QA of HEIs
Quality Assurance
The establishment of a higher education institution is approved in Korea only when the institution is expected to guarantee a certain level of quality. Authorization from the Minister of Education should be obtained to issue higher education qualifications.
To maintain and improve the quality of HEIs, several types of quality assurance measures are adopted. Firstly, HEIs should conduct a self-inspection and evaluation and publicly announce their findings. Accreditation is a representative tool for quality assurance in Korea. HEIs are encouraged to achieve accreditation. This process is voluntary, however, and not mandatory. All competent accreditation authorities are required to apply for and gain recognition from the Ministry of Education(MOE) to conduct accreditation.
Establishment of Universities
Under Article 4 of the Higher Education Act, any person who intends to establish a school shall meet the conditions for establishing facilities, equipment, etc. prescribed by Presidential Decree. Establishment of a school by any party other than the State requires authorization from the Minister of Education. In addition, where any founder or operator of a public or private school intends to abolish a school or modify important matters prescribed by Presidential Decree, he/she shall obtain authorization from the Minister of Education.
University Information Disclosure
Under Article 6 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Disclosure of Information by Education-Related Institutions, the head of a school that provides higher education shall publish information which is held and managed by the school, at least once a year.
The university information disclosure system actively provides information on education and research conducted by higher education institutions, through information and communications networks or by a means specified by any other Act and subordinate statute, irrespective of inspection and delivery of information or citizens’ demands for such inspection or delivery.
On the website of “Higher Education in Korea”, you can find Information on 14 areas including tuition fee, scholarship benefits, graduates’ employment, and research performance of faculty, 62 items, and 101 details in the last 3 years.
(Source: Center of University Information Disclosure, Korean Council for University Education)
Evaluation and Accreditation
Under Article 11.2 of the Higher Education Act, an institution designated by the Minister of Education, at the request of a university or college, evaluates or certifies the overall management of a university or college and operation of curricula (including colleges, departments and majors).
Provided, that an institution having the curricula falling under medicine, dentistry, oriental medicine or nursing should obtain an evaluation and certification from an accredited institution as prescribed by Presidential Decree. The Minister of Education may designate a relevant specialized evaluation institution, a school consultative body, and an organization or a group, etc. designed for the promotion of academic research as an accredited institution. When the Government intends to provide a university or college with administrative and financial support, outcomes of evaluation or certification could be utilized.
The Korean Council for University Education (KCUE), a consultative body comprised of 4-year universities for the development of higher education, is responsible for the accreditation of 4-year universities. Korean University Accreditation Institute (KUAI) annexed to the KCUE is designated as the accreditation agency in charge of evaluation and accreditation for universities.
The Korean Council for College Education (KCCE) is a consultative body comprised of junior colleges and responsible for their institutional accreditation. The Korea Accreditation Board for Vocational Higher Education (KAVE), an affiliate of KCCE, is designated as an approved institution for the accreditation of junior colleges.
Programme Accreditation
Programme Accreditation is designed to improve the quality of professional and other specific curriculum. The evaluations are conducted by institutions that are recognized by the Minister of Education.
International Education Accreditation
The International Education Quality Assurance System (IEQAS) is designed to improve international education quality assurance for Korean universities. IEQAS assesses Universities, Junior Colleges, and Graduate School Universities by using various criteria.