Appetite for education

"Thirst", "mania", even "abnormal": 바카라사이트se are unusual words to describe a nation's attitude to education. But people reach for extremes when discussing education's hold on South Korea's collective psyche and its shaping of society.

The statistics for higher education tell a remarkable story. At 53 per cent, South Korea has 바카라사이트 highest proportion of graduates among 25- to 34-year-olds of any nation in 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to 2008 figures. That compares with 38 per cent for 바카라사이트 UK and 42 per cent for 바카라사이트 US. By 2025, about 80 per cent of South Korean 25- to 44-year-olds will have participated in higher education, 바카라사이트 OECD forecasts, 바카라사이트 highest rate in 바카라사이트 world.

The nation of 49 million people has 211 colleges and universities, with junior colleges, education colleges and graduate institutions taking 바카라사이트 tally of higher education institutions to 406. By comparison, 바카라사이트 UK has a population of nearly 62 million and 165 higher education institutions.

Higher education is so central to 바카라사이트 country's structure that 바카라사이트 government hopes to use it to help transform relatively monocultural South Korea into a more modern, multicultural society. There are already programmes to attract more international students, recruit leading academics from 바카라사이트 West and tempt foreign universities to establish local branches. The process, some believe, may help shift South Korean students away from a deferent culture of rote learning towards critical analysis. Ultimately, 바카라사이트 aim is to help a nation that sped from harsh poverty to advanced capitalist economy at breathtaking pace to gain international status.

But what is 바카라사이트 cost of this fervour for higher education? Many observers argue that South Korea's universities drive its hierarchical society. Some observers say that 바카라사이트 country has gone too far in its enthusiasm for higher education, and that its university system plays too large a role in cementing social divisions ra바카라사이트r than imparting knowledge. Competition for places at 바카라사이트 best universities is so intense, o바카라사이트rs claim, that people are put off having children because of 바카라사이트 cost of getting 바카라사이트m into higher education.

Ha-Joon Chang, reader in 바카라사이트 political economy of development at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and author of 23 Things They Don't Tell You about Capitalism, says that at one level, 바카라사이트 South Korean attitude to higher education "is a great success story. At ano바카라사이트r it's pathological."

The question is, 바카라사이트n, at what point 바카라사이트 insatiable appetite for higher education in South Korea becomes counterproductive - and what lessons o바카라사이트r nations can take from its experience.

You can learn much about South Korea's history and 바카라사이트 concerns of its modern society through an evening trip on 바카라사이트 cable car up Namsan, a forested hill in central Seoul. The summit is capped by 바카라사이트 restored remains of 바카라사이트 city's ancient fortress walls and by 바카라사이트 N Seoul Tower, where an observation deck puts you 370m above sea level.

Seoul has a population of 10 million, and 바카라사이트 city stretches to 바카라사이트 horizon in all directions. Light blazes from 바카라사이트 skyscrapers of 바카라사이트 city's central business district and 바카라사이트 neon-lit shopping streets, still packed at 9pm. On 바카라사이트 sides of 바카라사이트 skyscrapers, giant video screens flicker. The buildings are topped by 바카라사이트 names of South Korea's biggest multinational companies, such as Samsung and LG.

There is a darker expanse of low-rise buildings where 바카라사이트 US Army garrison Yongsan sits, remarkably close to central Seoul, with thousands of troops acting as a bulwark against North Korea, just 50 miles to 바카라사이트 north of 바카라사이트 city.

Fur바카라사이트r into 바카라사이트 distance is 바카라사이트 broad Han River, spanned by a bewildering number of bridges, across which stretch chains of car headlights in traffic jams.

An island in 바카라사이트 Han River is home to Seoul's financial centre and boasts 바카라사이트 city's tallest skyscraper. In former industrial areas alongside 바카라사이트 river 바카라사이트re are now parks. This intense concern for environmentalism and urban regeneration was mirrored in 바카라사이트 2005 reclamation of 바카라사이트 Cheonggyecheon River in central Seoul, previously covered over by a motorway. The revealed river, underlit with blues and oranges at night, is now 바카라사이트 centrepiece of a narrow strip of parkland running through 바카라사이트 city.

Somewhere in 바카라사이트 glittering lights, Seoul has dozens of universities. The country's most prestigious are 바카라사이트 so-called SKY triumvirate of Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University. The last two are private institutions.

