Earning a degree from Kyungpook National University will become possible in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnamese students will be able to complete the same curriculum as Kyungpook National University without coming to Korea and receive a Kyungpook National University degree upon graduation.
The Ministry of Education said on the 4th that "Kyungpook National University and Vietnam's FPT University will sign a memorandum of understanding to operate a 'franchise,'" adding, "It is the first time a national university has partnered with an overseas university to establish a local institution under the home university's name and confer degrees."
Kyungpook National University and FPT University will establish "KNU Vietnam" in Hanoi, Vietnam. They plan to run the Kyungpook National University curriculum starting in the second half of this year.
Until now, national universities' overseas expansion had been limited to personnel exchanges and joint curricula with foreign universities. This is the first direct transplantation overseas of a "Korean-style higher education model" that combines curriculum, academic administration, and degree conferral.
To that end, the Ministry of Education has been streamlining related regulations. It revamped the pre-approval–centered operating system and allowed universities to run a Korea university overseas through inter-university agreements. It also let universities decide the curriculum design and class operations autonomously.
The Ministry of Education plans to use this expansion as a springboard to accelerate the overseas spread of the Korean-style higher education model. It will continue to refine laws and systems for universities that are willing to expand abroad or establish branch campuses. It also plans to strengthen on-site school management systems to ensure the reliability and competitiveness of Korean degrees.
Minister Choi Kyo-jin said, "Vietnam will be able to train outstanding talent domestically, and Korea will secure a foundation for the international expansion of higher education," adding, "We will continue to strengthen the foundation so that capable universities can expand overseas."