facilities and equipment provided by the universities.

The decision on whether and how to conduct evaluations will be autonomously made by the universities. However, grades (raw scores, achievement levels, rank grades, etc.) will not be calculated or recorded in the high school student records; only objective content learned by the students, along with the course name and credits, will be documented.

The Ministry of Education will operate the pilot project next year at 15 universities within five metropolitan and provincial offices of education. Participating universities in the pilot project include ▲Busan (Pusan National University, Busan University of Foreign Studies) ▲Daegu (Yeungnam University, Daegu Health College) ▲Gwangju (Chosun University, Chosun Nursing College) ▲Ulsan (University of Ulsan) ▲Jeonbuk (Chonbuk National University, Jeonju National University of Education, Korea National University of Gunsan, Gunsan Nursing College, Wonkwang University, Jeonju University, Jeonju Vision College, Woosuk University).

From 2026, based on performance reviews, the Ministry plans to gradually expand participating offices of education and universities. Detailed information on courses offered by each university and course registration will be separately provided to high schools within the respective metropolitan and provincial offices of education by February next year.