Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bryan Fox]

This may be a silly question to ask in a country where the idea of 'plagiarism' isn't really even a concept, but is there any national board to which universities are accountable? I'm at a university and I'm leaving the country when this contract finishes, so I'm not concerned about repercussions. But basically, I've been told I "can't" fail seniors. If I do, and my grades are changed by the administration, can I report this? Where? How? Is there any recourse?

[blue.sky]

As far as I know, most universities are private here and their awards are as good as their reputation. I'm not sure about the national univs. As you probably know, acceptance to a uni is a decent guarantee of graduation.

A couple of my previous students had learning difficulties but graduated the high school on the 80% minimum score. Another kids ended up at Yonsei with 88%.

On the positive side, after the 80% minimum grading system was introduced, the school's average graduating scores increased, and the principal got a nice bonus from Hyundai - the school's partner & sponsor. Great, isn't it?

[toonchoon]

at the end of the day does it really matter if the senior got a passing grade? no. just pass the kid with the lowest acceptable passing grade, and forget about them.

bunch of my seniors have jobs and barely come to class. if they were freshmen, i'd fail them, but i'm gonna let them go, let them graduate, and get on with their lives. after all, they're already a few years behind due to military, and probably don't need to stick around the UNI, esp. since they started in like 2004.

also, you're in Korea, and teaching at a Korean uni. and not in the west. Play by their rules, not yours.

[Bryan Fox]

Yes, but isn't it exactly that piss-poor attitude that allows a substandard system to perpetuate? If more professors here actually respected their posts, mightn't that eventually mean that there would be a push towards some integrity here? Maybe that's overly idealistic in a country where you can buy your way to pretty much anything, but I don't know - I was a teacher before I came here, and part of the reason I'm leaving is because it's disgusting what passes off as tertiary 'education' here...

[misher]

[Unposter]

Yes, universities in Korea need to be accredited by what I assume is whatever the Board of Accreditation in the Korean language.

Also, they must follow any rules and guidelines set up by the Ministry of Education.

You could probably contact either group but I don't know how. I guess the Internet is your friend.

[bobbybigfoot]

Please bear in mind that the purpose of Education is not "enlightenment" but rather to drive the economy.

Education is just another thing for sale.

Just do as your told and cash your cheque.

[grant_steves]

[blue.sky]

Also bear in mind that Korean uni students are likely to get jobs in the Korean companies. Their and their company's priorities and expectations are different to a westerner's

The kudos here is all about which uni you went to, and all the spade work for graduating university is effectively done in high school. Many western companies know that degrees awarded by Asian universities need to be taken with a grain of salt - just like scientific research performed by Chinese universities.

The professors at my grad school in The UK knew the expectations of the Chinese, Taiwanese, & Korean students on our course. They paid, so they expect to graduate. There was lots of shock and tears when they all failed their first semester. One guy was speechless looking at his '10%' score.

Fighting your morals will just stress you out. Just give them all A+. Everyone will tell you that you did a great job.

[sigmundsmith]

Integrity? Come on, this is Korea. Students here (across the board) don't know how to learn, they know how to remember. But those people who know about learning a second language, it is more about than just remembering.

They also believe that if they show up to class they should automatically pass no matter how badly they perform in class and exams.

I am afraid that it is an uphill battle in-regard to integrity concerned to grading.

[calicoe]

Right, they are also deft at collective cheating with cell phone recordings, images and text messages. Not only do they think everything is about memorization, but cheating is widespread and frequent. That's the one thing you can count on at Korean universities ... that and getting a bad evaluation for trying to actually TEACH them something.

Bottom line: the more integrity you actually exhibit, the less well you will do at a Korean institution.

[ED209]

If you want to protest give the failing students all an A+, that would show everyone (including future employers) what a joke it all is.

[eliross]

I knew a professor who did that. The school didn't bat an eye. Finding an English department with academic standards in Korea is like finding a needle in a hay stack. That's why Korean Degrees are so well respected in the rest of the world. I say go for it, report the school when you're leaving, you're the only person in the system that has the freedom to change it like that (without losing their job). Nothing worse than losing face.

[toonchoon]

[toonchoon]