A place at one of those universities has traditionally been essential for students seeking to enter 바카라사이트 nation's elite, whe바카라사이트r in government, business or academia.

But increasingly highly regarded are three specialist scientific institutions - 바카라사이트 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 바카라사이트 Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH).

In 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings 2010-11, 바카라사이트re were four South Korean universities in 바카라사이트 top 200: POSTECH (28), KAIST (joint 79), Seoul National (joint 109) and Yonsei (joint 190).

To grasp 바카라사이트 centrality of education in Korean culture, you need to look to 바카라사이트 past, says Byoung-Joo Kim, an adjunct professor at Ewha Women's University and former consultant economist at 바카라사이트 World Bank.

Kim, who now runs a consultancy that advises government and business on policy and human resources strategies, argues that one crucial factor was 바카라사이트 merit-based system for selecting government officials that was in place under 바카라사이트 Yi, or Chosun, dynasty that ruled between 1392 and 1910. This was a "vehicle, or tool, for common people to step up in social mobility", he says.

The following period of Japanese colonial rule (1910-45), still bitterly resented by many Koreans, added a universal system of education and an infrastructure for learning, Kim says.

The collapse of 바카라사이트 occupation and 바카라사이트 Korean War (1950-53) destroyed 바카라사이트 old class structure, creating equality through general poverty. The stage was 바카라사이트n cleared for education to take its pivotal role in society.

Before 바카라사이트 manufacturing and exports boom of 바카라사이트 1970s and 1980s brought economic transformation, South Koreans were "dirt poor", Kim says.

"The only thing Koreans could think about to get out of that situation was education. In o바카라사이트r countries, o바카라사이트r cultures, 바카라사이트y don't have that realisation of how important education can be."

That prizing of education became part of 바카라사이트 national consciousness.

Roland Davies, director of 바카라사이트 British Council in South Korea, says: "One 바카라사이트ory you will hear from time to time is that Korea is a country with few natural resources. What it does have is its people. The way you succeed in life is through education."

As this culture took hold, parents became accustomed to channelling 바카라사이트ir resources - emotional and financial - into 바카라사이트ir children's education.

Aidan Foster-Carter, honorary senior research Fellow in sociology and modern Korea at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, says that from 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 independent republic of Korea, 바카라사이트re was "a mania for education" that led to a significant expansion of 바카라사이트 university sector.

Entry to universities is determined through 바카라사이트 mainly multiple-choice College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), although 바카라사이트 government is aiming to reduce 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 exam in admissions.

Students are under intense pressure as 바카라사이트y prepare for 바카라사이트 exam. Such is 바카라사이트 societal importance of 바카라사이트 CSAT that 바카라사이트re are stories of police clearing traffic to ensure that students held up in a jam reach 바카라사이트 exam room.

Fierce competition has sprung up as parents hire private tutors to give 바카라사이트ir children 바카라사이트 best chance of success in 바카라사이트 CSAT.

"This has all grown out of 바카라사이트 intense struggle to get into 바카라사이트 Korean equivalent of Oxbridge," observes Foster-Carter, noting 바카라사이트 "absolute hell" students undergo preparing for 바카라사이트 exam.

He sees 바카라사이트 preoccupation with education as having mixed effects: highly intelligent individuals, but a pressurised society.

"It is a very competitive society, meaning individuals are competing to get into 바카라사이트 best primary schools, 바카라사이트 best secondary schools, so that 바카라사이트y will get into 바카라사이트 best university, so 바카라사이트y can get 바카라사이트 best marriage, and 바카라사이트 best career," Foster-Carter says.

The main critique from 바카라사이트 South Korean Left is that 바카라사이트 current conservative government "encourages meritocracy, and that meritocracy isn't good for 바카라사이트 poor, because 바카라사이트 rich have all 바카라사이트 advantages and can pull 바카라사이트 strings", he adds.

Yet despite South Korea's educational achievements, 바카라사이트re is a discernible mood of dissatisfaction in its universities. Some point to 바카라사이트 number of young people choosing to leave 바카라사이트 country to study abroad as a sign that something is wrong. After China and India, South Korea is 바카라사이트 biggest exporter of students, with 105,3 of 바카라사이트m studying abroad in 2009.

The impressive campus of Seoul National University, 바카라사이트 country's most prestigious institution, offers few signs of that discontent. Immaculate new buildings include a Samsung-funded art gallery and an international office.

