Presentation
Narrowing the Knowledge Gap through Virtual Education: Korea's Experience

Dr. In-sung Jung
Director of Multimedia Education Institute and Professor of Department of Educational Technology, Ewha University, Korea

In 1997 Korea's Presidential Commission on Education Reform announced a scheme that it christened Edutopia, with the goal of working toward a lifelong learning society. Edutopia means an educational welfare state, that is, a society of open and lifelong education, to allow each and every individual equal and easy access to education at any time. An IT based education system is aimed at nurturing leaders for the 21st century. In order to provide meaningful learning to all learners, it is important to have private and public sector cooperation. Flexible and open government policies are also important.

There have been several high-impact government initiatives introduced in the effort to narrow the knowledge gap in Korea, including a plan to equip all schools with multimedia networks and an initiative to develop software and multimedia databases. Amongst other initiatives that have been established are the National Credit Bank, International Cyber University, a virtual university trial project, cyber teacher training centers to provide access for teachers to training programs, and the Edunet in Korea, an integrated education web site managed by the Korea Education Research and Information Service.

The Virtual University Trial Project enforced the revised Lifelong Education Law, accepting a private virtual university as a formal higher education provider. In this way nine accredited cyber universities were created, seven of which offer four-year degree programs. The establishment of these cyber universities has widened education opportunities for a wider section of society, as applicants to these institutions are not required to take entrance exams and the tuition fees are low. There are over 15,000 applicants to the cyber universities and, of the 6,220 students who gain admission, the average age is 31, with most students holding only a high school diploma. This experience suggests that cyber universities can be used effectively to close the knowledge gap, particularly among working adults.

The National Credit Bank System is an open educational system that recognizes diverse learning experiences gained outside school. Non-formal educational institutions are formally evaluated on the basis of instructors, facilities and curriculum. Successful institutions are given approval as a CBS-accredited institution offering accredited programs and courses, which can be counted as university or college equivalent credits. In the first year of the National Credit Bank System, 61 institutions participated. As of February 2001, 369 institutions were participating. The great majority of people using the Credit Bank System are over 25. The Credit Bank System has therefore assisted those who cannot afford to attend university by providing opportunities to pursue learning, and has succeeded in linking diverse education institutions across the public and private sectors.

The International Cyber University is a project that will engage students from over 120 universities collaborating with Ewha Women's University, the largest women's university in the world. The main target for the International Cyber University are those students who cannot study Korean Studies or Women's Studies in the conventional classroom setting. The goals of the International Cyber University project are to widen opportunities for international collaboration, and to provide online databases on Korean Studies and Women's Studies, particularly in Asia. Future programs include collaboration with prominent educational institutions in Korea and other countries to secure the best content of providers and instructors. The primary aim of the International Cyber University is, through various collaborative projects, to narrow the knowledge gap.

Major recommendations for policy makers in other countries are to integrate national visions toward narrowing the knowledge gap into a concerted educational endeavor, in addition to adopting a systems approach in the change process. A further recommendation is to build partnerships and alliances among institutions, which could enhance specializations and services. A final requisite is to build a quality management system to ensure that the services provided meet the goals of the project.