Many higher education students in South Korea have voiced their concerns regarding the implementation of the newly adopted Higher Education Act. The main reason for concern according to students is the fact that universities are now required to guarantee all adjunct professors a work position for at least three years.
However, this requirement puts immense financial pressure on higher education institutions, and the number of part-time employees has dropped significantly. The recent changes and the introduction of the Higher Education Act have also made institutions delay the start of the school year, as curriculums are not yet ready.
An example is Hankuk University of Foreign School (HUFS), where there are still no lecturers or course materials prepared for nearly one thousand (959) of the courses offered by the university. According to a government survey, about seventy percent (68%) of all higher education institutions have yet to complete the full recruitment process.
Students in South Korea
While South Korea is one of the top places in the world to find quality education, the recent changes introduced with the Higher Education Act may reverse this situation. Not only that, but students in the country often report that in order to achieve the high quality of academic work required from them, they face enormous amounts of stress and anxiety.
Recent statistics show that more than thirty percent (33%) of students in the country have had suicidal thoughts as a result of academic pressure. The recent pressure put on teachers and the delays in the organization of the next school year will likely result in even more anxiety for students, as faculty members will not have enough time to prepare for classes.
