Korea is often cited as a country with a high rate of university enrollment and is known worldwide for its strong emphasis on education. Therefore, many Korean students naturally consider pursuing higher education after graduating from high school.
Due to a social atmosphere that favors job applicants with university degrees or indirectly emphasizes university enrollment, this phenomenon is more pronounced today than in the past.
Consequently, various media outlets and institutions discuss the reasons for attending university and the importance of university education.
However, this article aims to analyze the fundamental aspects such as the reasons for the existence of universities and the purposes of university education.
Depending on one’s perspective, the reasons for the existence of universities can be explained in various ways. According to some definitions, universities are institutions for in-depth scholarly exploration or for enhancing specific skills.
However, the fundamental reason for the existence of universities can be traced back to the earliest universities.
The first university in the world was the University of Bologna, founded by Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor. This university was established to provide students with opportunities to study law and education.
Students approached law based on philosophy, learning about the fundamental causes and consequences of specific laws. Similarly, many subsequent universities in Europe focused on providing students with a platform for academic pursuits.
Thus, the reason for the existence of universities can be described as providing students with opportunities and environments to learn theoretical and practical knowledge in specific fields.
Due to the fundamental nature and reasons for the existence of universities, many universities established in the past prioritized education in philosophy, often referred to as the foundation of scholarship.
Consequently, many students, regardless of their majors, studied philosophy. Through this, universities helped students strengthen critical perspectives and analytical skills to understand the fundamental aspects of issues or events.
For example, Adam Smith, who established the concept of capitalist markets, was both an economist and a philosopher.
Similarly, John Stuart Mill, who advocated for liberalism, which has a significant influence today, was known as both a political economist and a philosopher.
Thus, universities originally prioritized education in philosophy and provided students with an environment to explore the fundamentals of issues.
The reasons for the existence of universities are closely related to the purpose of university education.
As mentioned above, universities are institutions that provide students with specialized knowledge in specific fields. Therefore, the purpose of university education can be seen as equipping students with the capacity to contribute to society based on this knowledge.
Through university education, students can enhance their vision to propose solutions to prevalent problems or societal systems that need improvement.
Furthermore, efforts and dedication to improving society based on university education play a significant role in establishing a more just and humane society.
Ultimately, through university education, students can deepen their knowledge in their fields of interest while cultivating the ability and knowledge to create a better society after graduation.
So far, we have discussed the reasons for the existence of universities and the purposes of university education.
However, many of these points described in the article have disappeared or been distorted within modern society. One significant reason why Korean students pursue university education is for employment opportunities.
Students often choose majors that are advantageous in the job market rather than based on their interests. Additionally, Korea ranks universities hierarchically, referring to certain universities as prestigious institutions.
Society tends to highly value graduates from these prestigious universities and offers them various opportunities.
Therefore, students strive to enter prestigious universities regardless of their majors, seeking various strategies to succeed in the entrance examinations.
The ranking of universities and the significance of universities in the job market have distorted students’ perspectives on the reasons for the existence and purposes of universities.
While the role of universities may evolve with changes in societal environments, it is not desirable for external factors to distort the fundamental reasons and purposes of universities.
Therefore, individuals and society should recognize the fundamental meanings and purposes of universities and acknowledge their positive impacts.