Education in South Korea
From International Business Wiki
[edit] Higher level Education
For many families in South Korea there is a very highly perceived value placed on higher education. Parents and students, despite recent evident setbacks in monetary compensation associated with higher education, have come to regard higher level education as security and stability for their children. A recent study has also shown that South Korean parents see a higher education as a protection from socioeconomic disadvantages and having feeling of inferiority (Kim, Dongbin). South Koreans without a doubt have come to place a great emphasis on post secondary educations and have been one of the fastest growing countries in aspects of education in very recent history.
These pressures for a high level education led to high level government and private sector spending. South Korea “spends 7.5% of its gross domestic product on education, a bigger share than any other industrialized country” (Ihwlan). The spending is evident with its 175 colleges and universities and 152 junior colleges located in South Korea (Education).
South Korea had a staggering rate of 50% post secondary education enrollment in 2006 which exceeded that of Japan, the UK, and Germany (Education). Acceptance into higher level institutions has become quite a burden on students as the exams have been largely determined by highly objective multiple choice tests. Needless to say, these tests have become of such importance that earlier educational levels have to a certain extent modeled their curriculum around such examinations (Jang).
The objective methods of testing that help shape the South Korean education system has been credited for the fast growth of the agrarian nation to a manufacturing powerhouse (Ihwlan). South Korea has benefited from its dedicated students, aggressive testing education system and emphasis on objective material for years but that has slowly come to an end. Objective testing has slowed South Korean universities and colleges in the very high demand aspects of innovation and abstract thinking skills. The education system has been said to need much needed restructuring in order to produce innovators and abstract thinking that will lead the country through continuous growth in the field of education.
[edit] References
Education. (2007) Country Profile; South Korea. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from Business Source Premier.
Ihwlan, Moon and Woyke, Elizabeth. (July 2, 2007) Korea’s new school of thought. Business Week 4041. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from Business Source Premier.
Jang, Soomyung and Kim, Namhee. (November 2004). Transition from high school to higher education and work in Korea, from the competency-based education perspective. International Journal of Educational Development, 24(6). Retrieved March 15, 2008 from Business Source Premier Database.
Kim, Dongbin. (2002, November). What do High School Students and Their Parents Expect from Higher Eduacation? A case study of South Korea. Journal of Higher Education Policy & Management, 24(2). Retrieved March 15, 2008 from Business Source Premier.
Kim, Namhee and McLean Gary N. (February 2008). Stability and dominance in career success orientation in South Korean employees. Human Resource Development International, 11(1). Retrieved March 15, 2008.
Social Overview. (2008). South Korea Country Review. Retrieved March 21, 2008 from Business Source premier.
