Lifelong learning expert heralds Korean education in developing world


A leading education expert says the Korean way of learning is becoming an inspiration to developing countries.

Central and South American regions, in particular, are showing great interest in the lifelong learning programs in Korea, according to Choi Un-shil, the president of National Institute for Lifelong Education.

“Lifelong learning is a growing industry. With the world developing so quickly, people want and need to continue their learning throughout their lives,” she said.

“And I believe that Korea holds great potential to take a leading role in lifelong learning.”

Choi was invited by the Organization of Ibero-American States, an intergovernmental body for the Portuguese and Spanish speaking nations, and recently visited Latin American countries, including Panama, El Salvador and Honduras.

During her 10-day stay, she met their education leaders and signed an agreement to work with them in exchanging experiences.

Choi noted that she had promised, in particular, to share Korea’s adult literacy teaching programs with the countries.

“The adult literacy rate is still the biggest concern in Latin America, and the countries are eager to learn from Korea how we quickly came out from illiteracy,” Choi said.

She pointed out that only 22 percent of people in Korea were able to read and write before 1945, but now the country boasts a literacy rate of 99 percent, the highest of any country at a similar level of development.

Although the language barrier and cultural discrepancy exists, Choi said she believes the NILE will be able to export some of its programs, such as on-line learning courses and teaching materials, to the developing nations.

Choi said that the countries are also interested in adopting Korea’s Academic Credit Bank System.

The ACBS, which was introduced in 1997, is a unique educational system that is designed to recognize the diverse learning experiences of individuals acquired outside school.

It allows people to obtain a higher education degree equivalent to a university or college through different channels, such as completing courses accredited by the ACBS, passing an exam for self-education and acquiring certificates, Choi said.

“The main purpose of the ACBS is to help more people engage in learning. And I think this system could be a useful tool for those countries with low school participation rates.”

Choi said that she believes Korea’s education program will be a driving force in continuing the Korean Wave, or hallyu.

“Hallyu 1.0 was Korean dramas and movies, and hallyu 2.0 was K-pop groups. I think hallyu 3.0 will be Korean education,” she said.

Choi, 56, has devoted the past three decades to laying the foundation for lifelong learning in Korea.

Having earned her doctoral degree in adult education from Ewha Womans University, Choi started in education as a lecturer at Ajou University, where she founded and directed the Education Research Institute.

She also instituted lifelong learning at the Korean Educational Development Institute, the research arm for the Education Ministry, before taking the helm of the National Institute for Lifelong Education in 2010.

The NILE was established in 2008 as a national level organization for lifelong education by integrating separate lifelong education agencies.

Despite its short history, the national agency has been carrying out a wide range of projects, such as researching and developing education programs, training lifelong education staff and supporting regional institutes, according to the president.

But Choi admits that many people in Korea still miss out on learning, arguing that more education programs should be offered, particularly for those aged between 40 and 50.

Korea is fast becoming an aged society ― where more than 14 percent of the population is 65 or older ― and people now need to consider a second job after retirement, she said.

The NILE currently operates five national education centers for lifelong learning, but it is planning to add eight more across the country by 2013 to provide more learning opportunities for older students.

But she added that in order to attract more adults to lifelong learning, people first need to change their perception of learning.

“The end of school does not mean the end of learning, now learning truly continues through life,” she added.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)