By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has the lowest dropout rate among 188 universities.
According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Thursday, POSTECH had 17 students give up their studies at the university last year, out of a total of 1,711 ― 1 percent of the total student body.
The average dropout rate among institutes of higher education, including 2-year and 3-year colleges, stood at 5 percent.
Among those who left their original schools, 44 percent voluntarily withdrew, 33 percent didn't return after taking a leave of absence, and 17 percent failed to pay tuition.
``Our university enrolls a small number of students, so we can offer tailor-made education, and most of them are under scholarships. Mentors, including professors, are assisting our students, who need to get through a heavy workload, so that they can adapt to our school,'' said Choi Hyu-young, a public relations officer at POSTECH.
Seoul National University came in second at 1.2 percent and Yonsei University third at 1.3 percent. Korea University was fifth at 1.5 percent.
The fact that the top schools are enjoying low dropout rates seems to support the conventional wisdom that students in these schools often have a better chance of getting well-paying jobs after graduation than those in second-tier schools, although ministry officials didn't provide specific details about the reasons for dropouts.
However, Korea University topped the list in terms of regular-payroll employment among four-year universities, at 67.4 percent.
In terms of research expenses per fulltime faculty member, Seoul National University was the leader in liberal arts at 79 million won, and POSTECH topped the field in science and engineering at 580 million won. POSTECH also provides the second-largest amount of scholarship money per student.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
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