Education News
The University has earned an ‘A’ grade in the 2024 performance evaluation of the University Innovation Support Program, an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea
This top rating will bring Kyung Hee approximately 13.2 billion KRW in project funding, which includes both formula-based allocations and performance incentives. This represents a 3.1 billion KRW increase from the previous year, marking the second consecutive year that the University has secured more than 10 billion KRW in annual funding for government-supported initiatives. The total funding for the second phase of the University Innovation Support Program (2022-2024) now totals 30.3 billion KRW.
Enhancing Academic Flexibility and Student Autonomy
The University Innovation Support Program is a strategic initiative designed to foster university-led innovation, improving the quality of higher education, and nurturing the development of creative professionals. Since its selection in the program’s first phase in 2018, Kyung Hee has implemented a range of innovative activities, aligning its educational offerings with the evolving needs of society and trends in higher education.
The University received high marks for its systematic approach to expanding academic flexibility, providing students with greater choice in their academic journeys. Reforms included the development of an interdisciplinary education platform designed to equip students with the convergent knowledge and skills demanded by today’s society. Additionally, the university launched an educational innovation roadmap centered on creating an Open University model, characterized by Open Learning and Open Majors, thereby enhancing students’ autonomy in their academic pursuits. A robust feedback system, supported by a dedicated governance framework, was also established to ensure continuous educational innovation.
Looking ahead to the 2025 admissions cycle, Kyung Hee plans to expand its Major Exploration Program, offering students more opportunities to explore and deepen their understanding of diverse academic fields. The University will admit 165 students to the School of Global Eminence on the Seoul Campus and 241 students to the same school on the Global Campus. To support these students, Kyung Hee has developed a comprehensive support network, including major-specific advisory professors, career counseling services, and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) clusters, all aimed at helping students make informed decisions about their academic and career paths.
Breaking Down Barriers: Cultivating Problem-Solving and Interdisciplinary Knowledge
Kyung Hee is at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies into education. The University has launched projects to enhance teaching capabilities and develop educational content utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as AR/VR, the metaverse, and generative AI—key elements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyung Hee accelerated its efforts to develop tech-driven educational content, which has already shown positive results for students during the 2023 academic year.
The Office of Educational Innovation & Planning intends to leverage the insights from this year’s evaluation to draft the 2025 Self-Innovation Plan, which will build on past successes and outline strategies to further enhance core educational outcomes. Professor Won Gu Lee, Director of the Office, emphasized: “To address the complex challenges of our society, we must cultivate professionals with convergent skills. This requires innovative education that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Our strong performance in this evaluation reflects Kyung Hee’s commitment to educational innovation. We will continue to utilize the University Innovation Support Program to develop professionals equipped with problem-solving abilities and interdisciplinary knowledge.”