Kookmin University Introduces Non-Major Admission System, Expanding Student Opportunities

Traditionally, university education has been viewed as a linear path where students stick to the major they chose upon admission until graduation. However, starting next year, several universities will challenge this norm by implementing a 'Non-Major System' that allows students to freely choose their majors throughout their studies. Among these institutions, Kookmin University (국민대) will select the highest number of students under this system in the Seoul metropolitan area, admitting 1,140 out of 2,966 new students as non-major (major autonomy) candidates.

In a recent interview, Kookmin University President Jeong Seung-ryeol (정승렬), who took office in September last year, emphasized the need to break down the barriers between academic fields, curricula, and extracurricular activities. A graduate of Sogang University with a master's and doctorate in Management Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin and the University of South Carolina, he joined Kookmin University as a professor in the Department of Information Management in 1997.

The Non-Major System at Kookmin University is divided into two types. The first type allows students to choose freely from all departments and majors without regard to academic discipline, while the second type restricts choices to specific colleges. For the upcoming year, 828 students will enter under the first type, and 312 under the second type. Students will experience various majors before deciding on one by the end of their first year’s second semester. President Jeong stated, "To cultivate interdisciplinary talents that society demands in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), it is essential to create an educational ecosystem without academic and physical boundaries. It is too early to expect high school seniors to choose a career path that they will follow for life. They need time to explore two or three career options to find what suits them best."

By accepting students without major restrictions, it is anticipated that hundreds of students may apply for specific courses simultaneously. To facilitate efficient course selection and major changes, the university is developing a customized integrated information system called 'Smart Mentor' (가칭). This service will analyze individual student data to provide a systematic roadmap, indicating which courses to take for each major and what will benefit their career paths post-graduation.

President Jeong remarked, "This opens up infinite possibilities for students, and for departments, it means they must attract each student as a 'customer' to survive in an increasingly competitive environment. This will naturally encourage inter-departmental collaboration and restructuring. We also plan to expand options like summer sessions to ensure students can graduate within four years, even if they frequently change majors."

To broaden major selection opportunities for incoming freshmen and current students, Kookmin University is introducing an educational system called 'Omega School' (오메가 스쿨). Students who have already declared a major can enroll in Omega School and complete one of three tracks (requiring at least 27 credits) to gain the opportunity to change their major. The tracks include entrepreneurship, global internships, and experiential projects. President Jeong emphasized, "Simply sitting at a desk and passively receiving information will not prepare students for the talents demanded in the new era. Our educational philosophy is to help students develop innovative ideas and creative thinking while enhancing their problem-solving skills."

Since last year, Kookmin University has been operating the SEA:ME program in collaboration with Volkswagen Group Korea to train talents leading the digital transformation of the automotive industry. The university has consistently invested in this field, having established the first automotive engineering department in South Korea in 1992. Through the SEA:ME program, ten students are sent annually to the Wolfsburg campus in Germany for a year to gain practical skills in areas such as autonomous driving systems. Additionally, a global campus has been established in Irvine, California, where students from the third and fourth years in four fields (software development, data science, design, and future automotive) have begun attending since the last semester. They work on projects with mentors from leading companies like Google and Amazon, learning IT skills and enhancing their problem-solving abilities.

President Jeong stated, "The DNA of Kookmin University's educational philosophy is 'entrepreneurial spirit.' It embodies the patriotic spirit of our founder, Hae-gong Shin Ik-hee (해공 신익희), and the pioneering spirit of Seong-gok Kim Seong-gon (성곡 김성곤), the founder of Ssangyong Group, who later took over the school. While achieving results during my term is important, laying a sustainable foundation for the next 10 to 15 years is even more crucial. I view the remaining three years of my term as a golden time to ensure Kookmin University rises to the ranks of leading universities."