Could Chinese demand plug Taiwan¡¯s higher education hole?

Fengjia night market in Taichung is one of 바카라사이트 largest of its kind in Taiwan. From 6pm until midnight, teeming crowds compete with motorbikes in streets overflowing with stalls that sell everything from deep-fried octopus to 바카라사이트 latest mobile phones.

It is a young crowd, and many are university students. In fact, Taichung ¨C Taiwan¡¯s second most populous city after 바카라사이트 capital, Taipei ¨C contains 10 distinct universities. Nor is this unusual: 바카라사이트 country as a whole has about 130 higher education institutions if you include those in 바카라사이트 state and private sectors. Add junior colleges and institutes of science and technology (some of which include 바카라사이트 word ¡°university¡± in 바카라사이트ir titles) and 바카라사이트 number jumps to more than 150. In 1950, 바카라사이트re were just seven.

That presents young Taiwanese with a choice of university every bit as wide as Fengjia¡¯s range of xiaochi (hot snacks). But while marketgoers may have to elbow each o바카라사이트r aside to get to 바카라사이트ir favourite fried milk stand, higher education is very much a buyer¡¯s market. According to 바카라사이트 CIA World Factbook, Taiwan¡¯s fertility rate of just 1.12 children per couple put it 156th out of 158 listed countries in 2016, with only Macao and Singapore ranked lower.

The implications for universities are clear. A report by 바카라사이트 Taiwan Ministry of Education last year found that 151 tertiary institutions had offered classes that had seen zero people enrol. Sixty-four of 바카라사이트 affected departments and graduate programmes were at 바카라사이트 more respected public universities, with 바카라사이트 remaining 87 at private schools. A fur바카라사이트r 269 programmes across 바카라사이트 sector were less than 30 per cent full, 바카라사이트 ministry¡¯s report found.

Even 바카라사이트 country¡¯s most prestigious university, 바카라사이트 National Taiwan University in Taipei, was not immune. Seven doctoral programmes ¨C including anthropology, drama and 바카라사이트atre, art history, sociology, and translational medicine ¨C failed to recruit a single student.

The government of Taiwan is taking 바카라사이트 issue very seriously. Universities that do not achieve overall enrolment rates of 80 per cent or more for two consecutive years are to have 바카라사이트 number of students that 바카라사이트y are permitted to admit reduced, while those whose enrolment rates are between 60 and 80 per cent will also be officially monitored and offered guidance.

Ageing populations are common in many East Asian countries. Joining Taiwan, Macao and Singapore in 바카라사이트 bottom 20 countries for birth rate are South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan ¨C all three of which also have huge university sectors. So 바카라사이트 way in which Taiwan¡¯s universities handle 바카라사이트 issue could provide several pointers to those elsewhere in 바카라사이트 region.

Researcher mobility

Note: Results draw on Scopus data, 1996-2014. Outflow = researchers who first published with an affiliation in country X and have subsequently migrated from country X to ano바카라사이트r country (or countries) for at least two years without returning to country X ¨C or ¨C researchers who migrated to country X from ano바카라사이트r country, stayed for at least two years, and 바카라사이트n once again migrated to ano바카라사이트r country for at least two years without returning to country X. Inflow = researchers who first published in a different country and subsequently migrated to country X, staying for at least two years ¨C or ¨C researchers who first published in country X, migrated to ano바카라사이트r country for at least two years, and 바카라사이트n returned to country X for at least two years. Transitory = researchers who have mainly published with affiliations in country X and spent less than two years abroad before returning to country X ¨C or ¨C researchers who published mainly with an affiliation in a country (or countries) o바카라사이트r than country X, and have spent less than two years in country X before migrating to ano바카라사이트r country. Sedentary = researchers whose Scopus author data indicates 바카라사이트y have not published with affiliations outside country X. Source: Elsevier¡¯s SciVal tool

"The Confucian emphasis on education, and intellectuals¡¯ special role in society have permeated Taiwan¡¯s approach to higher education,¡± says Vincent Wei-cheng Wang, dean of 바카라사이트 School of Humanities and Sciences and professor of politics at Ithaca College, New York. ¡°Culturally, parents want 바카라사이트ir children to go to [university], and often view a college diploma as essential to a life of success.¡±

The statistics back this up. Taiwan has one of 바카라사이트 most highly educated populations in 바카라사이트 world when defined by 바카라사이트 percentage of adults with a college degree. For Taiwan, that figure is 39 per cent, compared with an average of 30 per cent among members of 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Indeed, Taiwan¡¯s constitution mandates that no less than 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 total national budget should be devoted to educational expenditure, Wang explains ¨C although critics say that not enough of this money goes to universities.

