The Road to World-Class Universities: A case study of South Korea

• In Event: Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: Globalizing Higher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the emphasis on international rankings influences faculty or administrators’ perceptions of world-class universities in South Korea, and if the perceptions and strategies of world-class universities are influenced by their U.S training. This study used in-depth interviews with fifteen faculty and administrators at three highly selective research universities in South Korea. This study found that mimetic processes occur in defining and justifying world-class universities. This study also found that the majority of the interviewees mentioned that world-class university status would provide them an opportunity to recruit better quality students and faculty. With increased human capital, they believe that their institutions can become more competitive in the global settings of higher education institutions.

Authors

• Dongbin Kim, The University of Kansas

• Kiyong Byun, Korea University

• Jae-Eun Jon, Korea University