We are discussing whether the introduction of donation-based university admissions can be a solution to the problem of half-price tuition and a way to realize educational equality and ensure university autonomy.
The Korean university admissions system is anchored by an important educational policy called the “Three No’s Policy. Introduced in 1999, this policy forms the foundation of the university admissions system and the public education system, and is called the “Three Prohibitions Policy”. The policy is centered on the prohibition of three things: donations for university admission, universities’ own entrance exams, and selection based on high school grades. Of these, the ban on donations for university admission has been upheld under the principle of constitutional equality.
However, for more than a decade, the debate on the merits of donation-based college admissions has been ongoing, and with each iteration of the debate, the idea of introducing donation-based admissions has often been met with dismissal, or the debate has sunk below the surface. However, in the past year or so, donation-based college admissions has been reintroduced as a solution to the problem, especially as the social demand for “half-price tuition” has grown.
While there are certainly pros and cons to the idea of donation-based university admissions, and there are still some who believe that it is premature in terms of public sentiment, or that it could lead to educational inequality, we believe that the various benefits of donation-based university admissions are worthy of consideration, especially given the potential to overcome the disadvantages claimed by opponents. In this article, we’ll take a look at why it should be implemented and how it can solve the problem of half-price tuition.
First, donation-based university admission is obviously different from a simple donation system, and donation-based university admission is subject to strict criteria. Many people misunderstand donation-based university admission as a system where you simply pay a certain amount of money to buy admission, but in fact, donation-based university admission is a system that gives “extra points” to those who contribute to the development of the university. For example, Professor Yeon Kang-Heum of Yonsei University’s Department of Business Administration describes it as a concept similar to special admission programs for the children of national merit. In other words, proponents of endowment admission carefully evaluate the meaning of donations and grant benefits only in situations where the contribution can be recognized.
If you look at the example of US universities, you’ll see that endowed admissions require candidates to meet certain criteria in order to receive the benefit. For example, an SAT score of 160 out of 1600 might be enough to qualify a candidate for endowed admission, but even then, if they don’t have enough qualities, they won’t be admitted. It can also be operated in such a way that donations don’t lead to immediate benefits, but are only recognized after contributions are accumulated over a period of time. In this way, admission to the university through endowments can be implemented more carefully.
Second, endowment admissions can be implemented in conjunction with graduation quotas to avoid anticipated problems. There is a concern that the introduction of donation-based university admissions could be criticized as buying a college diploma. However, this concern can be largely eliminated by implementing a graduation cap. Graduation quotas are a system that allows only a certain percentage of enrolled students to graduate, and are left to the discretion of universities. In developed European countries like France, graduation quotas have already been used to improve the quality of university education and reduce the cost of education for students. Japanese medical schools are also using graduation quotas to ensure that the best students ultimately benefit.
Third, donations to universities can contribute to tuition affordability. Currently, “half-price tuition” is a big social issue, with many universities charging close to 10 million won for a semester. The call for half-price tuition is no longer an empty rallying cry, but a very real problem. While many alternatives have been proposed, most of which involve collecting additional taxes from the public or restricting the autonomy of universities, one realistic solution has emerged: donations.
In a survey conducted by MoneyToday in collaboration with Media Research, 1,000 men and women aged 20 and over nationwide were surveyed, and 60.9% of respondents were in favor of the donation-based university admission system, especially those with lower incomes. This shows that donation-based university admission can have a positive impact by easing tuition fees and providing educational opportunities to more students.
Fourth, donation-based university admission can also contribute to the restructuring and autonomy of universities. Currently, South Korea’s university enrollment rate is one of the highest in the world, but this is contributing to the creation of failing universities and underperforming students. There are some concerns that the introduction of a donation-based university admission system could lead to a hierarchy of universities and a wealthy-rich phenomenon by funneling donations to certain schools. However, this could help to naturally weed out weak universities and foster stronger universities. In addition, donation-based university admission could promote university specialization by ensuring the autonomy of universities’ finances and student selection.
Fifth, endowment-based university admissions can promote educational equity. Although some argue that endowed admissions undermine the principle of equal opportunity, the system can actually contribute to educational equality in that the funds raised by endowed admissions can be used to expand scholarships, providing more educational opportunities for poor students.
In conclusion, donation-based university admission can play an important role in addressing the issue of half-price tuition, and its adoption can have a variety of positive effects, such as easing tuition fees, equalizing educational opportunities, restructuring universities, and ensuring their autonomy. While the debate has been heavily politicized, it is now necessary to introduce this system carefully to truly advance higher education.