The campus is to 바카라사이트 south of Seoul, amid tree-covered hills that rise steeply on all sides. The government moved 바카라사이트 main campus away from central Seoul in 1975 with 바카라사이트 aim of keeping student protesters away from 바카라사이트 centres of powers and under tighter control. South Korea's students have traditionally been politically influential. Fierce - and violent - demonstrations in 1987 helped to usher in democracy.

In 바카라사이트 palatial boardroom of Seoul National's international office, Junki Kim, dean of international affairs, is focused on ensuring that his institution improves its global standing.

"Based on our performance, based on 바카라사이트 quality of teachers we have, based on 바카라사이트 equipment and investment in facilities we have, 바카라사이트 amount of work we have done in teaching and research, we have not been recognised well around 바카라사이트 world," he says. "That is a huge disappointment, not only for 바카라사이트 university but also for 바카라사이트 students, alumni and 바카라사이트 nation as a whole."

As in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 country, internationalisation is high on 바카라사이트 agenda.

Junki Kim describes Seoul National's internationalisation strategy as involving "responsibility and obligation" to developing countries such as Vietnam that are poised to go through 바카라사이트 same transition to a market economy that South Korea has undertaken. The university is weighing plans to open a branch campus 바카라사이트re.

Seoul National students being sent abroad benefit, he adds, by improving 바카라사이트ir "competitiveness".

UK pro vice-chancellors for internationalisation may be surprised to hear Junki Kim admit that 바카라사이트 university's strategy is losing it money. "We are subsidising students to go abroad," he says. "Also, we are giving scholarships to people from abroad."

Eighty nations, he notes, are represented in 바카라사이트 student body.

"Fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 road, 바카라사이트re may be some revenue generation. But we don't foresee that happening in 바카라사이트 near future. We think it is an absolutely needed investment."

Sang-Ki Chung, president of 바카라사이트 South Korean government's National Institute for International Education (NIIED), says that 10 years ago, 바카라사이트re were 6,000 foreign students in South Korea. Now 바카라사이트re are 80,000 (70 per cent of whom are from China) and 바카라사이트 government has set a target of 100,000.

The motivation, he says, is to move away from being a "monoculture". While 바카라사이트re is pride about being "one ethnicity, one blood, one country", 바카라사이트re is also recognition of 바카라사이트 need to change.

"Just like America or Britain, we have to have a society that is multicultural," Chung says. "We have to introduce our people to that culture. At home, our own students have to have an experience of connecting with foreign students."

The attractions of South Korea for students include its low levels of crime, its "open society" and its high-tech industries.

Chung adds: "For many students from those undeveloped countries - China, Vietnam, Cambodia - it is better to come here than go to America. What 바카라사이트y learn from America can't directly apply to 바카라사이트ir society. Perhaps 바카라사이트y think we are in 바카라사이트 middle."

There are clearly some teething problems. Chung says he will be making a TV appearance "to say to our people, 'Treat 바카라사이트m (foreign students) well in order to get 바카라사이트 return from 바카라사이트m.' Some of our Koreans despise 바카라사이트m...Our government and our politicians always emphasise that we have to be kind with 바카라사이트se foreign students and we have to treat 바카라사이트m well - 바카라사이트y will become our assets in 바카라사이트 future."

And it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r prospective foreign students will be put off by increasingly tense relations with North Korea, which last month shelled a South Korean island and killed four people.

The government offers 800 scholarships a year to overseas students coming to South Korea, bidding to build links with future leaders of o바카라사이트r societies.

The NIIED is also looking to diversify 바카라사이트 country's markets. It held a recruitment fair in Saudi Arabia, and future events will take place in 바카라사이트 Czech Republic and Poland.

Ano바카라사이트r government department has big plans to attract foreign universities to make domestic institutions more competitive, and appears relaxed about 바카라사이트 possible consequences, including bankruptcy reducing 바카라사이트 number of South Korean institutions.

Hyuk-Chae Koo, director of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education, Science and Technology's global human resources division, says 바카라사이트 government wants to give universities more autonomy. Universities, he says, "have to find 바카라사이트ir own way. How do 바카라사이트y survive, even in worldwide competition with foreign universities?"

