If one has the urge to learn something, there should be an institution that can satisfy that desire. This is why the Korean University (KU) Institute for Continuous Education, also called KU Lyceum, came to be. Located in front of the first gate of KU subway station, the KU Lyceum provides higher education through various ways at the Lyceum College, Expert School, Noble Academy, and After School for anyone with the desire to learn. The four main goals of the KU Lyceum are to support the education and growth of the general public, to bring forth regional development and cooperation, to expand in size so to allow for all those who wish to be educated, and to establish an actual Continuous Education plan as an educational pioneer.

The name Lyceum most commonly refers to a secondary education institution, while the term originates from the Latin rendering of the gymnasium in Athens, which Aristotle used for his peripatetic school. Just as the name suggests, for the past 21 years, the KU Lyceum has met continuous development. In 1955, it was founded as a Social Education Center (SEC) under the Korea University Educational Research Center (KUERC). Upon its construction, a great amount of attention and praise returned to KU for fulfilling the objectives of a true higher education institution. Thanks to all the interest and popularity, the SEC became independent and changed its name to the Social Education Institution. For 14 years the SEC successfully performed as a leader of education for the general public. Then, in 2011, the Lyceum took its current name and title as an institute for continuing education.

 

▲ The KU Lyceum provides a life-long education to those in need. Photographed by Lee So Young.

Ever since its establishment in 1995, the KU Lyceum has fulfilled its initial mission, changed the scope of education, and shaped the future of education in Korea in various ways. It has opened up various courses for all individuals who want to study for a college degree, regardless of age and background. These courses are offered mostly through the Lyceum College and Expert School and are designed to be available for as many people as possible. More specifically, the Expert School provides highest courses, license preparatory courses, staff coaching/training courses, and education administrator courses. The career and path consulter course under the education administrator course aims to train individuals about the incessantly changing Korea Education Policies and to better prepare teachers and parents alike for planning students’ or children’s future paths and careers. 

For those who want to achieve a college degree or learn something new after graduation, the KU Lyceum is one of the easiest and most effective methods. “The course helped me to learn practical ways to find a new career and start a different life after being unemployed,” said one student of Highest Rank Best Instructor Course that was open from November 2015 to January 2016. “It was also a pleasurable experience to meet new people from all backgrounds with similar interests,” added the student. Likewise, the KU Lyceum can be more than a way to earn credits and degrees. It can, especially for seniors, help in opening the other pages of their lives through courses which provide practical and substantive knowledge. 

The KU Lyceum, however, has been showing several demerits concerning its way of getting degrees. Questions regarding its educational process have been raised numerously, even from the past. The ease at which a student receives a degree from the KU Lyceum has been met with sharp criticism and doubts of whether the Lyceum provides the high quality education it guarantees. Currently, the system only requires learners to complete two-thirds of the curriculum in order to achieve the degree or certificate of approval from the President of KU. Fortunately, the certificate differentiates itself from an authentic bachelor’s degree by a clear statement that it is from the Institute of the KU Lyceum. Another demerit is its lack of awareness. Most of the news or information in the media are ones provided by the Lyceum to publicize itself and not enough public interest has been built for the Lyceum to continue on with its goals. 

▲ Seniors taking KU-Joongrang life education class. Provided by KU Lyceum.

In the wake of these concerns, the KU Lyceum has to address both issues with different approaches. To appreciate the quality of its education curriculums and the merits to getting a degree, it must design the curriculum to have more professionalism and provide more practical and organized courses, consequently making the degrees worthy of pride and of generalized recognition as an approval for quality education. Furthermore, it should try to publicize itself more and participate in further seminars and open courses to build its reputation. To earn gradual interest, the KU Lyceum should encourage course reviews from those who completed the curriculum and notify others about what the Lyceum has to offer.

“The KU Lyceum offers much more course variety to students. For example, we are one of the first few institutions to offer a Business School degree course,” answered Professor Lee Cheon Hee (Physical Education), the President of the KU Lyceum to the question of how the KU Lyceum differentiates itself from other secondary education institutions such as Ewha Womens University or Soongsil Univeristy. Moreover, Lee led the discussion to the current issues that should be fixed concerning the KU Lyceum, saying that the institution needs an improvement in its facility and space, as well as to build an infrastructure corresponding to the current needs of the students. “The KU Lyceum will continue to grow.” Lee added, “Adding on to providing a professional degree education, we will keep on maintaining balance with local society by providing various free courses for Sungbuk-Gu residents. Moreover, we hope to become an institution contributing to the national education.”