South Korean universities seek to lure more foreign students

YEONGJONGDO, Incheon – As more and more universities in South Korea face financial crises because of a shrinking student population, four-year colleges are eyeing attracting international students.

A survey result conducted with some 130 presidents of universities showed such a trend, with 52.7 per cent of respondents interested in attracting foreign students. This was third on their list of interests, after financial aid from the government and recruitment of freshmen.

The results came from a two-day seminar hosted by the Korean Council for University Education that kicked off on June 19. Universities’ interest in drawing international students increased from 2023, when it was seventh on the list of priorities.

Raising tuition fees, which ranked third in 2023 in the same survey asking what university presidents were most interested in, came in sixth this time, showing that schools are changing their strategies in attracting students.

“The only way to cope with the financial pressure is to win financial aid projects or increase the number of new students, but amid the declining school-age population and the centralisation of the capital region, the only alternative is to attract more foreign students,” said the president of a national university at the forum.

Since 2009, the government has maintained its stance on freezing tuition fees, while universities have argued strongly for an increase, citing chronic financial shortages.

“(Universities) have repeatedly said that it is necessary to raise tuition fees. But as the freeze continues, (they) are scrambling to find other avenues to survive,” said the president of a local private university.

“Although everyone agrees that it is necessary to raise tuition fees, the situation is so serious that the financial crisis that has (affected) universities should be extinguished immediately.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK