KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

Over the past two decades, South Korea, Japan, and China have primarily been importers of transnational education (TNE), with numerous Western universities, particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom, establishing campuses in these countries. Collectively, these three countries have imported nearly 60 educational enterprises while exporting only about 15 branch campuses. This stands in stark contrast to the US, UK, and Australia, which account for nearly half of the over 330 international branch campuses (IBCs) worldwide while hosting around 20 foreign campuses. Japan was the first to experience this influx, with American universities attempting to establish branches since the 1980s. While many endeavors failed, some, like Temple University Japan, have persisted. China hosts the largest number of branch campuses globally, with nearly 50 since 2004, leveraging strategic locations like Hainan’s Yangpu Economic Development Zone. South Korea has also been active in this are...

Transnational Education (TNE) has been a significant strategy for UK universities aiming to expand their global reach. According to The Cross-Border Education Research Team, the UK has 46 branch campuses in 19 countries as of 2023, with Asia hosting the most significant number, including nine in China, six in Malaysia, and two in Singapore. However, past attempts to establish TNE programs in South Korea, such as those by the University of Aberdeen and Lancaster University, have faced numerous challenges and resulted in high-profile failures. The University of Aberdeen's Hadong project, announced in 2015, aimed to focus on engineering for the offshore oil and gas industry. Despite initial support and funding, financial and logistical issues delayed the opening, and the global downturn in the oil and gas industry further complicated the project, leading to its eventual abandonment in 2018. Similarly, Lancaster University’s attempt to establish a campus in Busan began in 2014 but face...

The "Minerva University Effect," which once stirred considerable discourse in South Korea's higher education, is witnessing a resurgence. This renewed interest follows the recent announcement of a partnership between Handong Global University and Minerva, drawing significant attention to the potential synergies between these two institutions. Handong, renowned for its distinctive undergraduate education, has consistently been recognized as a leading institution in delivering high-quality teaching since the early 2010s. Minerva, a university known for its rigorous focus on education, has revolutionized the learning paradigm with its hybrid model that combines cutting-edge digital technology through its "Active Learning Forum" and experiential learning via its "city rotation" concept. Could the union of Handong and Minerva herald a new era for higher education in South Korea? "Minerva Effect" in South Korean Education and Beyond The impact of ...

This statement encapsulates my philosophy, mission, vision, principles, and mindset as a professional in global higher education. It begins with a brief overview of my career, followed by an exploration of my ontological and epistemological perspectives, and concludes with a synthesis of my professional identity through key descriptors. Philosophical Underpinnings My experiences across diverse educational settings have solidified my philosophical stance in critical realism, which contends that although reality in quasi-closed systems is mediated through our experiences and judgmental rationality, an objective reality still persists independently. This philosophy, refuting both naïve empiricism and radical constructivism, directs my recognition of the multifaceted realities of higher education, each molded by distinct social, cultural, and institutional processes. Nonetheless, I endeavor to discern the underlying structures governing these realities, thereby deepening my understanding o...

The Texas A&M University (TAMU) System Board's decision to close its Qatar branch campus has become a focal point in global higher education discourse this year. The announcement regarding the cessation of TAMU's Qatar operations, previously lauded as a paradigm of Transnational Higher Education (TNHE), has left many in the sector bewildered. The withdrawal of an institution that benefited from substantial financial backing from the Qatar Foundation, estimated in the range of hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars, after more than two decades, undeniably marks a significant moment. This decision does not precipitate an immediate cessation of ongoing educational programs or administrative services. A structured withdrawal, as stipulated in the agreement with the Qatar Foundation, is slated over the next four years. The university has pledged to continue supporting educational and faculty activities, despite emerging reports of student departures. TAMU’s faculty counc...

Over recent months, a strong sense of elation has permeated social media platforms among professionals in higher education, spurred by the United States' remarkable surge in the influx of international students. This wave of enthusiasm primarily stems from the insights revealed in the Open Doors report. This comprehensive study has highlighted that the U.S. has made significant strides in its educational outreach, educating over a million international students—a substantial increase of 11.5% from the 2021/22 academic year. This figure accounts for 5.6% of the total higher education enrollment in the U.S., marking a noteworthy achievement in international student integration. A prime illustration of this triumph was observed in a post by EducationUSA, which extended commendations to the U.S. higher education system for its unprecedented recovery in attracting international students, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. Simultaneously, South Korea's contribution to U.S. ...

In the summer of 2023, the educational discourse in South Korea was predominantly shaped by two terms: "CSAT killer questions" and "private education cartel." As time has progressed, we now approach the final stages of the 2024 university entrance exam cycle. The CSAT results unveiled a singular perfect score, sparking a spectrum of reactions ranging from criticism of the educational authorities’ obsession with eliminating challenging questions and their consequent failure in difficulty adjustment, to predictions of an inevitable increase in private education. Reflecting on the past eight months, the discourse initiated by concerns over killer questions was quickly amplified by the stigmatization associated with the term "cartel," effectively casting private education in a negative light. This adversarial perspective was well exemplified in a recent column titled "Creating a South Korea Without Private Education," penned by the director of an edu...