University Departments Abolished Autonomously, Students Left Behind

As universities undertake department restructuring due to declining student numbers from low birth rates, criticism is mounting that decisions to abolish or create departments are made unilaterally by universities, failing to adequately reflect students' learning opportunities or opinions.

Dong-A Health College in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, has decided not to admit new students to its Nursing Department starting next year. While the university maintains that all internal procedures were followed and there are no issues, students who heard the news just one month into the semester expressed bewilderment. This is not an isolated case; Busan Arts University abolished a welfare-related department just over a month after its establishment last year.

University restructuring is spreading nationwide as the decline in school-age population intensifies. Over the past three years, beginning in 2019, 700 departments have been abolished or merged across national and private four-year universities.

The authority to establish and abolish departments is left to university autonomy without intervention from the Ministry of Education. There are no regulations ensuring student participation in the criteria or decision-making processes for department closures.

Experts emphasized the need to institutionalize closure criteria and procedures, and to mandate measures for collecting opinions from current students and protecting their right to education. They also suggested that national-level complementary measures are necessary to prevent restructuring focused on employment rates and profitability from leading to the reduction of foundational academic disciplines.