Suncheon National University to Recognize Lifelong Education Courses for Academic Credit

Establishment and Operation of Short-Term Non-Degree Programs at the Lifelong Education School
Full Implementation Begins in March Following Regulatory Revision

Suncheon National University (President Lee Byungwoon) announced that it has revised its regulations to allow non-degree programs and lifelong education courses operated by the Lifelong Education School to be recognized as university credits if they are deemed equivalent to university curricula, and that this will be fully implemented starting in March this year.

Since being selected as the first university in the Jeonnam and Gwangju regions for the Glocal University Project, Suncheon National University has been promoting various educational policies that break down the boundaries between the university and the local community, allowing both students and local residents to benefit. The implementation of this degree and non-degree linkage system is also part of this effort to break down barriers.

Sunchon National University will revise and implement regulations to recognize non-degree programs and lifelong education courses operated by the Lifelong Education School as university credits when they are deemed equivalent to university curricula. Provided by Sunchon National University

Regarding the system improvement, a university official stated, "There were some concerns about recognizing lifelong education courses as university credits, but we pursued this revision in response to domestic and international trends where higher education is shifting from being limited to a specific generation to becoming a universal service provided throughout one's life. We decided to fully implement the system in March, coinciding with the expansion and reorganization of the National Suncheon University Future Convergence College into the Lifelong Education School."

With this revision, an institutional basis has been established for operating short-term non-degree programs within the Lifelong Education School. The scope and subjects of prior experiential learning have also been expanded, so lifelong education courses related to undergraduate departments and majors, currently operated jointly with local governments, are also expected to be recognized as credits.

Park Seokgon, Dean of the Lifelong Education School, said, "In the future, taking lifelong education courses at National Suncheon University will not only help prepare for obtaining certificates beneficial for employment and entrepreneurship, but will also offer benefits such as credit recognition upon admission to regular degree programs, early graduation, and tuition reduction. I ask for active interest from both university members and local residents."

President Lee Byungwoon of Suncheon National University stated, "The introduction of this new academic system will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the university's role centered on lifelong education in a society facing low birth rates and an aging population. We will continue to promote innovative educational policies with a sense of mission as the representative national university of the Jeonnam region, expanding opportunities for higher education participation not only for current students but also for local residents."