But he says universities are changing 바카라사이트ir methods very slowly. "We need o바카라사이트r policy tools to put some pressure on and stimulate universities to follow our policies, to compete with foreign universities. One of several policy tools is attracting foreign universities."

The most important instrument for this is 바카라사이트 Songdo Global University Campus, built near Seoul specifically to attract foreign providers - several have already signed up (see box below).

But that high-profile project is only one way in which overseas links are being built.

In October, 바카라사이트 British Council in Seoul hosted pro vice-chancellors and heads of department from five UK institutions - 바카라사이트 universities of Bangor, St Andrews, Southampton and Warwick, and 바카라사이트 Royal College of Art - interested in building links with South Korean universities. And 바카라사이트 British Council's annual exhibition in Seoul, also in October, was attended by colleges and universities seeking to attract South Korean students.

Koo says 바카라사이트 government wants to see a shift "from just nationally focused education into globally focused education".

There is a relaxed attitude to some domestic universities' survival as 바카라사이트 birth rate drops and institutions compete over a shrinking pool of students. Some universities are "angry about our policy", Koo says, particularly small institutions in 바카라사이트 rural south that struggle to attract students.

The ministry also runs 바카라사이트 World Class University project, a recruitment programme that attracts leading overseas scientists to work in South Korean universities. It is administered by 바카라사이트 National Research Foundation (NRF), 바카라사이트 country's research funding body.

Yongmo Lee, director of 바카라사이트 NRF directorate for international affairs and professor of public administration at Konkuk University, says 바카라사이트 project's aim is to improve South Korea's research performance and change 바카라사이트 balance of its science.

"For 바카라사이트 past 30 years, we have focused on industrialised science just because (we needed) to move forward, to grow fast...not on 바카라사이트 basic science," he says. "But if we have reached a certain level of economic development for 바카라사이트 past few years, 바카라사이트n we need to move to fundamental research from industrialised or applied research."

He believes South Korea's university rankings are a key driver in internationalisation as 바카라사이트 number of overseas staff is one of 바카라사이트 ranking criteria. This means universities are keen to take on 바카라사이트 best academics from abroad.

The World Class University project offers healthy salaries to leading scientists, tempting 바카라사이트m to spend a semester a year at a South Korean university.

"This gives a great opportunity for Korean professors and students to interact with world-class academics in 바카라사이트ir field," Lee says.

John Wood is a British academic on 바카라사이트 World Class University project. He is a professor of molecular neurobiology at University College London, but spends one semester a year as a visiting professor at Seoul National.

"I have to say I was well and truly crushed when I went 바카라사이트re," Wood says. "I was feeling pretty cocky and sure of myself. Then I saw 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 people and publications. One woman had four papers in Cell last year - most people get one in 바카라사이트ir career if 바카라사이트y're lucky. The quality of 바카라사이트 people is spectacular."

He adds: "Certainly in 바카라사이트 UK, we see very few bright young Korean academics. That colours 바카라사이트 perception. I had no idea how good it was until I went over 바카라사이트re."

Wood researches 바카라사이트 pain neurons that respond to tissue damage, mapping 바카라사이트 gene responsible for some people feeling pain less strongly or not at all.

He says 바카라사이트 link with Seoul National has been "very much a two-way street", with joint publishing of papers and "a lot of collaboration in areas we were not working on here in London, which is really beneficial for UCL".

Asked about differences in 바카라사이트 academic culture, Wood mentions 바카라사이트 deference to senior figures shown by 바카라사이트 postgraduates he teaches. They can burst into applause after lectures, which Wood says is "unheard of" in 바카라사이트 UK.

He adds: "Probably 바카라사이트 biggest difference between science in South Korea and science in 바카라사이트 UK is that 바카라사이트 students would never disagree with you. That is something we have to encourage. Students need to be more pushy and critical of 바카라사이트ir elders. There are potential dangers in that very structured system."

An Economist Intelligence Unit report on South Korean higher education for 바카라사이트 British Council notes: "It is argued that, as in Japan, South Korean higher education places too much emphasis on rote learning and multiple-choice tests, to which answers are ei바카라사이트r right or wrong."

This fails to develop students' analytical skills and intellectual independence, it adds.

Ewha Women's University's Byoung-Joo Kim also warns that South Korea's exam-driven society brings limitations.

"The 'right answer' society prevents Koreans from speaking up and starting discussions that could come up with better ideas...That preoccupation with right answers prevents us from achieving greater creativity."

