The Korea Times

InterviewGKS becomes gateway to life in Korea for Uzbek scholar

Sodikov Normatjon had an older brother already studying in Korea when he began exploring scholarship options from Uzbekistan. That early window into Korean university life pointed him toward the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) and made the prospect of moving abroad feel, if not easy, at least less uncertain. "GKS was a life-changing opportunity for me," Normatjon said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Studying abroad can bring financial and cultural uncertainties, but the scholarship took away much of that burden and allowed me to focus fully on my studies." Normatjon arrived in Korea in 2018 and the program has since helped him learn Korean, build a career and start a family in the country. Beyond financial support, the scholarship also helped him navigate the linguistic and cultural challenges of living abroad. Its Korean-language training and cultural programs gave him an early foundation for adapting to life in Korea and connecting with people in the country. "When I first came to Korea, I couldn't speak any Korean," he said. A yearlong language program at Silla Universi

Aug 11, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

GKS becomes gateway to life in Korea for Uzbek scholar

Policy & Trends

Private schools push back against Korea's free tuition plan for nat'l universities

A government proposal to make tuition free for some 64,000 incoming students at national universities next year is facing mounting opposition from private universities. Critics warn the policy could put private institutions at a further disadvantage in attracting students and deepen their financial struggles. The concerns are particularly acute among private universities outside the Seoul metropolitan area, which are already struggling with declining enrollment and financial pressures while facing continued restrictions on tuition hikes. During a policy briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education said it is considering providing full tuition scholarships to some 64,000 freshmen at 30 national universities outside the Seoul metropolitan area beginning in the 2027 academic year. Under the plan, it would gradually expand to cover all undergraduate students at those universities within the current administration's term. International students are not included in the plan, at least for now. Since they are admitted outside the standard enrollment quota and are su

Aug 7, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

Private schools push back against Korea's free tuition plan for nat'l universities

Policy & Trends

6 universities recognized for supporting int'l student jobs, startups

The Ministry of Education selected six universities on Monday as outstanding performers in employment and startup support for international students, backing schools' efforts amid a rise in foreign enrollment and growing interest among them to settle in Korea. Kyung Hee University and Vision College of Jeonju took the grand prizes, recognized for programs that guide international students from campus to career. Kangwon National University, Kyungbok University, Kyungsung University and Chungnam National University won merit prizes for customized education tied to regional industry needs. At Kyung Hee University, the four-year university category winner, international students' core competencies are certified in stages. Digital badges let students apply their completion records for career planning and job preparation programs, along with competency certifications, directly in job searches. Vision College of Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, the two-year college category winner, attracted talented students through the Saemangeum Hangul School, a Korean language school it runs overseas with t

Jul 27, 2026By Park Ung

6 universities recognized for supporting int'l student jobs, startups

Policy & Trends

KAFSA calls for shift from recruitment to belonging in university internationalization

Having reached its goal of attracting 300,000 international students two years ahead of schedule, a university international affairs leader emphasized that Korea must now shift its focus from enrollment targets to helping international students build lasting lives in the country. “The focus should no longer be on how many international students Korea attracts, but on how the country can build an inclusive society with them,” said Jin Chang-hyun, chair of the Korean Association of Foreign Students Administrators (KAFSA) and chief of international affairs at Kyonggi University. For years, universities equated internationalization with rising enrollment. But with the number of international students now exceeding 300,000, Jin said that the recruitment-driven model has run its course. “Internationalization is no longer optional. It is a matter of survival for universities,” he said. “But using international students simply to fill empty seats risks higher dropout rates, visa overstays and an exodus of graduates soon after completing their studies.” In response, KAFSA's 2026 visio

Jul 23, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

KAFSA calls for shift from recruitment to belonging in university internationalization

Policy & Trends

InterviewKorean proficiency opened doors for Moroccan engineer in Korea

Developing fluency in Korean, rather than simply earning a degree, was one of the biggest factors behind Moroccan engineer Hind Rbigui’s successful settlement in Korea. “Studying Korean and regularly taking part in Korean-language speech contests helped me greatly when I was looking for a job and ultimately became one of the most important factors in building a long-term life here,” Rbigui, a Moroccan who recently became a naturalized Korean citizen, said in an interview with The Korea Times. Her interest in Korea was first sparked by a television drama, but soon deepened into a fascination with the country’s rapid economic rise. “As an industrial engineering student, I wanted to understand how Korea had achieved such remarkable development in such a short period,” she said. “I felt I had to come and see it for myself.” Rbigui came to Korea in 2014 under the Korean Government Scholarship Program, now known as the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). After a year of Korean-language training at Inha University, she pursued a doctorate in industrial engineering at the University

