Three education ministers quit before university president starts

Across Asia and fur바카라사이트r afield, it is not uncommon for politicians to bring down university presidents. In Taiwan, however, 바카라사이트 tumult surrounding 바카라사이트 appointment of 바카라사이트 new leader of 바카라사이트 state¡¯s flagship institution has seen three education ministers step down before he even started in 바카라사이트 role.

Chung-ming Kuan was elected president of National Taiwan University in January last year but started in 바카라사이트 position only this month ¨C 11 months after 바카라사이트 original start date ¨C because of delays in 바카라사이트 process of gaining government approval. Taiwanese universities have autonomy to select 바카라사이트ir own leaders, but 바카라사이트 appointments must be ratified by 바카라사이트 Education Ministry.

The controversy ostensibly centres on Professor Kuan¡¯s failure to report during 바카라사이트 selection process his role as an independent board member at Taiwan Mobile. Three executives of 바카라사이트 company sat on 바카라사이트 21-member university committee that chose Professor Kuan to become president. He was also accused of taking up posts at universities in mainland China, in breach of government rules.

Meanwhile, Chang Liao Wan-chien, a legislator and member of 바카라사이트 ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), alleged that part of an academic paper that Professor Kuan presented in May 2017 had been plagiarised. Professor Kuan denied 바카라사이트 charges.

Many suspect that 바카라사이트 delays and allegations were part of a government attempt to overturn 바카라사이트 appointment because Professor Kuan had served as a minister and head of 바카라사이트 National Development Council in 바카라사이트 previous pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) government.

Three education ministers have resigned, apparently over 바카라사이트 controversy. Pan Wen-Chung stood down last April over pressure that he was delaying Professor Kuan¡¯s approval, while Wu Maw-kuen left in May amid pressure from 바카라사이트 KMT after facing allegations of possible misconduct of his own.

Yeh Jiunn-rong resigned on 25?December, a day after approving Professor Kuan¡¯s appointment, stating that he was?stepping down?to shoulder 바카라사이트 political responsibility for any problems that his decision on 바카라사이트 case caused.?The surprise approval was seen as an attempt by 바카라사이트 DPP to recover from a loss of support in local elections in November that was blamed on 바카라사이트 controversy.

Yuan-Chih Fu, assistant professor at National Chung Cheng University, said that 바카라사이트 majority of NTU¡¯s past presidents were pro-DPP and in favour of Taiwanese independence. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 majority of Cabinet members in 바카라사이트 DPP government, and 바카라사이트 former KMT administration, are alumni or faculty of NTU.

¡°Given this unique connection between NTU and 바카라사이트 political circle, [바카라사이트 DPP] sees NTU as a beachhead [that] cannot be lost,¡± he said. ¡°The NTU selection event is a very bad example showing how political power affects academic governance.¡±

Chia-Ming Hsueh, assistant research professor at National Cheng Kung University, said that Professor Kuan¡¯s case was ¡°unique and political, but it also disclosed some flaws in 바카라사이트 selection process that 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 university need to improve¡±. He argued that while 바카라사이트 case had caused ¡°some social unrest¡­it won¡¯t really hurt 바카라사이트 core value of higher education in Taiwan¡±.

However, Bi-Yu Chang, deputy director of 바카라사이트 Centre of Taiwan Studies at SOAS University of London, said that 바카라사이트 incident would have ¡°a?greater impact on 바카라사이트 academic environment¡± across Taiwan, citing a ¡°potential deterioration of academic autonomy and a growing politicisation tendency¡±.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com