KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

While the question of "Is a university a public good or a private commodity?" might not readily engage those outside the field of 'Higher Education Administration' - a specialty familiar to the author - it is one that should provoke contemplation not only among those who consider themselves experts in the broader Korean educational sphere and more specifically higher education, but also among us, the upcoming generation of scholars thriving in the university environment. This question substantially influences the paradigm by which we perceive universities as societal organisms and subsequently impacts relevant policy and system implementations. Financial considerations surrounding universities form an integral part of this conversation. South Korea's expenditure in higher education trails considerably behind the OECD average. Although the need for bold investment to enhance the competitiveness of universities is frequently discussed, viable solutions seem elusive,...