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University Rankings

Sejong University launches Asia’s largest university-run AI virtual media studio

Sejong University has opened Team Studios Sejong, the largest artificial intelligence (AI) virtual media studio at a university in Asia, the school said Tuesday. The studio, equipped with state-of-the-art devices and facilities, was created by renovating a 990 square meter theater in the university’s Gwanggaeto Building. The studio opening was the result of an industry-academia cooperation agreement the university signed with SK Telecom, the largest mobile carrier in Korea, in November 2023. Since then, the school has carried out a range of joint research and collaborative projects with the company in the field of virtual media. During the process, SK Telecom donated large-scale LED walls and other advanced equipment previously used at its virtual studio in Pangyo, just south of Seoul, to the university. A school official said the donation was intended to support media research and industry collaboration by professors and students in the university’s comics and animation technology program, paving the way for the establishment of the studio. Team Studios Sejong is an AI-powered virtual

May 27, 2026By Park Yoon-bae
Sejong University launches Asia’s largest university-run AI virtual media studio
University Rankings

New Korean university rankings unveiled for international students

As global competition reshapes higher education, The Korea Times has announced the first-ever K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026, designed not only to assess universities’ global readiness but also to serve as a reliable reference for international students considering Korea as a study destination. Korea University ranked first in the overall standings with 144.86 points, followed by Seoul National University with 141.48 and Yonsei University with 140.33. Sungkyunkwan University, Hanyang University, Sogang University, University of Seoul, Ewha Womans University, Kyung Hee University and Dongguk University rounded out the Top 10. Although Seoul-based universities dominated the top tier, the rankings also highlighted notable performances by regional flagships and specialized institutions. Kyungpook National University, Pusan National University and Jeonbuk National University secured places within the Top 30, while Woosong University and Handong Global University were recognized for their strong globalization focus. The rankings by each category highlighted the varied streng

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
New Korean university rankings unveiled for international students
University Rankings

New rankings gauge Korean universities by global influence, not just research

The Korea Times’ new university ranking system, the K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER), offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be a global campus. It focuses on global competitiveness, using a sophisticated framework of 22 indicators across four key categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes. This year, the ranking evaluated 54 four-year institutions with substantial foreign student populations, relying on publicly available data to ensure impartiality and transparency. At the heart of KGER is its focus on internationalization, with 63.2 percent of the total score devoted to factors that directly shape campus experience for global students. In the education category, international student ratio among enrolled students, diversity of nationalities, ratio of international students meeting language proficiency requirements and their academic retention rate were among the factors assessed. Research takes on a distinctly global dimension in the rankings. Institutions are evaluated on the number of international research papers per facul

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
New rankings gauge Korean universities by global influence, not just research
University Rankings

K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 seen as blueprint for sustainable globalization

The K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 are drawing praise as a timely, student-centered evaluation that emphasizes international experience and real-world outcomes, with the potential to boost Korea’s global competitiveness in higher education. Experts evaluated the framework as distinctive for combining global benchmarks with measures that reflect Korea’s education system and the needs of international students. Amid demographic decline and mounting pressures in higher education, the rankings seek to guide universities and policymakers in shaping sustainable internationalization strategies by combining global comparability with measures tailored to Korea’s realities. Seo Myeong-seok, managing director of the Korea Advancing Schools Foundation, said the four evaluation areas — education, research, student support and graduate outcomes — are well-balanced, adding that the results could guide international students’ choices and widen opportunities for Korean universities. Shin Jang-sup, a professor of economics at the National University of Singapore, praised the ra

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 seen as blueprint for sustainable globalization
University Rankings

K-universities Global Excellence Rankings sets new standard for university evaluation

Departing from the prestige-driven focus of traditional rankings, the K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER) is reshaping how Korea’s universities are evaluated, providing institutions with a road map for improvement while giving prospective international students a clearer view of what each campus offers. While legacy systems such as QS or Times Higher Education (THE) rely on reputation surveys and broad measures of academic prowess, KGER prioritizes what matters most to today’s international students: real evidence of global engagement, transparency and meaningful support. Specifically, existing global university ranking systems have built their authority by collecting subjective opinion polls from academics and employers around the world. In QS rankings, for example, reputation accounts for nearly half the score, giving long-established schools a head start based on historical prestige. Unlike traditional rankings, KGER is grounded in verifiable, objective data, placing priority on the real experiences and success of international students on Korean campuses. Metri

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
K-universities Global Excellence Rankings sets new standard for university evaluation
University Rankings

Beyond Seoul, Korean universities vie for global standing

Korea’s long-standing top-tier universities maintained their dominance in the first-ever K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 (KGER), yet the Top 30 revealed a new wave of contenders. Regional national universities and mid-sized institutions are increasingly staking their claim, signaling a shift in the landscape of Korean higher education and highlighting the rise of alternative centers of excellence. The results point to a more diverse and competitive landscape, with universities beyond Seoul and outside the traditional hierarchy proving their global potential. Amid a demographic crisis and intensifying competition for foreign experts, regional, mid-sized and smaller universities are racing to globalize — a push driven as much by survival as by prestige. KGER aims to serve as a reliable guide for international students choosing to study in Korea, while strengthening the global competitiveness of Korean universities. The evaluation consists of 190 points across four categories: 60 for education, 50 for research, 40 for student support and 40 for graduate outcomes. It was de

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Beyond Seoul, Korean universities vie for global standing
University Rankings

Int’l student boom spurs demand for credible university rankings in Korea

Korea’s higher education sector stands at a crossroads, confronted with a shrinking school-age population and mounting financial pressures, prompting universities to rely increasingly on recruiting international students as a path to survival. As a wide range of Korean cultural exports capture global attention, universities are tapping into the rising interest in studying in Korea, increasingly tailoring recruitment efforts to attract students from around the world. This surge in interest has underscored the need for transparent and reliable ways to gauge the level — and effectiveness — of internationalization at universities in Korea, ensuring that both domestic institutions and prospective students from abroad can make informed decisions. With domestic enrollment in sharp decline, the push for internationalization is not merely an academic ideal but an economic imperative, as universities increasingly look beyond their borders to fill classrooms and secure their long-term viability. According to Statistics Korea, the nation’s school-age population is declining faster than in an

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Int’l student boom spurs demand for credible university rankings in Korea
University Rankings

Top 30 in K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026

As competition for international students reshapes universities worldwide, The Korea Times unveiled the first-ever K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026, evaluating 54 schools across four categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes. The evaluation, aimed at gauging global readiness and guiding international students considering studying in Korea, was based on publicly available data from the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education in Korea and Naver Scholytics. The following tables present the Top 30 universities overall, along with the Top 30 by each category.

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Top 30 in K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026
University Rankings

No clear leader as Korean universities excel in different areas

The K-universities Global Excellence Rankings 2026 revealed a shifting landscape in higher education, where leadership is dispersed across institutions and no single university dominates every category. Instead, universities distinguished themselves in different areas, excelling across categories ranging from education and research to student support and alumni influence. While the country’s top-tier universities continued to hold overall sway, the results also showed how other schools are emerging as strong contenders in areas such as research and student services. Universities were assessed on a 190-point scale, with 60 points allocated to education, 50 to research, 40 to student support and 40 to graduate outcomes. The evaluation was designed to serve as a trusted guide for international students while boosting the global competitiveness of Korean universities. Developed by The Korea Times’ evaluation team with six external experts in university globalization, the framework relied on publicly available data from the Ministry of Education and Naver Scholytics to ensure credibility

Sep 24, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
No clear leader as Korean universities excel in different areas
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