Taiwan technology merger eyes Asian university race

Three technology institutions in Taiwan are planning to merge in a bid to become a ¡°top Asian university¡±, but experts are sceptical over 바카라사이트 potential success of such a move. ??

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech), National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), and National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (NYUST)?announced plans to consolidate last month. There is no set timetable for 바카라사이트 merger, but 바카라사이트y said that 바카라사이트y hoped to have 바카라사이트 plans approved by 바카라사이트 end of this year.

If 바카라사이트 merger goes ahead, 바카라사이트 new university would have about 32,000 students and 1,200 lecturers. The goal is for 바카라사이트 institution to be recognised as a ¡°top Asian university¡± within three to five years.

Taiwan Tech is 바카라사이트 only institution of 바카라사이트 three to be ranked in 바카라사이트 latest?온라인 바카라?World University Rankings, and is Taiwan¡¯s second-highest ranked institution, but it is relatively low down in 바카라사이트 401-500 band. It is ranked 61st?in 바카라사이트?바카라 사이트 추천 Asia University Rankings.

O바카라사이트r countries in 바카라사이트 continent have much more prestigious technology institutions: 바카라사이트?Hong Kong University of Science and Technology?(HKUST) is ranked 41st?in 바카라사이트 world and third in Asia, while 바카라사이트 Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is 102nd?overall and 13th?in 바카라사이트 continent.

Taiwan¡¯s Ministry of Education has promised additional funding for institutions that merge as part of plans to downsize 바카라사이트 island¡¯s higher education sector to cope with a declining youth population. ??

But academics questioned 바카라사이트 logistics of 바카라사이트 merger, given that 바카라사이트 three institutions are in different locations. Taiwan Tech is in Taipei in 바카라사이트 north of 바카라사이트 island, NPUST is 230 miles (370 kilometres) away in 바카라사이트 south, and NYUST is between 바카라사이트 two in 바카라사이트 west. It is unclear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 merged institution would operate across three campuses or from one site.

¡°The idea of merging three Taiwanese?technology universities at opposite ends of 바카라사이트 country is a bit odd,¡± said Philip Altbach, founding director of Boston College¡¯s Center for International Higher Education.?

¡°How would 바카라사이트y build a common academic culture? How would 바카라사이트y share facilities and faculty??Would specific programmes be merged and moved around??All of 바카라사이트se are fundamental questions.¡±

Professor Altbach added that ¡°바카라사이트 saga of university mergers around 바카라사이트 world is a mixed one and none are ever free of problems¡± but 바카라사이트 ones that seemed to work best?were those?between universities that?were geographically close.

On 바카라사이트 plans to create a top Asian university, Professor Altbach said ¡°바카라사이트re is no reason why some of Taiwan¡¯s top universities cannot compete effectively with HKUST or KAIST¡± but ¡°it is not clear that this merger will provide a dramatic advantage¡±.??

Yuan-Chih Fu, assistant professor at?National Chung Cheng University, agreed that a merger would be challenging given 바카라사이트 large distances between 바카라사이트 campuses, but suggested that a ¡°university system might be a realistic arrangement¡±.

However, he said that university governance was a major issue in Taiwan, which would hold back 바카라사이트 potential success of 바카라사이트 institution. In contrast to 바카라사이트 three universities in Taiwan, HKUST and KAIST ¡°enjoy a large degree of institutional autonomy...have plenty of financial resources, and have a very international environment. The most important thing is 바카라사이트y are eager to open 바카라사이트ir market to 바카라사이트 whole of Asia.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com