"Admissions Officer System Should Strengthen High School–University Linkage," Argued

It was argued that, for the Admissions Officer System to achieve qualitative growth following quantitative expansion, an accurate analysis of high school curriculum implementation and strengthened linkages between high schools and universities are necessary.

At the "Conference on Strategies for the Development of Korea's Admissions Officer System in the 21st Century," held by our university on December 13 at Jinsudang Gain Hall, domestic education experts voiced this view.

The conference, which ran from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., was attended by some 300 people, including representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Korean Council for University Education, university officials, and education experts. Across four sessions, participants presented on and debated eight topics related to development measures.

In the first session, Jeong Jong-cheol, Future Talent Policy Officer at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in his presentation "Korean-Style Admissions Officer System in the 21st Century: Achievements to Date and Tasks for Development," stated that "the number of universities implementing the Admissions Officer System and the number of students selected through this system underwent rapid growth during the first three to four years of implementation, and from the fourth year have shown more gradual expansion." He noted that "the number of universities implementing the Admissions Officer System expanded from 10 in the 2008 academic year to 125 in the 2013 academic year."

He went on to emphasize that "through the 2012 medium-term fiscal plan, government funding of approximately KRW 40 billion has been allocated to support the Admissions Officer System through 2015 and will be reflected in support programs," and added that "despite the positive aspects of the Admissions Officer System, it is important for university constituents to agree to the system and for university authorities to demonstrate commitment and provide support for its operation."

He also pointed out that "to achieve qualitative growth of the Admissions Officer System through strengthened linkage between high schools and universities, discussions should begin in earnest on effectively linking the cultivation and selection mechanisms for future-oriented talent by means of a more precise analysis and understanding of high school curriculum implementation."

Next, Oh Seong-geun, Director of the Admissions Support Office at the Korean Council for University Education, in his presentation on "Operational Measures and Directions for the Admissions Officer System for the 2013 Academic Year," said that "if the Admissions Officer System has so far focused on consolidation and expansion, it will now be pursued as a stable, established system," and noted that "it is necessary to extend the selection and evaluation cycle for current support projects for the Admissions Officer System to two to three years to promote operational stability."

In addition, Professor Jo Seong-uk presented on "Analysis of Korean Admissions Officer Admissions and Future Tasks," and former admissions officer An Wan-gi attracted attention with his presentation titled "Seeking Measures for the Development of Korea's Admissions Officer System."