University presidents across South Korea are primarily focused on securing financial support and attracting international students, highlighting concerns over the survival of their institutions. As the demand for significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure grows, interest in fundamental aspects of higher education, such as student welfare and support for minority groups, has significantly declined.
On August 20, the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) released findings from its "2026 KCUE University President Survey (II): Higher Education in the AX Era." The survey, conducted from June 2 to July 10, included responses from 144 out of 192 member universities, yielding a response rate of 75.0%.
The survey revealed that the top priority for university presidents is overwhelmingly financial support programs (79.9%, or 115 universities), followed by attracting and educating international students (60.4%, or 87 universities). Other concerns include recruiting new students (45.8%) and curriculum and academic restructuring (43.1%).
Notably, interest in securing development funds increased by 5.6 percentage points from the previous year, ranking eighth, underscoring the urgency for universities to diversify their funding sources.
This urgency is compounded by the upcoming challenges of the AI transition. Over 93.7% of university presidents believe that increased investment is necessary to establish an AI environment, with a strong emphasis on building AI infrastructure and developing AI-based curricula and content.
However, no university reported being able to fully fund these initiatives independently. About 89.4% of responding universities (127 institutions) indicated that substantial government support is essential, while 55.5% (80 universities) acknowledged the need for investment but have yet to formulate specific plans due to funding shortages.
In response, university presidents identified expanding government contributions to the Special Account for Higher and Lifelong Education as their top priority for effective funding solutions. They also called for restructuring local education finance grants and establishing a stable legal funding structure. Additionally, they expressed a commitment to cultivating "convergent talent" that integrates AI into various fields of study.
Conversely, areas of direct support and protection for university members received the least attention from presidents. Interest in hiring and staffing (11.8%) and student welfare services, such as dormitories and meal plans (10.4%), was low. Support for student mental health (8.3%) and improvements to laboratory equipment (7.6%) also fell below 10%. The lowest priority, ranked 16th, was support for minority students, including those with disabilities and multicultural backgrounds, with only two universities (1.4%) indicating it as a concern.
There is also a noticeable imbalance in the academic ecosystem. While there is a strong push for training advanced AI talent, 36.8% of universities (53 institutions) reported difficulties in maintaining basic and pure academic programs due to declining student demand, reflecting the harsh realities faced by universities prioritizing survival.
Lee Gi-jeong, president of the KCUE, stated, "While universities broadly recognize the necessity of transitioning to an AI environment, the reality is that they cannot pursue this solely with their own resources. Higher education funding is a strategic investment for national competitiveness, and it is essential to expand stable and structural funding, such as increasing government contributions to the Special Account for Higher and Lifelong Education, while also fostering collaboration among universities to jointly develop and share AI-based platforms that are challenging to establish independently."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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