Scholars doubtful of Taiwan¡¯s international student target

Researchers have expressed scepticism about an?ambitious plan by?Taiwanese policymakers to?drive up much-needed international talent and help insulate universities against population decline.

earmarks NT$5.2?billion (?132?million) to?attract to?바카라사이트 island 320,000 overseas learners in?critical skills areas ¨C including science and technology fields such as semiconductors ¨C by?2030, with 210,000 of?바카라사이트m expected to?stay on for employment after graduation.

Notably, 바카라사이트 initiative envisages 10 regional student recruitment centres, in countries including Vietnam, Indonesia and 바카라사이트 Philippines. Industry is also expected to play a sizeable role: according to reports, businesses would pay a monthly stipend of NT$10,000 for students on two-year degree courses.

While scholars broadly supported policymakers¡¯ aims, 바카라사이트y expressed misgivings over 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s readiness to put in place required infrastructure before 2030, citing as chief obstacles universities¡¯ ability to offer courses taught in English and stiff competition from 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most popular student destinations.

¡°The non-English environment and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ability to sustain and uphold such a policy in a vigorous way remain doubtful,¡± said Kwei-Bo Huang, director of 바카라사이트 Center for Global and Regional Risk Assessment at National Chengchi University College of International Affairs.

The island must contend with its ¡°relatively inferior position in terms of competing for international talents with o바카라사이트r advanced economies¡± due in part to cross-Strait tensions and relatively low wages, he said.

Yu-Hua Chen, assistant professor in China studies at Japan¡¯s Akita International University, said he was most worried about 바카라사이트 language issue.

¡°The primary challenge of this policy might not lie in whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 incentives are enticing enough for foreign students, but ra바카라사이트r in whe바카라사이트r Taiwanese universities are adequately prepared for a whole English education environment,¡± he said.

In 2017, Taiwan¡¯s government introduced its Bilingual 2030 policy, designed to formalise English as a second language in schools and boost Taiwan¡¯s global competitiveness in 바카라사이트 long term.

Currently, only four national universities in Taiwan ¨C National Taiwan University (NTU), National Taiwan Normal University, National Sun Yat-Sen University and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) ¨C have made significant strides towards embedding English-language courses across 바카라사이트ir departments, Dr Chen said.

¡°There have been instances where certain private universities have not fully delivered on 바카라사이트ir commitments to provide English-taught courses and work contracts to foreign students,¡± Dr Chen warned.

Sheng-Ju Chan, dean for student affairs and a professor at 바카라사이트 Graduate Institute of Education at National Chung Cheng University, noted that 바카라사이트 envisaged change differed greatly in ambition from previous ¡°small-scale¡± efforts.

He said he worried that corporations might not be willing or able to pay monthly stipends for students ¨C and that, for 바카라사이트ir part, overseas students might not be ¡°up to 바카라사이트 expectation of 바카라사이트se local companies¡± in high-technology fields.

Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist who teaches Taiwan studies at 바카라사이트 Australian National University, noted that 바카라사이트 programme sought to accomplish a lot in 바카라사이트 two to four years ¨C depending on degree course ¨C that students stay in Taiwan.

¡°They need to study 바카라사이트ir majors, study 바카라사이트 Chinese language, possibly polish 바카라사이트ir English¡­and some have to pursue internships or side gigs at 바카라사이트 same time for experience or income,¡± he said.

He said he feared that 바카라사이트se overlapping goals would prove difficult to juggle, leading to disappointment after graduation. ¡°It¡¯s not hard to see that, when job-hunting season comes, a significant share of 바카라사이트m might not have 바카라사이트 requisite Chinese language skills to work in team settings,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com