Structural reform at universities

University students staged candlelight protests in downtown Seoul Friday demanding a 50-percent cut in tuition on the 24th anniversary of the 1987 pro-democracy movement. The hardship of families with college students is understandable, but street protests are hardly the solution. Taking to the streets with candles in their hands can tarnish the genuine intent of the students as such a protest is reminiscent of the misguided candlelight protests against the resumption of U.S. beef imports in 2008. For their part, politicians must come up with a solution that seeks to enhance the competitiveness and financial standing of universities. Main opposition Democratic Party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu joined the protests, but this is the last thing a responsible politician should do.

David Skorton, president of Cornell University in the U.S., has merely a desk and a small table in his office. The university wanted to set up a decent office for him, who is also a professor at the school`s medical college, but he refused and asked the university to prepare more sickbeds instead. In the face of the global economic crisis, Cornell postponed the construction of new campus buildings and reduced the number of faculty members. It also urged professors to enhance their responsibilities as part of cost-cutting efforts. Skorton said a university president has to play the role of both leader and manager but called the managerial role more important in times of financial difficulty.

At a Thursday meeting between the Democratic Party and 11 private university presidents, the presidents showed no willingness to cut tuition. Some urged government financial support equivalent to 1.2 percent of GDP while others said that if they use reserve funds to cut tuition, they cannot build cutting-edge campuses.

Experts say universities can also reduce costs 20 to 30 percent via austerity measures like those of companies. Even professors envy university employees because the latter have shorter working hours during vacation and are in the same salary class as professors. The annual salary of employees at a private university in Seoul was reportedly more than 100 million won (92,000 U.S. dollars) in 2009. They require no tests to get tenure or theses for student assessment as professors do. Thanks to strong unions, they are assured of lifelong jobs and welfare.

American professors often enjoy playing golf when they are on sabbatical. Even on sabbatical, they receive their full salaries. The University of Suwon in Korea has reduced the sabbatical period to six months and also cut the number of professors qualified for leave by half. Universities need to adopt a performance-based wage system that links performance in teaching and research to salary.

The Board of Audit and Inspection will audit 200 four-year universities nationwide to assess their financial management and the appropriateness of tuition. Schools will have no choice but be forced to cut tuition unless they make sincere efforts to do so voluntarily.