The purpose of this study is to analyze the operation status of key competency-based curriculum in Korean vocational universities and examine implications through case study.
As for the research method, the theoretical considerations and previous studies on key competency were analyzed, and two vocational universities’ operation cases were analyzed by adapting a concept analysis framework for the key competency-based curriculum.
As a result of the study, vocational universities are designing and operating key competency-based curriculum linked to mid- to long-term university vision while participating in vocational university innovation support projects in the form of general financial support. The key competency-based curriculum is organized and operated in a way that additionally matches key competency elements to the NCS-based curriculum that has been operated through the existing SCK project. It also has a problem of redundancy with the element of basic(core) vocational ability emphasized in vocational universities.
The curriculum of vocational universities is vulnerable to the evaluation of the government's financial support projects and is introduced and operated in confusion without prior deep reflection and discourse. Therefore, along with the change in the government's financial support method, it is necessary to conduct an in-depth review and discussion on the direction of the higher vocational curriculum within vocational universities.