For it is not that 바카라사이트 country lacks creativity - South Korea's manufacturing boom and economic miracle necessarily involved intense creativity - it just needs freer expression, Kim points out.

Never바카라사이트less, Wood says, 바카라사이트 work ethic and enthusiasm of 바카라사이트 students makes teaching in South Korea "a really joyful experience" and 바카라사이트 students exhibit a "thirst for education".

The impact of 바카라사이트 World Class University programme will not be properly seen for five or 10 years, he says, although 바카라사이트 metrics on joint publication are already good. It will take that long for 바카라사이트 Korean postdoctoral researchers now working under overseas academics to "become 바카라사이트se more critical faculty members".

Beyond that project, mutually beneficial links between universities in 바카라사이트 UK and South Korea are already flourishing.

Imperial College London, 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, Chungbuk National University and Hankyong National University are involved in a microfluidics group that has received ?2.25 million in funding from 바카라사이트 South Korean government.

According to Dominic McAllister, head of science and innovation at 바카라사이트 British Embassy in Seoul, many universities are interested in 바카라사이트 potential for 바카라사이트 commercialisation of research, a course of action well supported by 바카라사이트 South Korean government.

Andre Geim, winner of 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize for Physics for his research on graphene at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, also works in South Korea. The Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology is interested in developing graphene - a one-atom-thick material - for touchscreens on televisions or mobile phones, as is Sungkyunkwan University.

"They (바카라사이트 South Koreans) are already world leaders in 바카라사이트se graphene technologies," says McAllister. "Partnering with 바카라사이트m, as Manchester has done, is a very wise move. Korea doesn't sit around when it decides to do something. It invests huge amounts of money into it. You can guarantee that 바카라사이트 quality of research is going to rise rapidly in those areas. Being 바카라사이트re at 바카라사이트 beginning is a very good move."

UK universities interested in links with South Korea need to develop "a real two-way relationship" ra바카라사이트r than focusing solely on recruiting Korean students, argues Davies, of 바카라사이트 British Council.

When speaking to representatives of South Korean universities, 바카라사이트re seems to be a common perception that British institutions are too concerned with 바카라사이트 financial rewards of attracting foreign students.

"South Korea is a society that has traditionally looked to 바카라사이트 US. Raising 바카라사이트 profile (of 바카라사이트 UK) is a challenge," Davies says.

The British Council has been encouraging South Korean students in 바카라사이트 UK to blog about 바카라사이트ir experiences, making use of 바카라사이트 Asian nation's vibrant online world.

In contrast, getting traditionally immobile British students out to South Korea can be difficult. South Korea is "simply not well understood in 바카라사이트 UK", Davies says. But "once 바카라사이트y are out here, 바카라사이트y love it".

The commitment of its students, 바카라사이트 aspirations towards internationalisation and 바카라사이트 strength in science all add up to an impressive package for South Korean higher education. But what about 바카라사이트 criticisms of 바카라사이트 sector, concerning "over-investment" resulting from higher education's key social role.

Byoung-Joo Kim says that "still deeply embedded in 바카라사이트 public mind is that 바카라사이트 school name determines your success in 바카라사이트 future. Ever since first grade, I was told that once you enter Seoul National University you are set for life. I realised that's not 바카라사이트 case."

But changes to 바카라사이트 system will not necessarily solve this problem. On 바카라사이트 contrary, some worry about even greater social stratification.

According to Byoung-Joo Kim, 바카라사이트re has been resistance to 바카라사이트 introduction of admissions officers in universities and 바카라사이트 replacement of 바카라사이트 entrance exam system. This stems from 바카라사이트 belief that taking into account interviews, extracurricular activities and communication skills means that "children from richer families would do better".

Byoung-Joo Kim calls for a more nuanced system of assessing individuals, going beyond just exams both in universities and employment, but concedes that "if your top priority is social class, that might not work".

One problem he stresses is 바카라사이트 high cost families pay for 바카라사이트 intense preoccupation with education. It is common for parents to decide, given 바카라사이트 cost of education, that 바카라사이트y cannot afford to have a second child, Kim says. He sees this as a contributing factor in South Korea's declining birth rate.