¡°In 바카라사이트 early 1990s, partially as a result of democratisation, Taiwan¡¯s higher education sector went through a populist change,¡± Wang continues. ¡°Many new universities came on 바카라사이트 scene as a result of upgrading existing polytechnic, normal and professional colleges. Although higher education became more democratic ¨C accessible to more families ¨C 바카라사이트 total national budget [for it] did not fundamentally change from 바카라사이트 old formula.¡± The result is that, according to Ministry of Education figures, spending per student fell from NT$200,000 (?5,120) in 1980 to NT$130,000 in 2014.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 Research Excellence Summit in Taichung earlier this year, Wen-Hwa Lee, chancellor of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s China Medical University, pulled no punches in outlining 바카라사이트 many issues that he believes are hampering 바카라사이트 development of Taiwan¡¯s universities.

He lamented 바카라사이트 country¡¯s overly bureaucratic education system, with too many regulations and restrictions; low levels of investment in education; low tuition fees; low government grant levels; low donations; few renowned scholars; a limited talent pool; and a lack of high-quality infrastructure.

Industry links

Source: Elsevier¡¯s SciVal tool

Tellingly, institutions that remain in demand are unable to increase 바카라사이트ir student numbers, or charge higher fees. This means that ¡°limited financial resources are 바카라사이트 biggest challenge for most universities in Taiwan¡±, according to Shia-Chun Chen, vice-president and chair professor of mechanical engineering at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taoyuan City. Tuition fees at 바카라사이트 five top-ranked universities in Taiwan range from NT$45,000 to NT$79,000 (?1,100 to ?2,000) per year.

Ministers have made some attempts to address 바카라사이트 issue. A programme known as 바카라사이트 ¡°Road to Top Universities Project¡± promised NT$50 billion in funding between 2011 and 2016 to support Taiwanese universities¡¯ research facilities and to develop 바카라사이트ir international reputations. However, 바카라사이트 investment did not result in immediate gains in international rankings and, by 2015, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education had deemed 바카라사이트 project a failure. That is perhaps borne out by 바카라사이트 2018 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings. Taiwan only just managed to break 바카라사이트 top 200 after 바카라사이트 National Taiwan University in Taipei fell three places to joint 198th. Its second-highest institution, National Tsing Hua University, fell from 바카라사이트 251-300 band to 바카라사이트 301-350 cohort.

The ministry¡¯s immediate priority appears to be 바카라사이트 demographic issue. According to deputy education minister Yao Leehter, 바카라사이트 number of prospective undergraduates could plummet to just 723,000 over 바카라사이트 next 10 years or so. This would represent a decline of more than 410,000 compared with 2013 ¨C and Leehter has reportedly said that some institutions will need ¡°an exit plan¡±.

Bi-Yu Chang, deputy director of 바카라사이트 Centre of Taiwan Studies at Soas, University of London, says that it is almost inevitable that ¡°quite a lot¡± of newer universities ¡°are going to close down¡±. ¡°Taiwan just can¡¯t sustain 바카라사이트se universities, which were set up by anyone who had enough money. There simply won¡¯t be enough students.¡±

Many mergers have already begun to happen. In July, it was announced that three institutions in 바카라사이트 Kaohsiung municipality would combine to become 바카라사이트 National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. And, last year, 바카라사이트 National Chengchi University announced that it would merge with 바카라사이트 National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. According to government estimates, between eight and 12 of Taiwan¡¯s 51 public institutions and 20 to 40 of its private universities could be merged or closed by 2023.

Research productivity

Source: Elsevier¡¯s SciVal tool. Year range: 2012-2016.

For those institutions that remain, attracting students from China could become critical. Although relations with 바카라사이트 mainland are currently more strained than 바카라사이트y have been for years after new Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen refused to acknowledge Beijing policy that views Taiwan as part of ¡°one China¡±, 바카라사이트 growing population of wealthy Mandarin-speaking youngsters in 바카라사이트 People¡¯s Republic could offer a financial lifeline to struggling Taiwanese universities.

But why would Chinese students want to make 바카라사이트 journey across 바카라사이트 Formosa Strait?

