KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the integration of educational technology (EdTech) has become a global phenomenon. My part-time role as a special reporter at the Korea Education and Research Information Service since May 2023 has provided me with valuable insights into the far-reaching influence of EdTech. This article aims to delve into key observations, highlighting its impact beyond borders. Transnational Tech Innovation One of the most striking trends is the transcendence of EdTech innovations across national boundaries. Technological advancements originating in specific countries or organizations now possess the power to effect substantial global change. As the saying goes, "Today is correct, but tomorrow may not be," emphasizing the imperative for rapid adaptability in the face of an ultra-fast-shifting EdTech landscape. Furthermore, the increasing interconnectedness of the world has enabled the swift dissemination of EdTech innovations. With the ...

Despite pricey accommodation and high living expenses, learners continue to flock to Korean capital, amid perception of better quality education .......... “Credentials from Seoul-based institutions are generally regarded as more valuable than those from other universities, regardless of the major studied,” said Kyuseok Kim, a scholar of higher education and staff member at the State University of New York, Korea. “Additionally, with the economy and industry being more prosperous in the Seoul metropolitan area, many people believe that attending universities in Seoul will provide them with a better chance of staying updated with post-graduation placement news, trends and opportunities.” .......... * This is an interview excerpt from the article authored by Pola Lem at Times Higher Education. For the full content, please visit  https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/high-costs-fail-dim-seouls-allure-korean-students .

Over the past two decades, discussions on the internationalization of higher education have become prominent worldwide. The need to enhance global competitiveness of universities continues to be a significant subject. In recent times, there has been a shift towards new dimensions of 'de-borderization' including remote, virtual, and new normal scenarios. In response, many universities in this country are giving top priority to digital-based internationalization in their strategic agendas.  This article presents a big data analysis of major trends in higher education internationalization using text mining method. About 12,000 results were obtained from the Scholarly Research Information Service ( RISS ) using 'higher education' as a keyword. These results were further explored using the search function within the results for (1) 'international' and (2) 'global', conducting a comprehensive data collection process. For this purpose, Python was used to crawl ...

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and rapidly regain a sense of normalcy, the profound disarray experienced over the past three years seems to have receded into the annals of history. This prompts a reflection on the lessons learned and experiences garnered by universities during this pandemic. Considering the recent governmental proclamation of a vision to become one of the 'Top 10 Global Host Countries for International Education' it is apparent that the field of international student affairs within universities has been most significantly impacted. The hindered 'cross-border mobility,' a cornerstone for attracting international students, posed an insurmountable challenge. Throughout the pandemic, the recruitment and management of international students at universities transformed into a fiercely competitive arena. The notable decrease in Chinese students in South Korea, who previously comprised a significant proportion of the international student body, intensi...

"Global education is a complex terrain. While English proficiency is vital, it is not the sole indicator of a comprehensive global education. Attributes like a global mindset, intercultural understanding, kindness and empathy are equally, if not more, significant. Yet, many higher education institutions in non-English-speaking countries adopt English as a simple metric of their ‘international’ calibre, highlighting the deeply entrenched politics of English on a global scale." * The above is an excerpt from an article I co-authored with Dr. Cheryl Yu, which was published in University World News in October 2023. For the full article, please visit https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20231027092001152 .

In August, President Joe Biden expressed enthusiasm about the summit involving South Korea, the U.S., and Japan at Camp David, describing it as a "great meeting." This was followed by a September summit between North Korea and Russia, and an October summit is scheduled between China and Russia at the Belt and Road Forum. These developments show a shifting political dynamic in Northeast Asia, with South Korea, the U.S., and Japan on one side, and North Korea, China, and Russia on the other.  Global higher education education trends and international student movements are notably affected by these geopolitical shifts, as seen from the world universities' focus on the Middle East due to the conflicts involving Israel and Hamas. South Korea's strategy to draw closer to the U.S. and Japan while distancing itself from China was also evident in the "Study Korea 300K" initiative announced in August. Under the banner of strengthening global collaborations to attract ...

Fewer Koreans are now studying overseas than in the past. Behind this trend are such factors as the shrinking youth population, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising global nationalist and xenophobic sentiments, and improvements in domestic higher education. Moreover, some of these factors explain evolving patterns of outbound flows and suggest emerging markets as attractive education destinations for Korean educational consumers. The full implications of these changes remain to be fully understood. *Note The above is an abstract of the article that I published in the International Higher Education Journal - Autumn Issue No. 116 (2023) by Center for International Higher Education, Boston College Lynch School, one of the most esteemed platforms for distinguished international scholars.  *Use the links provided below to access the full article. https://doi.org/10.36197/IHE.2023.116.11 https://www.internationalhighereducation.net/api-v1/article/!/action/getPdfOfArticle/articleID/3770/produc...