[Public Opinion Brief 16-5] Crisis of Domestic Universities and Perceptions of Early Study Abroad

[Public Opinion Brief No. 16] Changes in the Educational Environment and Strategic Choices of Education Consumers

[1] Educational Issues Demand a Paradigm Shift - General Remarks by the Research Team

[2] Strategic Choices of Education Consumers, Overseas Study Abroad - Cheon-soon Lim · Il-jun Jeong

[3] Early Study Abroad, How Far Will It Spread? - So-jeong Seo · Han-wool Jeong

[4] The Next Government's Education Policy Requires Multifaceted and Comprehensive Measures - Cheon-soon Lim · Byung-guk Kim

[5] Other Key Findings

5. Crisis of Domestic Universities and Perceptions of Early Study Abroad

Han-wool Jeong (EAI Center for Public Opinion Analysis, Deputy Director)

1. Attention Must Be Paid to the Crisis of Domestic Universities

□ Distrust in Public Education is Highest for Parents of Older Children:

88% of university student parents dissatisfied, 83.5% of high school parents, 83.1% of middle school parents, 78.4% of elementary school parents

Furthermore, a significant characteristic is that distrust in Korean education increases proportionally as children get older. It is particularly noteworthy that parents of university students express the greatest dissatisfaction with public education compared to parents of middle and high school students. A staggering 88% responded that Korean public education is unsatisfactory. While 70.4% of respondents with no school-aged children (including preschoolers) expressed dissatisfaction with public education, 78.4% of elementary school parents, 83.1% of middle school parents, and 83.5% of high school parents responded negatively [Figure 1]. The dissatisfaction of university student parents with public education may be largely shaped by their children's university entrance examination process, but dissatisfaction with the quality of university education received by their children may also be a factor. In other words, it could be the result of growing distrust in education overall, including university education, due to the intensifying job market difficulties.

[Figure 1] Satisfaction with Public Education by School Level of Children (%)

□ Universities Powerless in the Face of a Tight Job Market

Even after gaining admission to university with great difficulty, the overall employment rate for university graduates is only 67.3%, with the regular employment rate at a mere 49.2%.

The premium associated with prestigious universities has also significantly diminished, and while the situation is slightly better, it remains similar.

For the top 10 prestigious universities, the regular employment rate is 63.2%, and the rate of employment in large corporations is 29.6%.

Even after gaining admission to university through a difficult entrance process, a serious problem remains. According to the 2006 employment statistics survey of 363 universities nationwide released by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, the overall employment rate for four-year universities was 67.3%, and the regular employment rate was only 49.2%. This means that only one out of every two university graduates finds regular employment. The actual employment rate may be even lower than this, as it excludes individuals who enlisted in the military or are pursuing graduate studies. In the same survey by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, the average for the top 10 universities that produced over 3,000 graduates showed overall employment rates of 74.7% and regular employment rates of 63.2%, respectively. Even among the top 10 universities, four out of every ten graduates either fail to find employment or end up in non-regular positions. The average employment rate in large corporations for the top 10 universities was also only 29.6%.

A gap in employment rates still exists between top prestigious universities and other universities. When considering the qualitative aspects of employment, it becomes clear that even admission to a prestigious university does not guarantee escape from fierce job competition. The fact that even among the top 10 universities, four out of ten graduates must either fail to find employment or take non-regular jobs indicates that the domestic labor market has become significantly constricted. This signifies the erosion of the 'prestigious university premium' that existed in the past. In other words, as the employment environment continues to deteriorate, a university degree is no longer a guarantee of employment. The increasing preference for foreign universities among the younger generation and the growing positive perception of early study abroad are influenced by the increasingly constricted domestic employment environment.

[Table 1] Top 10 Universities Nationwide and Those Graduating Over 3,000 Students by Employment Rate Category

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2006 Higher Education Institution Graduate Employment Statistics Survey (Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development · KEDI)

2. Status of Early Study Abroad

□ Rapid Increase in Early Study Abroad Students: Significantly increased from 7,944 in 2001 to 29,511 in 2006

: The age range for study abroad is continuously decreasing, with a significant increase in early study abroad for elementary school students

Positive public opinion regarding early study abroad has steadily risen each year, and the number of early study abroad students has also significantly increased annually. According to the 2006 statistics on overseas departures of early study abroad students, pure early study abroad students (excluding those who emigrated or accompanied parents on overseas assignments) increased significantly from 7,944 in 2001 to 29,511 in 2006. One point worthy of attention is the substantial increase in early study abroad for elementary school students. In 2001, the number of elementary school students going abroad for early study was 2,107, which was less than the number of middle and high school students. However, in the 2006 survey, this number rose to 13,814, significantly surpassing the number of middle and high school students studying abroad early. This trend appears to be driven by expert opinions, which are widely discussed in society, suggesting that the later elementary school years are the optimal period for English language acquisition. The opportunity for English acquisition has become a crucial criterion in deciding the timing and destination country for early study abroad.

[Figure 2] Annual Number of Early Study Abroad Departures (Persons)

Source: 2006 Statistics on Student Departures Abroad, Source: Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development Website

3. Strategic Selection of Study Abroad Destinations

□ Desired Study Destinations vs. Actual Destinations: Concentration on English-speaking countries, with significant numbers also studying in China and Southeast Asia

Respondents indicated their preferred study abroad destinations as the United States (30.7%) > Canada (20.8%) > Australia/New Zealand (18.7%) > United Kingdom (13.2%) > China (3.7%), showing a preference for English-speaking countries. This appears to be a result of the increasing importance of English education in the era of globalization, which serves as a direct motivation for studying abroad. However, actual statistics for 2005 show the order as: United States (34.6%) > China (18.0%) > Canada (12.6%) > Southeast Asia (11.4%) > Australia/New Zealand (8.8%). In the 2006 statistics (surveyed from March 1, 2006, to February 28, 2007), the US accounted for 31.9% and China for 15.8%, showing a slight decrease, while Southeast Asia saw 14.6%, Canada 13.5%, and Australia/New Zealand 9.4%, indicating a slight increase. The concentration on studying in the United States persists. However, due to factors such as study abroad costs, a considerable number of students are choosing China and Southeast Asian countries. China, as a single country, is ranked second only to the United States in terms of the number of students studying there. The choice of China as an early study abroad destination may reflect not only cost considerations but also the growing recognition of China's increasing importance in the international political and economic order and the widespread understanding that China-South Korea economic cooperation is crucial for Korea's national interests. Those choosing Southeast Asian countries likely considered geographical proximity, cost advantages, and the fact that many of these countries are English-speaking.

[Figure 3] Preferred Study Abroad Destinations (%)

Source: EAI · JoongAng Ilbo Public Opinion Survey (2007)

[Figure 4] Top Study Abroad Destinations (2006)

Source: 2005-6 Statistics on Student Departures Abroad (KEDI)