The Ministry of Education on Feb. 24 said evaluations of the International Education Quality Assurance System (IEQAS) last year showed that 158 general and vocational colleges and graduate schools with international students and 103 institutions with language programs for foreign learners received IEQAS accreditation. Shown are foreign students at last year's graduation ceremony of Hanyang University in Seoul. (Hanyang's official Facebook page)

By Kim Seon Ah

The Ministry of Education on Feb. 24 said 158 general and vocational colleges and graduate schools with international students and 103 institutions with language programs for foreign learners received accreditation for the International Education Quality Assurance System (IEQAS).

The number of accredited degree-giving colleges rose by 24 from 2023's 134 and those with language courses for foreign students grew by 13 from 90.

IEQAS accreditation means relaxed screening standards for such schools when issuing visas for international students. Students can also get preferential treatment for attending overseas fairs for study in Korea and extra points when applying to schools under the Global Korea Scholarship.

In addition, 27 universities with stellar globalization capacity were designated "outstanding accredited schools" including Kyungpook National, Korea, Sookmyung Women's and Hanyang.

The ministry designated schools failing to meet certain requirements such as the illegal residence rate as needing "visa screening enhancement." These institutions must conduct more meticulous screening of language skills and financial capacity when selecting foreign students.

The lowest-ranked schools for visa screening were ordered to undergo "meticulous visa screening," namely 11 institutions that give degrees and 13 that offer language education.

More information on the schools accredited last year is available on the official websites of Study in Korea (www.studyinkorea.go.kr) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (www.nrf.re.kr).

sofiakim218@korea.kr