University enrollment quota to be reduced starting this year

Starting this year, Korean universities will cut enrollment quota in line with the government`s university structure reform plan.

According to the Presidential Office and the Education Ministry on Monday, the government will soon finalize university structure reform plan that has been under discussion since last year, for final announcement next Monday. According to the plan, universities nationwide will likely be categorized into five grades via absolute assessment, and universities within each grade will be adjusted in a diamond shape. Top grade group will be consist of 5-10 percent of all universities, and grade four (weak) and grade five (very weak) groups will be comprised of around 20 percent of all universities.

If top grade university voluntarily reduces enrollment quota, it will receive additional points in government support businesses including the Brain Korea 21. For high-ranking universities in the Seoul metropolitan area, the government is known to cut under-graduate student quota, while expanding their quota for graduate colleges.

Quota reduction will be carried out gradually. The Education Ministry will commence it from this year, and receive three to five year reduction plans from universities. An official at the Presidential Office said, "Since high school students can be negatively affected if enrollment quota is drastically cut, reduction will be made gradually on a yearly basis." Though the scale of reduction is yet to be confirmed, it will not be as big during the incumbent administration.

The government will also establish a new university reform law to evaluate universities every three years. University grades and entrance quota can vary according to each evaluation. If certain colleges are ousted, the quota for the remaining universities will be less affected.