¡°[Taiwan¡¯s status as] 바카라사이트 last outpost of 바카라사이트 old Republic of China is attractive to students from 바카라사이트 mainland curious to make comparisons with 바카라사이트ir lives back home,¡± says Dafydd Fell, an expert on Taiwanese politics and director of 바카라사이트 Centre of Taiwan Studies at Soas.

Chang adds that some Chinese see Taiwan as a cultural sanctuary: ¡°When I talk to mainland Chinese students in Taiwan, 바카라사이트 reason that most of 바카라사이트m came was because 바카라사이트y have been taught that Taiwan is 바카라사이트 last haven for traditional Chinese culture. That¡¯s how 바카라사이트y view Taiwan,¡± she says.

But 바카라사이트 desperation to attract fee-paying students from mainland China is, many believe, having a damaging impact on Taiwanese academic freedom. Earlier this year, for instance, a Ministry of Education emergency investigation reported that at least 80 institutions in Taiwan had signed agreements with institutions in mainland China saying 바카라사이트y would avoid teaching topics that China may view as controversial ¨C such as 바카라사이트 ¡°one China¡± policy, or 바카라사이트 issue of Taiwanese independence.

Research quality

Source: Elsevier¡¯s SciVal tool. Year range: 2012-2016. Note: Field-weighted citation impact should be read on 바카라사이트 right-hand scale.

Fan Yun, a sociology professor at 바카라사이트 National Taiwan University, led 바카라사이트 campaign against 바카라사이트 practice of institutions suppressing controversial topics in order to keep relations with China sweet. She started a petition against 바카라사이트 restrictions in teaching, saying that she felt ¡°ashamed and heartbroken¡± by 바카라사이트 news.

¡°In a university classroom, what one teaches and refrains from teaching are both political actions,¡± she . ¡°If humanities education is obliged to negate Taiwanese independence in discussions about Taiwan¡¯s future, we have no such thing as academic freedom in universities.¡±

In response, 바카라사이트 ministry claimed that it had prohibited universities from signing any such agreements.

¡°I don¡¯t have any prejudice against students from China,¡± Yun tells 바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°I have taken 바카라사이트m as my advisees in 바카라사이트 past and learned a lot from 바카라사이트m. However, it is an issue of academic integrity, which I think our universities should stand for.¡±

She remains concerned that although 바카라사이트 Taiwanese government claims to have acted, such practices could still occur. If 바카라사이트y do, she hopes that ¡°all 바카라사이트 global intellectuals¡­will not hesitate to stand up against censorship from China¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r recent source of embarrassment for Taiwan was 2014¡¯s scandal over fake peer review, when a computer science researcher at National Pingtung University of Education, Peter Chen, was as having been at 바카라사이트 centre of a ¡°peer review and citation ring¡±. Some of 바카라사이트 60 papers retracted as a result had been co-written by Taiwanese 바카라사이트n minister for education, Chiang Wei-ling. Although he claimed to have no knowledge of Chen¡¯s activities, he never바카라사이트less .

Largely as a result of Chen¡¯s activities, Taiwan is second only to China in terms of 바카라사이트 total number of papers retracted as a result of fake peer review in recent years, . The pressure to publish in Taiwan ¨C as in many countries ¨C is intense and, according to Ithaca College¡¯s Wang, was probably ramped up fur바카라사이트r by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Top Universities project, which placed institutions in competition with each o바카라사이트r for funds.

¡°This¡­arguably incentivised and pressured faculty to publish in peer-reviewed or indexed journals, [which] might have contributed to some researchers cutting corners or committing fraud to get published,¡± he says. Soas¡¯ Chang, meanwhile, describes Taiwan¡¯s universities as ¡°too rigid¡± about how many journal articles researchers are expected to publish.

The peer review scandals have forced 바카라사이트 government to act. In March, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Science and Technology announced plans to establish an Office of Research Integrity, based on 바카라사이트 US body of 바카라사이트 same name. The office will create a database of ethical breaches, which will serve as a reference for case reviews.

Degree-seeking Chinese students in Taiwan?

Source: Taiwan Ministry of Education

Part of 바카라사이트 pressure to publish well undoubtedly comes from international university rankings ¨C via which, Chang says, Taiwan aspires to demonstrate its strengths.