Jul 22, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

Korean proficiency opened doors for Moroccan engineer in Korea

Policy & Trends

QS names Seoul world's best student city for 2nd year

Seoul has been named the world’s best student city for the second consecutive year, earning the only perfect score in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 rankings. Korea also strengthened its global presence, with five cities making it onto the list, including first-time entrants Daejeon and Gwangju. With a perfect score of 100, Seoul finished ahead of Tokyo at 98 and London at 97.3, according to QS on Tuesday. The top three remained unchanged from last year, cementing Seoul's position as a leading global higher education hub. Released annually by global higher education consultancy QS, the ranking assesses 150 cities on the strength of their universities, graduate employment prospects, affordability, student diversity, quality of life and feedback from students. Cities must have a population of more than 250,000 and be home to at least two institutions listed in the QS World University Rankings 2027 to be included. The United Kingdom had the strongest representation, with 16 cities in the ranking, followed by the United States with 14, mainland China with 10 and Australia with seven. Kore

Jul 21, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

QS names Seoul world's best student city for 2nd year

Policy & Trends

InterviewUniversities can't be world-class without real-world impact, THE says

LONDON — The race for global university excellence is entering a new phase. Producing influential research is no longer enough. Universities are increasingly judged by how effectively they transform knowledge into innovation, industry partnerships and real-world impact. "Leading universities must demonstrate that their work contributes not only to academic scholarship, but also to innovation, industry, public policy and solutions to global challenges," Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at Times Higher Education (THE), said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "A modern global research university has to translate its ideas into the real world through intellectual property, industry collaboration and patents." Research has long been the cornerstone of THE's world university rankings, reflecting the organization's original mission of helping governments and university leaders benchmark research competitiveness rather than serving primarily as a guide for prospective students. "The original concept of the Times Higher rankings was actually for university strategic leaders and

Jul 13, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

Universities can't be world-class without real-world impact, THE says

Policy & Trends

InterviewWhat will define world-class university in AI era?

LONDON — Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the standard by which universities are judged. Academic reputation alone is no longer enough. In the AI era, universities will increasingly be evaluated on whether they produce adaptable graduates with the human skills employers cannot automate, senior executives at global higher education analyst QS said. "The role of universities is changing very quickly," Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Students want to know not just that they are at a university with a great reputation, but that it is preparing them with the experience they're going to need in the job market." She noted that universities must prepare students not only for employment after graduation, but for careers that will continue to evolve alongside rapid technological change. "Employers are looking for graduates who are very adaptable," Turner said, adding that students increasingly expect universities to prepare them for careers that will evolve alongside rapid technological change. QS is already putting this shift into its new ranki

Jul 8, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

What will define world-class university in AI era?

Policy & Trends

New superintendents put teacher protection at top of policy agenda

Newly elected education superintendents nationwide are making teacher protection their top priority amid growing calls to restore the classroom authority of educators, fueled in part by the popularity of the hit Korean drama "Teach You a Lesson," which highlighted the erosion of such authority. Each regional education office is planning to establish a superintendent-led body that will report teacher rights violations directly to the superintendent, enabling swift intervention and providing schools and teachers with a one-stop support system. Ahn Min-seok, superintendent of Gyeonggido Office of Education, has been at the forefront of calls to strengthen teacher protection. Having made the issue a key campaign pledge, he announced plans to establish a dedicated administrative body modeled after the fictional education rights protection bureau featured in the drama. The proposed organization would intervene immediately when teacher rights violations occur, providing affected teachers with protection measures and legal support while coordinating a rapid response by schools and the education

Jul 6, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

New superintendents put teacher protection at top of policy agenda

Policy & Trends

Are joint faculty appointments fostering innovation or merely boosting prestige?

LONDON — Joint appointments of internationally renowned scholars are emerging as a key strategy for Korean universities seeking greater global competitiveness. However, international university ranking organizations warn that the model risks becoming counterproductive if it prioritizes prestige over meaningful research collaboration, while also acknowledging that distinguishing genuine partnerships from nominal appointments remains a challenge. As international research networks become increasingly central to higher education, universities around the world are turning to joint appointments, which refer to a faculty member has a secondary appointment in one or more institutions besides his or her primary one. The trend is also reflected in global rankings, with QS and Times Higher Education (THE) placing growing emphasis on international research collaboration and cross-border academic engagement. QS emphasized that international collaboration lies at the heart of its philosophy, arguing that universities can achieve greater global impact by bringing together leading researchers from di

Jun 28, 2026By Jung Da-hyun

Policy & Trends

InterviewGKS becomes gateway to life in Korea for Uzbek scholar

Private schools push back against Korea's free tuition plan for nat'l universities

6 universities recognized for supporting int'l student jobs, startups

KAFSA calls for shift from recruitment to belonging in university internationalization

InterviewKorean proficiency opened doors for Moroccan engineer in Korea

QS names Seoul world's best student city for 2nd year

InterviewUniversities can't be world-class without real-world impact, THE says

InterviewWhat will define world-class university in AI era?

New superintendents put teacher protection at top of policy agenda

Are joint faculty appointments fostering innovation or merely boosting prestige?

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