The
educational system
The educational system generally refers to the structure of all institutions and the opportunities for obtaining education within a country. It includes all pre-school institutions, starting from family education, and/or early childhood education ...
in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
is the responsibility of the
Ministry of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
. The system produces pupils with some of the highest test scores in the world, especially in mathematics and science.
Former president Ma Ying-jeou announced in January 2011 that the government would begin the phased implementation of a twelve-year compulsory education program by 2014.
In 2015, Taiwanese students achieved one of the world's best results in mathematics, science and literacy, as tested by the
Programme for International Student Assessment
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-yea ...
(PISA), a worldwide evaluation of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance. Taiwan is one of the top-performing OECD countries in reading literacy, mathematics and sciences with the average student scoring 523.7, compared with the OECD average of 493, placing it seventh in the world and has one of the world's most highly educated labor forces among OECD countries. Although current law mandates only nine years of schooling, 95 percent junior high school students go on to a senior vocational high school,
trade school
A vocational school is a type of educational institution, which, depending on the country, may refer to either secondary or post-secondary education designed to provide vocational education or technical skills required to complete the tasks ...
,
junior college
A junior college (sometimes referred to colloquially as a juco, JuCo or JC) is a post-secondary educational institution offering vocational training designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations and workers in su ...
, or university.
In Taiwan, adhering to the Confucian paradigm for education where parents believe that receiving a good education is a very high priority for Taiwanese families and an important goal in their children's life. Many parents in Taiwan believe that effort and persistence matters more than innate ability if their children want to receive better grades in school. These beliefs are shared by the teachers and guidance counselors and the schools as they regularly keep the parents abreast on their child's overall academic performance in the school. Many parents have high expectations for their children, emphasize academic achievement and actively intervene in their children's academic progress by making sure that their children receive top grades and would go on to great sacrifices including borrowing money to put their child through university.
Due to its role in promoting Taiwan's
economic development
In the economics study of the public sector, economic and social development is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and o ...
, high test results, and high university entrance rate, Taiwan's education system has been praised. 45 percent of Taiwanese aged 25 to 64 hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Furthermore, the education system has been criticized for its overemphasis on rote memorization and excessive academic pressure it places on students. Students in Taiwan are faced with immense pressure to succeed academically from their parents, teachers, peers, and society in order to secure prestigious white collar job positions while eschewing vocational education, critical thinking, and creativity. With a narrow bandwidth of prestigious job positions and a far greater number of university graduates seeking them, many have been employed in lesser positions with salaries far below their expectations. Taiwan's universities have also been criticized for not keeping up with the technological trends and employment demands in its fast moving job market referring to a skills mismatch cited by a number of self assessed and overeducated university graduates. In addition, the Taiwanese government has been criticized for undermining the economy as it has been unable to create enough jobs to support the demands of the numerous unemployed university graduates.
History
![屏東書院](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/%E5%B1%8F%E6%9D%B1%E6%9B%B8%E9%99%A2.JPG)
The Dutch East India Company, the Ming Chinese loyalists under Koxinga, Qing China, and the Japanese all implemented education systems on Taiwan.
Christianity was taught under Dutch rule.
Taiwan also had many
academies
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...
, such as
Daodong Academy,
Fongyi Academy,
Huangxi Academy
The Huangxi Academy () is a former academy in Dadu District, Taichung, Taiwan.
History
The building was originally built in 1888 as an extended building to the existing Wenchang Temple. The building was closed during the Japanese rule of Taiw ...
,
Jhen Wen Academy
The Jhen Wen Academy () is a former tutorial academy in Xiluo Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan.
History
The academies was originally built in 1797 as Wen Chang Temple to worship five major heavenly emperors of learning during the Qing Dynasty ...
,
Mingxin Academy
The Mingxin Academy () is a former tutorial academy in Jiji Township, Nantou County, Taiwan.
History
The academy was built in 1885 during the Qing Dynasty rule as the first private school within the area. In 1908, it moved to its current loc ...
and
Pingtung Academy.
In 1944-1945, the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
under the
Chinese Nationalist Party
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Ta ...
led by
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
took control of the island; the existing private school infrastructure was curtailed over suspicions of its political loyalty. After the
retreat of the ROC to Taiwan in 1949, they sought to use public schools to assimilate the Taiwanese population; private schools, seen as an obstacle to this process, were suppressed. By 1954, however, the party yielded to calls for education reform, and began to revitalize and expand private schooling. The Nationalists used a number of measures (such as filling school boards with loyalists and careful control of state funding) to ensure that private schooling remained under state influence.
Public education
The public education system in Taiwan spans nursery schools through university. Public education has been compulsory from primary school through junior high school since 1968. In 2001 roughly 16% of the central budget was spent on education. In January 2011,
President Ma
Ma Ying-jeou ( zh, 馬英九, born 13 July 1950) is a Hong Kong-born Taiwanese politician who served as president of the Republic of China from 2008 to 2016. Previously, he served as Ministry of Justice (Republic of China), justice minister fro ...
announced plans to implement a full twelve-year compulsory education program by 2014.