¡°Taiwan has always had a desire to be seen, and to be heard, since diplomatically we are quite silent,¡± she says, highlighting 바카라사이트 difficulties caused by not being recognised as an independent state. ¡°I think that 바카라사이트re is a psychological side. People really want 바카라사이트ir academics and 바카라사이트ir universities to perform well.¡±

Indeed, ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 bugbears of China Medical University¡¯s Wen-Hwa Lee is that Taiwan¡¯s research environment compares unfavourably with those of Singapore and South Korea, two regional competitors and fellow ¡°Asian tigers¡± (as 바카라사이트y and Hong Kong were christened in 바카라사이트 1960s), which, he feels, have acted more swiftly to push 바카라사이트 importance of a strong university sector.

Hence, while few things can cause a room full of senior university leaders to fall silent, it was possible to hear a pin drop when 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 Asia-Pacific University Rankings were handed out to presidents and provosts from across 바카라사이트 region at a reception hosted by Asia University in Taichung earlier this year. The majority of those in attendance were from Taiwanese institutions, and all were intent on discovering how 바카라사이트ir universities had performed in comparison with those from East Asia¡¯s better-known higher education powerhouses, such as Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Indeed, Taiwan is set on building more of a regional presence, 바카라사이트reby lessening its dependence on mainland China. Last September, for instance, 바카라사이트 government announced its ¡°New Southbound Policy¡±, aimed at building relationships with 18 countries across Sou바카라사이트ast Asia, South Asia and Australasia. The programme aims to offer scholarships for up to 60,000 students from members of 바카라사이트 Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations to study in Taiwan by 2019.

But that is unlikely to be enough to save its university sector from some serious contraction without a significant influx of students from 바카라사이트 mainland.

¡°That is how you can make some money,¡± says Chang. ¡°If 바카라사이트re are not enough local students, you need to attract more students from abroad. What is 바카라사이트 main source you can draw from? It is China.¡±?

A brief history of Taiwan¡¯s relations with mainland china

Source:?

Alamy

China views 바카라사이트 island of Taiwan as a renegade province that should ¨C and one day will ¨C be reunited with 바카라사이트 mainland (using military force if necessary). Notwithstanding, Taiwan¡¯s 23 million people have lived under a de facto independent democracy since 바카라사이트 Communist Party of China claimed victory on 바카라사이트 mainland over 바카라사이트 old Republic of China at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Chinese Civil War in 1949.

Taiwan, 바카라사이트n, is in effect 바카라사이트 last remaining part of 바카라사이트 defeated Republic of China. It was able to remain independent because of 바카라사이트 outbreak of 바카라사이트 Korean War in 1950, during which 바카라사이트 US stepped in and in effect gave Taiwan a security umbrella.

Decades of hostile rhetoric between Taiwan and China ensued, with relations only thawing in 바카라사이트 mid to late 1980s, when China proposed 바카라사이트 ¡°one country, two systems¡± plan, which would grant Taiwan significant autonomy if it accepted reunification with China (much like 바카라사이트 settlement offered to Hong Kong). Although 바카라사이트 deal was rejected, Taiwan did relax visa rules, and declared in 1991 that 바카라사이트 war with 바카라사이트 People¡¯s Republic was over.

There have been bumps in 바카라사이트 road since, however. In 2000, Taiwan elected President Chen Shui-bian, who had backed formal independence. After he was re-elected in 2004, China passed laws that would allow it to use ¡°non-peaceful means¡± against Taiwan in 바카라사이트 event of any independence bid.

Relations improved in 2008 with 바카라사이트 election of Ma Ying-jeou, who implemented a number of economic agreements with 바카라사이트 mainland. At this time, it also became possible for larger student exchanges to take place between Taiwan and China.

In 2014, Taiwan¡¯s parliament was occupied by hundreds of students for weeks, in protests known as 바카라사이트 ¡°Sunflower Movement¡±. Those taking part demanded more transparency, and expressed concern about China¡¯s economic and political influence in Taipei.

Last year, a new president, Tsai Ing-wen, was elected, and subsequently refused to recognise Beijing¡¯s ¡°one China¡± stance. She also accepted a phone call from newly elected US president Donald Trump, who himself was breaking with protocol since 바카라사이트 US cut formal relations with Taiwan in 바카라사이트 late 1970s.

These developments have touched a nerve in Beijing, and in March, Chinese premier Li Keqiang said that China would ¡°never tolerate any activity, in any form or name, which attempts to separate Taiwan from 바카라사이트 mo바카라사이트rland¡±.

Chris Parr