The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology decided Monday to strengthen performance standards for its Brain Korea 21(BK21) program, initiated to boost academic research.

Recently, the nation’s public broadcaster KBS reported that universities with BK21 research funds were abusing international conferences overseas to accentuate their performance.

The ministry announced the second phase of the plan to improve the management of BK21 project performances.

According to the strengthened rules, to be qualified as an international conference, a renowned foreign academic society should host the event with scholars from four or more countries attending. In addition, at least 50 percent of the presenters must be foreigners and they should present 50 academic papers or more at the conference.

The new rules will go into effect starting September.