In addition, financial support for
preschool education
A preschool, also known as nursery school, pre-primary school, or play school or creche, is an educational establishment or learning space offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory education at primary schoo ...
would begin, starting with fee waivers.
Access to high school and university is controlled by a series of national exams. Discipline in public schools of all levels is generally very tight with school uniforms and morning reveille being the norm. Students of all levels through high school are responsible for cleaning their own classrooms and areas around the school, cleanup time being a daily ritual. Corporal punishment is officially banned, but many reports suggest it is still practiced by many teachers, due in no small part to the fact that most parents support it.
The school year consists of two semesters. The fall semester begins in early September and runs till late January or early February. Winter vacation typically runs from three to four weeks around the
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is the beginning of a calendar year whose months are moon cycles, based on the lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar.
The Lunar New Year as a celebration is observed by numerous cultures. It is also named " Chinese New Year" becau ...
. Spring semester begins following the
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival ( zh, t=元宵節, s=元宵节, first=t, hp=Yuánxiāo jié), also called Shangyuan Festival ( zh, t=上元節, s=上元节, first=t, hp=Shàngyuán jié), is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the fifteenth d ...
in mid February and ends in late June. From middle school on, many schools hold "optional supplementary classes" during winter and summer vacation as well as after normal school hours. Despite the name, in many cases participation is compulsory. The language of instruction is
Mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
.
School grades
The school year is divided into two semesters. The first begins in the beginning of September and ends in January; the second begins in mid February and ends in late June.
The
tertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank, for example, defines tertiary education as including univers ...
and
postgraduate education
Postgraduate or graduate education refers to Academic degree, academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by higher education, post-secondary students who have earned an Undergraduate education, un ...
in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
have different tracks and their years and grades varies.
In addition,
special education
Special education (known as special-needs education, aided education, exceptional education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, or SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates th ...
,
adult education
Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralp ...
, and
continuing education
Continuing education (similar to further education in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, Ireland) is an all-encompassing term within a broad list of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United ...
also exist in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
following similar systems mentioned above.
Education system
National Education
The current national basic education in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
is 12 years education. The implementation of this compulsory education replaces the old 9 years education.
The 12 years education policy was originally proposed in 1983, but was delayed for financial reasons.
Elementary school
Elementary schools span grades 1 through 6, classes are held from Monday through Friday, typically from 7:30 AM through 4PM (or noon on Wednesdays). Subjects include:
*Mandarin: The official language of instruction.
*Mathematics: Mathematics education begins with the basics and reaches introductory algebra and geometry by the 6th grade.
*Science: Comprehensive science classes covering basic biology, physics, and chemistry.
*English: English is a compulsory subject within the mainstream school system from Grade 3 Elementary School and up.
*Native languages: Additional language classes in
Taiwanese
Taiwanese may refer to:
* Taiwanese language, another name for Taiwanese Hokkien
* Something from or related to Taiwan ( Formosa)
* Taiwanese aborigines, the indigenous people of Taiwan
* Han Taiwanese, the Han people of Taiwan
* Taiwanese people, ...
and
Hakka Chinese
Hakka (, , ) forms a language group of varieties of Chinese, spoken natively by the Hakka people throughout Southern China and Taiwan and throughout the diaspora areas of East Asia, Southeast Asia and in overseas Chinese communities around th ...
are offered.
*Social studies
*Music
*Art
Like middle schools, students are typically assigned to the elementary school closest to their registered place of residence. This leads some parents to file their children's household registration with other relatives or friends for the purpose of sending their children to what are perceived as better schools.
Junior high school
Junior high school spans grades 7 through 9 and is the last half of compulsory education. Junior high students typically focus on preparing for the national senior high school entrance exams at the end of 9th grade. School ends around 5PM, but students often stay in school later for quizzes and additional exam preparations.
Subject matter covered includes:
*Literature: Classical and modern Chinese literature and poetry, composition and public speaking.
*Mathematics: Covers single and two variable algebra, geometry, proofs, trigonometry, and pre-calculus.
*English: Contains essential English grammar
*Science & Technology
**Biology: Taken during first year, includes more in depth studies and lab work.
**Chemistry: Taken during second year. More rigorous introduction to atoms, molecule, and chemical reactions, including lab work.
**Physics: Taken during second year. More rigorous introduction to physical laws and equations, including lab work.
**Earth Science: Taken during third year.
**Technology: Taken during the whole three years. Introduce some basic technology in daily life.
*Social Studies
**Civics: Basic demotics, politics, and economics.
**History: Focus on the
history of Taiwan
The history of the island of Taiwan dates back tens of thousands of years to the earliest known evidence of human habitation. The sudden appearance of a culture based on agriculture around 3000 BC is believed to reflect the arrival of the ances ...
and China during the first two years, and world history during third year.
