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Vietnamese ambassador calls for more favorable academic environment for int’l students

Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Vu Ho said Korea needs to foster a more favorable academic environment for international students during his congratulatory speech for the Korea Times Global Conference at the Grand Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul on Wednesday. Titled “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Global Competitiveness of Korean Universities,” the conference offered a platform to discuss challenges facing Korean universities. Underscoring that Vietnam represents Korea’s largest international student community with around 70,000 students, the ambassador highlighted difficulties experienced by Vietnamese students pursuing studies and careers here. “Language barriers and cultural integration still limit academic performance and professional growth,” he said. “Financial pressures force many to work long hours, often at the expense of health and study. Career pathways after graduation are not always aligned with students’ field of study, and a small number fall into irregular residency status, affecting both the future and reputation of the br

Sep 17, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan
Vietnamese ambassador calls for more favorable academic environment for int’l students

Singaporean ambassador emphasizes importance of education during 2025 Korea Times Global Conference

Singaporean Ambassador-designate to Korea Wong Kai Jiun emphasized the role of the higher education system during his congratulatory speech for the Korea Times Global Conference at the Grand Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul Wednesday. The conference, titled “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Global Competitiveness of Korean Universities,” studied various issues in education, such as shrinking domestic student populations due to declining birthrates and the dwindling competitiveness of local colleges in Korea. The ambassador-designate said higher education should rapidly evolve as the world is changing continuously. “This conference comes at a time when growing global interconnectedness, rapid technological advancement, emerging skills demands and evolving student aspirations are impacting education sector around the world,” Wong said during his speech. “Our higher education sector, too, must continually evolve in order to remain competitive, fit for purpose and ready to meet future challenges.” He highlighted that partnering with industry is now

Sep 17, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan
Singaporean ambassador emphasizes importance of education during 2025 Korea Times Global Conference

'Korean universities should broaden global ties to stay competitive'

Korean universities are gaining global recognition, but limited research networks and lagging progress beyond the elite tier keep them behind their Asian rivals, a leading expert warned Wednesday. Jeroen Prinsen, executive director for APAC at QS, said Korea's higher education system has strong potential but faces "challenging headwinds" when compared with its East Asian peers. "Asia is under intense pressure from ambitious competitors across the globe," Prinsen said in his keynote speech at the Korea Times Global Conference in Seoul. "This is a moment of clear strength for South Korea: solid funding for research and development, a talented student body, top urban appeal for international students and improving the student diversity at leading institutions," he added. QS, the global higher education analytics firm best known for its World University Rankings, assesses 6,950 institutions worldwide. Korea had 43 universities on the World University Rankings and Sustainability Rankings, including two in the global top 50. Seoul has been ranked among the world’s top student cities, undersco

Sep 17, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
'Korean universities should broaden global ties to stay competitive'

PM vows to support efforts to strengthen Korean universities’ competitiveness

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok pledged support for the joint efforts by the nation’s academia and business sectors and the government to strengthen local universities’ global competitiveness. During the 2025 Korea Times Global Conference Wednesday, he recognized the changes in higher education around the world amid declining birthrates and growing competition to attract workers. Kim said the country’s universities have the potential to overcome these challenges. "I have attended universities in the United States, China and Korea, experiencing a variety of educational systems along the way," Kim said in his congratulatory speech via video during the conference held at the Grand Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul. "Through these experiences, I came to realize that Korea’s soft power is strong, and if our universities focus on developing global competencies, Korean higher education could become a model that attracts attention worldwide." The prime minister added that many universities have already launched various effort to enhance their research and development

Sep 17, 2025By Jhoo Dong-chan
PM vows to support efforts to strengthen Korean universities’ competitiveness

Results of survey on toddler test prep spark skepticism

Once reserved for Korea’s grueling civil service exams, the term “gosi” is now used to describe the intense study routines of children as young as 4 to 7. The term “gosi for 4- and 7-year-olds” reflects the rapid rise of private education in Korea, particularly in English language instruction. In response to concerns over the intense focus on private education for young children, the Ministry of Education conducted its first nationwide survey of English cram schools, examining the prevalence of preenrollment level testing and early instructional programs. But its finding that only 23 English cram schools nationwide administer preenrollment level tests has drawn skepticism for appearing far removed from reality. According to the ministry’s report released Thursday, just 23 out of 728 surveyed institutions were found to administer such tests. By region, 11 were in Seoul, nine in Gyeonggi Province and three in Gangwon Province. In addition, the report indicated that 20 institutions administered level tests to divide students into classes by ability, while only three used them fo

