The Korean Approach to Validation for Lifelong Learning Kim Shinil Baekseok University, Korea

Higher Education in Korea  Population 48 million (North Korea, 25mil.)  Institutions 432 (Univ. 189, more than 2/3 is private).  Students 3,728,802 (Univ. 2,108,958), mostly young and full time.  Students bear major part of the expenses.  Enrolment rate 76% 2

3 - Tertiary Education attainment (35-64 age group) is 26%. - High aspiration for BA degree in learning society. - HEI is already packed with young students. - Korea has to deal with the situation with bold measures. Higher Education in learning society

VPL in the situation 4 Lifelong Learning VPL HEI Schooling Society VPL Learning Society

European vs. Korean  Utilizing VPL within Higher Education Context 5 Korea: Providing direct opportunity to obtain college degree European countries: Assisting admission to HEI

Early VPL Policy in Korea  Bachelor’s Degree Examination for Self- Education (BDES)  Since 1990  BA degree through examination only  Academic Credit Bank System (ACBS)  Since 1998  Obtaining Associate’s or BA degree through validation of non-formal learning 6

Early VPL Policy in Korea  BDES and ACBS  awarding higher education degrees to non-students who are recognized as reaching the same level of learning with university students.  Degree awarding approach to VPL/RPL  Reflecting cultural and historical background of Korea 7

Old Korean Education System  Lasted more than 10centuries  Public school system from the 7 th century  basic schools  middle schools  higher education(the Royal College) 8 Schools National Examination Old Korean Education System

National Examination  Since the year of 958.  Instrument of qualification for social status and selecting government officials.  3 courses of Examination  Civil exam, Military exam, and Specialist exam.  Civil exam  The most prestigious one  3 stages: lower, upper, and the highest.  Specialist exam  medicine, foreign languages, accounting, astronomy. 9

National Examination  Who applied : From the teens to the fifties.  Stages of examination in part connected with public school levels.  However, more than half of all applicants during the Choseon dynasty ( ) took the highest examination without attending the royal college.  Most of them from high class family  Preparing the examination with personal tutor or at the private tutoring classes. 10

National Examination  Two characteristics  National examination in old Korea was open not only to the graduates of school but also to people without or unfinished schooling.  Examination functioned as a validation of learning experiences outside of school and university system. 11

Modernization  Old Education System  Discontinued at the end of 19 th century  Modern Education System  schooling-oriented  developed in Europe  However, the alternative track through examinations has not disappeared until today. 12

BDES  Bachelor’s Degree Examination for Self-Education  Since 1990 as an alternative track  Four stages of qualifying examination  general education  major basic  major advanced  comprehensive. 13

BDES  Exemption of examination  For who learners who already achieved a certain number of credits from university or had certificates of concerned area.  About 14,000 persons have been awarded bachelor degree since

ACBS  Proposed as one of the President Commission of Education Reform measures in 1996  Recognition of learning at non-formal education programs for the higher education degree  In 2013, about 50,000 learners are granted Associate’s or BA degree for 109 study areas  About 70% of the registered learners are 30 years or older. 15

ACBS  Validation of learning during the military service  Mandatory military service of young men for about two years  An agreement between Ministers of the Education and the Defense in  Recognition of learning from trainings and educations during the military service as credits  Utilizing credits toward the higher education degree through the academic credit bank system, or for vocational qualifications and licenses.  About 310,000 soldiers obtained credits during the years of 2007~

ACBS  Validation of learning from the National Intangible Cultural Assets  Vanishing traditional arts and crafts in Korea  hardly respected by universities  Successors of the cultural assets  Validation toward the degree activated learning of the vanishing skills  Validation is an powerful instrument for reviving learning of a neglected culture.  ACBS explores new study areas that are not properly recognized 17

New Developments  Validation of Workplace learning are expanded through revision of laws  Annually 80 marine engineers obtained certificate by the recognition of field experiences after revision of the act of marine industry manpower in  The revised Qualification Act expanded coverage of validation of vocational skill learning at work. 18

 Lifelong Learning-oriented University Project  Provide more programs for adult learners  Transform themselves into the lifelong learner- friendly institutes  admission criteria and process  reorganization of department/faculty  curriculum and instructional methods  introducing new concept of teaching staff  validation of prior learning 19 New Developments

 Lifelong Learning Account System (LLAS)  Overarching management system of lifelong learning society  Accumulation, assessment, validation and recognition of each individual’s all kinds of learning  Recommended by the President Commission of Education Reform in 1995  Since 2010, about 5,000 learners are registered 20 New Developments

Challenges and Tasks  Professionals for non-formal and informal learning – ‘Lifelong Education Specialist’  RVA as essential bridge connecting learning and working  Diversification of learning for higher education  From education to learning 21

 Thank you 22