Korea aims to attract 300,000 foreign students by 2027
Education Minister Lee Ju-ho speaks during a media conference at the Government Complex in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
Gov't to expand scholarships, Korean language institutions, lectures in English
By Jun Ji-hye
Korea aims to attract 300,000 foreign students to study at domestic universities by 2027 in a bid to preemptively secure skilled foreign workers for high-tech industries and boost the global competitiveness of the country, the education ministry said, Wednesday.
The goal is part of the “Study Korea 300K Project,” under which universities, businesses and regional governments will join hands to attract more foreign students and help them map out their career paths in Korea.
The ministry decided to launch the project amid intensifying global competition to attract foreign students.
The United Kingdom aims to invest 35 billion pounds ($44.6 billion) to attract 600,000 foreign students by 2030, while France is working to simplify the process of obtaining visas to draw 500,000 foreign students by 2027, according to the ministry.
“We expect the project to stimulate the regional economy and enhance the global competiveness of domestic universities as well as the country's high-tech industries,” Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said during a media briefing.
The minister said the government will designate special zones to facilitate the globalization of education in each region and create a department dedicated to attracting foreign students within Korean Education Centers located in various countries.
The ministry will also work to ease regulations that have restricted universities' activities to attract foreign students.
Universities, businesses and regional governments will create a task force to formulate customized strategies to help foreign students plan their studies and map out their career paths in Korea.
Universities and local governments will work together to operate Korean language institutions in each region to help the students adjust to life here and better understand the local culture.
They will also nurture foreign workers skilled in fabrication, machinery, welding and related specialty areas by offering students work experience opportunities and expanded internship programs.
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In a bid to preemptively secure skilled foreign workers for high-tech industries, the government will expand the Global Korea Scholarship program, a national endowment scheme for foreign students, and increase financial support for universities to hire researchers from abroad.
Universities will also be encouraged to expand lectures given in English.
The government will implement a fast-track program that will enable candidates with advanced degrees in key science and technology areas to obtain permanent residency or become naturalized Korean citizens in a shorter period of time.
The program will simplify the relevant process from five stages to three stages, which will shorten the duration required from six years to three years from the time they get their master's or doctoral degrees. This will help induce more skilled foreign workers in high-tech industries to settle in Korea, the ministry said.
The government will develop and distribute digital teaching materials for Korean language, so anyone can learn the language at anytime and anywhere.
The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) will also be administered through a digital platform.
“We will do our best to institutionally support students studying in Korea, so that talented people the country needs can settle here,” the education minister said.