Sep 6, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Results of survey on toddler test prep spark skepticism

InterviewMore integrated system proposed to connect int’l students with businesses

Despite rising demand from both sides, international students seeking jobs in Korea and employers hunting for talent remain disconnected — caught in an unclear, underdeveloped system that offers no clear pathway between them. The National Institute for International Education (NIIED), a government agency responsible for overseeing international student affairs and scholarship programs, emphasized that while efforts are underway to improve access to job and settlement information, broader collaboration among government agencies, local authorities, universities and the public is crucial to support the inclusion of these students within Korean society. "Mismatch is one of the most frustrating problems," said Han Sang-shin, president of the NIIED, in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "International students are eager to work and companies need personnel, yet both sides are struggling to navigate a maze of unclear processes, limited outreach and institutional silos." Addressing this challenge is essential to achieving the government’s ambitious goal of attracting more global profe

Aug 18, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
More integrated system proposed to connect int’l students with businesses

Support grows for int'l students, but navigating system remains daunting

Korea is still learning not just how to attract international experts but also how to hold onto them. As the number of international students grows, more are opting to stay in Korea after graduation. While the government, universities and companies are rolling out support programs and hiring initiatives, visa hurdles, limited access to information and a still-developing culture of inclusivity leaves the country in a state of transition. According to a survey by the Ministry of Education, 42.5 percent of 1,207 international students said they are exclusively interested in finding a job in Korea. The largest share at 45.5 percent expressed interest in working either in Korea or in their home country. A majority of international students — 55.1 percent — said they hope to find a job in the region where they currently reside in Korea, aligning with the government’s goal of encouraging foreign talent to settle across the country as part of efforts to address the demographic crisis. Meanwhile, 37.1 percent said they prefer to work in the greater Seoul area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi

Jul 29, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Support grows for int'l students, but navigating system remains daunting

Do Korean universities really understand what int'l students need?

While global fascination with K-pop and Korean culture may initially draw the attention of international students, it is the nation’s robust academic environment and the promise of expanded opportunities that ultimately attract many to its shores. This academic appeal is precisely what drew in students like Airon Mussagy, a 22-year-old biomedical engineering student from Mozambique currently studying at Sungkyunkwan University, who specifically cited Korea's medical programs as her reason for studying here. "The educational environment in Mozambique hasn’t developed as much compared to Korea, and I thought the education system here was quite advanced," she said. This perception of a more advanced system is a significant driver, but the incongruity extends beyond mere assumptions about what draws international students to the country. It is also manifested in various support initiatives that frequently fail to address their actual needs. While Korea’s strong academic environment draws international students, many find themselves struggling to adjust to its fiercely competitive envir

Jul 22, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Do Korean universities really understand what int'l students need?

Korea’s bid to globalize higher education faces gaps in funding, support

As universities in Korea grapple with intensifying global competition, many are moving beyond the pursuit of enrollment figures to invest in more robust support systems aimed at enriching the academic, professional and personal lives of international students. An increase in foreign student numbers at universities in Korea highlights sustained efforts by the government and academic institutions to broaden Korea’s international presence and competitiveness in higher education. However, critics warn that policies focused solely on attracting international students risk creating gaps in follow-up support and student management. The biggest challenge in Korea’s push to attract international students is a lack of long-term support beyond enrollment — covering students' education, and later employment and settlement in the country. Song Ki-chang, chancellor of Sungsan Hyo University and honorary professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, emphasized the importance of refocusing on the core purpose of educating international students. "The fundamental purpose of international students is

Jul 15, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s bid to globalize higher education faces gaps in funding, support

AI textbooks targeted for phaseout under new government

Following Korea’s presidential transition, significant changes are expected in education policy, as President Lee Jae-myung appears poised to halt the rollout of AI-powered digital textbooks. Once championed as a flagship initiative by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, the program now faces a potential phaseout under the new administration, with Lee pledging to overhaul or significantly scale it back. The government’s decision to withdraw AI digital textbooks from the official curriculum has created uncertainties for schools that have already integrated the program, fueling concerns over potential disruption and the squandering of public resources. Since March, AI-powered digital textbooks have been introduced for third and fourth graders in elementary school, as well as first-year students in middle and high school. Of the 11,932 schools nationwide, only 3,870 — about 32 percent — chose to adopt AI textbooks as official learning materials, according to education authorities. Previously, Yoon had planned for the full-scale adoption of AI digital textbooks in all schools nationwide

Jun 10, 2025By Jung Da-hyun
AI textbooks targeted for phaseout under new government
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