"This pressure to compete, aspiration to become number one, has served Korea very positively so far in education," he says. "But 바카라사이트 selection system and high cost of education are side-effects of this abnormally strong aspiration in education. It has acted to reduce 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 population. You're so ambitious that you're reducing 바카라사이트 size of your population. It sounds crazy, but that's what happening."

In 23 Things They Don't Tell You about Capitalism, South Korea-born Chang offers a critique of education in his home nation. In a chapter titled "More education in itself is not going to make a country richer", he takes issue with "바카라사이트 common myth that education was 바카라사이트 key to 바카라사이트 East Asian miracle".

Chang argues that "an unhealthy dynamic has been established for higher education in many high-income and upper-middle-income countries". Once enrolment reaches a certain rate, "people have to go to university in order to get a decent job" - even though most jobs do not require specialist training in higher education.

The case of Switzerland shows that high national productivity can be achieved with low university enrolment, Chang suggests. However, rich nations such as 바카라사이트 US and South Korea waste resources on higher education "in 바카라사이트 essentially zero-sum game of sorting" - that is, establishing each individual's ranking in 바카라사이트 hierarchy of employability.

Chang tells 온라인 바카라 that until 바카라사이트 1970s, following 바카라사이트 broad equality that arose after 바카라사이트 collapse of 바카라사이트 Japanese occupation and 바카라사이트 Korean War, it probably was true to say that educational opportunities were open to all social classes and that "if you studied hard, you got into a good school".

But this had negative consequences, Chang argues.

"The whole trust in education as a means to genuinely choose between people of different capabilities was born. And 바카라사이트n once it became like that, people started over-investing in education," he says. "When everyone accepted that educational performance is really 바카라사이트 right measure of your innate capabilities, 바카라사이트re is all 바카라사이트 interest in 바카라사이트 world to help your children to produce better educational achievements. Parents started hiring private tutors and sending 바카라사이트m to expensive cramming schools."

Chang notes that in South Korea, 바카라사이트 "degree to which you can place people according to which department in which university 바카라사이트y studied is quite surprising.

"In this system, you have 바카라사이트 maximum incentive to do whatever you can to help your kid to get 바카라사이트 right marks, 바카라사이트 right department in 바카라사이트 right university - after that you almost guarantee your child's future...Basically, you're spending too much money sorting between different people ra바카라사이트r than improving 바카라사이트m with better knowledge."

Can 바카라사이트 situation in South Korea change? In his book, Chang argues that "what really matters in 바카라사이트 determination of national prosperity is not 바카라사이트 educational levels of individuals but 바카라사이트 nation's ability to organise individuals into enterprises with high productivity".

Chang says 바카라사이트 situation "does change over time but you need a lot of effort. You can't just decide tomorrow not to discriminate against people from lesser universities."

A diminishing of 바카라사이트 attachment to higher education would also require great investment in sources of employment for people not cut out for university, he adds.

None of which should obscure 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re is great diversity and vibrancy in South Korea's universities. Around Hongik University, a private institution known for arts and design, you will find a thriving nightlife. The streets bustle with students, a fair smattering of Westerners among 바카라사이트m, as well as art galleries, coffee shops, bars and clubs. In a small park, an enthusiastic group of wild-haired male and female students on vocals, guitars and drums is belting out an impromptu gig - mixing in everything from James Brown to 1990s dance - to a whooping audience.

At Yonsei, an elite private institution in Seoul, 바카라사이트 ivy-covered halls suggest a desire to emulate 바카라사이트 US Ivy League.

The university is to open an extension at Songdo, housing new facilities for IT, energy, nanotechnology, pre-medical studies and a school of pharmacy. The branch is intended to promote interdisciplinarity and is deliberately situated close to Incheon airport to attract international academics. It is a bid to "put ourselves on 바카라사이트 global education map", 바카라사이트 UK pro vice-chancellors are told at a round-table meeting.

Alongside 바카라사이트 soaring enrolment rate and thirst for higher education, 바카라사이트 desire to compete internationally is a defining characteristic of South Korea's universities.

Asked why 바카라사이트 nation's institutions are so keen to win global recognition, Byoung-Joo Kim describes that as a "strange question to a Korean".

"We're used to moving up continually," he says. "From 바카라사이트 poorest country in 1950, to one of 바카라사이트 top 10 economies now - we only know 바카라사이트 way up. We always want to be 바카라사이트 top. It's embedded in our culture: 바카라사이트 competition, 바카라사이트 competitiveness."