education via the Internet. Since 2009 their number has increased and since then they no longer fall
under the Lifelong Education Act as distance learning universities, but are now considered to be
regular higher education institutions falling under the Higher Education Act. They offer 2- and 3-year
junior college programmes (associate degree) and bachelor’s programmes.
Self-study programmes are another option, introduced in 1990. Here, students must pass four exams
that are set by the government. The examination consists of the following sections: general subjects
(liberal arts), a basic major, an advanced major and a final exam covering all topics.
In the educational credit bank system (1998), students can collect credits that have been obtained
through various means, e.g. through self-study programmes, individual certificates or part-time at a
university. Based on the credits obtained, it is then possible to be admitted to a higher education
institution with some exemptions, and eventually to obtain a degree. The system falls under the
supervision of the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI) (한국교육개발원, Hanguk Gyoyuk
Gaebalwon), which is also the national centre for life-long education.
In 2009, a new system was set up in the field of lifelong learning, the so-called lifelong learning
account system, recognising non-formal education from young and old, to make it possible to obtain a
diploma in primary or secondary education. This is an addition to the credit banking system, which
solely operates in higher education. Credits need to be part of a programme that has been evaluated
and recognised by the National Institute for Lifelong Education, established in 2008, in order to be
recognised. The NILE is a merger of the Lifelong Education Center and the Credit Bank Center that
were previously part of KEDI (see above) and the Individual Bachelor’s Degree Examination
Department, that was previously part of Korea National Open University (see above). The lifelong
learning account system is still in the pilot phase.
In 2007 there were fourteen industrial universities (called open universities until 1998, now also
referred to as polytechnics) that offered technical education to people with a technical or industrial
background, such as the Chinju National University of Technology, Chungwoon University, Korea
Polytechnic University and the Seoul National University of Technology. Close collaboration with the
industry is a priority. Industrial universities provide programmes with a practical focus, and the number
of years within which a student must complete a programme is unlimited. Many of these universities
are also ‘colleges in company’, which means that the university works together with businesses in
various fields including research. Students are given work placements at the company, and the
employees of the company receive relevant training from the university. Examples are Seoul Digital
University, which collaborates with fifteen different companies, and Korea Polytechnic University,
which offers programmes for senior managers.
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