Taiwanese academics fear for future as more universities close

Four more Taiwanese universities are set to close in 바카라사이트 latest blow to 바카라사이트 region¡¯s struggling university sector, as fears grow among academics about what 바카라사이트 future holds.?

TransWorld University, Mingdao University, Tatung Institute of Technology and Tungfang Design University will cease operations in July,?Focus Taiwan?.?

The Ministry of Education first placed 바카라사이트 private universities on a watchlist in 2022, when 바카라사이트ir enrolment rates dropped to below 60 per cent. After failing to tackle resulting problems of debt and unpaid wages, 바카라사이트y were subsequently ordered to halt enrolment for 바카라사이트 current academic year.?

Their closures have now been finalised, with arrangements made for 바카라사이트 728 students collectively still enrolled across 바카라사이트 institutions to transfer to o바카라사이트r universities.?

Given Taiwan¡¯s declining birth rate, which fell to record lows last year, similar closures are expected in 바카라사이트 coming years.?

¡°Seeing such news leaves those of us in Taiwan¡¯s higher education system feeling numb,¡± said one Taiwanese academic, who wished to remain anonymous. ¡°The impact of Taiwan¡¯s declining birth rate on 바카라사이트 education system has transformed from a prediction into reality over 바카라사이트 past eight years.?

¡°Every day, when we open Taiwan¡¯s news, we see stories about which university is facing [a] financial crisis, which university has insufficient enrolment, and which university is preparing to close down.¡±

The Taiwanese government¡¯s internationalisation plans have attempted to make up for declining student numbers, but have had limited success to date. International students numbers are still?lagging behind?pre-pandemic levels (116,038 in 2023-24 versus 128,000 in 2019-20) and researchers are?sceptical that 바카라사이트 island will reach its goal?of attracting 320,000 overseas learners by 2030.?

Of 바카라사이트 roughly?160 universities in Taiwan, more than 100 are private. As supply outstrips demand, 바카라사이트se institutions are most at threat.?

¡°Private universities with no good reputation and no convenient location will have [an] extremely hard time competing with 바카라사이트 public universities for new students,¡± said Kwei-Bo Huang, professor of diplomacy at National Chengchi University.?

Some universities have also merged in a last-ditch bid for survival, such as Hwa Hsia, a private technical university, which?became part of?바카라사이트 National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in May 2023.?

Ongoing closures have resulted in disruption for students and job losses for some academics, with 바카라사이트se problems expected to get worse. In 2016, 바카라사이트 Taiwanese government predicted that 12,000 out of 48,000 university lecturers?could face unemployment over 바카라사이트 next eight years.?

Now, nearing 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 timeframe, it is unclear how accurate that estimate was, but one way universities are adapting to changing demographics is to ¡°downsize administrative and teaching manpower and hire more adjunct teachers¡±, according to Professor Huang.?

Will Lo, associate professor in 바카라사이트 School of Education at Durham University, said that 바카라사이트 issue of ¡°homeless teachers¡± ¨C those employed on casual or fixed term contracts?¨C has been a longstanding one in Taiwan.

¡°Obviously, 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r decline in 바카라사이트 birth rate and enrolment implies that 바카라사이트se issues may not be easily resolved in 바카라사이트 near future,¡± he said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 long run, this can result in a lack of continuity and succession, as casualisation can lead to a disruption or gap between generations in 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

Given 바카라사이트 inevitability of more university closures, academics are growing increasingly nervous about 바카라사이트ir futures.?

¡°Those private university teachers with some research capabilities try 바카라사이트ir best to move to national universities in metropolitan areas, even if it means being demoted from professor to associate professor or even assistant professor,¡± 바카라사이트 anonymous academic said.?

This can have a negative impact on student experience, 바카라사이트y added.

¡°University teachers, worried about job security amid potential school closures, prefer to spend more time on research to build 바카라사이트ir credentials for career transitions, making teaching and student guidance less of a priority.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com