**Geography: Contain introductive geography accompanied with
geography of Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territori ...
during first year, geography of China and East Asia during second year, and the world geography during third year.
*Home economics & crafts
*Art: Inclusive of three independent parts: Fine Art, Music, and Drama.
*PE
*Scout education: Outdoor survival skills.
At the end of their third year, students participate in the national senior high school entrance exams and are assigned to senior high schools based upon their scores. Students may also participate in a separate national vocational school entrance exam if they wish to attend vocational school. In both cases, public schools are usually the most popular while private schools have traditionally been viewed as a backup for those unable to score high enough for public schools.
Roughly 94.7% of junior high school students continue on to senior high or vocational school.
Regular senior high school
Senior high school spans grades 10 through 12, again the main goal of students is to score highly on the national university entrance exams at the end of their third year. The pace is just as, if not more intense than junior high school.
Discipline in educational institutions from high school and up (including vocational schools) is the responsibility of
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
officers stationed at the individual schools (as opposed to elementary and junior high school where teachers and school administrators were responsible for discipline). In addition to the normal subjects, students are also required to attend a military education class covering issues such as
civil defense
Civil defense ( en, region=gb, civil defence) or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from man-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, miti ...
,
military drills, national defense, and basic firearms. In the past, high (and vocational) school students were expected to take on civil defense duties in the event of national emergency. Boys and girls were trained to use firearms and hurl grenades.
In many high schools incoming students may select science or liberal arts tracks depending on where their interests lie. The different learning tracks are commonly referred to as groups. Group I consists of liberal arts students, Group II and Group III of science based students (the latter studies biology as an additional subject). Science based curriculum consists of more rigorous science and mathematics classes intended to prepare the student for a career in the sciences and engineering; the liberal arts track places a heavier emphasis on literature and social studies to prepare students for a future in those fields. Often, students in Group I are exempted to study science even if they wish to, and students in Group II are not required to take geography, civics and history.
Entrance to university is administered via two methods: by recommendations or by taking the national university entrance examination. For those that participate in recommendations, they have to take a national academic exam and select a list of majors that they are applying to. The first stage is a screening of exam results for eligibility and the second stage would be dependent on the conditions of individual departments selected. For those that did not choose to take the recommendations process, or have failed their applications, they have the choice to participate in the national university entrance exams after graduation in hopes of university admission. Students who graduate from a senior high school usually end up taking up the national university entrance examination to enter a general four year university. They can also apply to junior colleges, an institute of technology, or a university of science and technology as an alternative choice.
Skill-based senior high school
In June 2016, "vocational high schools" were renamed as skill-based senior high schools.
Vocational training
Vocational education is education that prepares people to work as a technician or to take up employment in a skilled craft or trade as a tradesperson or artisan. Vocational Education can also be seen as that type of education given to an ind ...
and related career choices are introduced through course electives in lower secondary school.
Skill-based senior high schools are three-year institutions that are similar to regular senior high schools. Unlike regular senior high schools, they place a heavier emphasis on practical and vocational skills. These schools offer a variety of programs that cater to the needs of students with different abilities and skills. Skill-based senior high schools offer programs that are organized into six different categories: agriculture, industry, business, marine products, everyday life sphere, and art. Graduates of senior skill-based senior high schools can choose to enter the workforce, start their own business, or go on to higher education. Senior skill-based senior high school graduates can apply to junior colleges, institutes of technology, and universities of science and technology. They can also take the national university entrance exams to enter general four-year universities.
Higher education
University
University entrance is the traditional route taken by Taiwanese students to enter the gateway of higher education as it is by far the most prestigious form of higher education in Taiwan. Since 2008, the percentage of high school graduates entering university has exceeded 95 percent.
The Taiwanese higher education system is similar to the American higher education system. Since the 1990s many trade schools and junior colleges have been "promoted" to university status as results of a series of educational reform, which can account for the Taiwan's high university entrance rate.
Even though a high score is desired as an admission criterion to the nations most esteemed and prestigious institutions, as consequences of such reforms, the job market is flooded with unemployed university graduates.
Overview
Taiwan has many universities, both public and private. Tuition is less expensive in public universities than in private universities, like in most
western countries
The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to the various nations and states in the regions of Europe, North America, and Oceania. . Many public universities receive financial support from the government. There are currently five
University alliances in Taiwan
There are several major university alliances in Taiwan, mostly organized in 2002, intentionally modelled after other university systems. The key steps in such integration may include pooling of resources such as libraries and some co-ordinated ...
, intentionally modeled after other educational systems such as the
University of California
The University of California (UC) is a public land-grant research university system in the U.S. state of California. The system is composed of the campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, ...
system.
NTNU is the internationally top-ranked university for
linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
especially for foreigners interested in learning (advanced)
Mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
, as well as other institutes for serious Mandarin learning opportunities for foreigners.
Nowadays some private schools are supported by commercial groups or religious bodies (such as
Fu Jen Catholic University,
Tzu Chi University
Tzu Chi University (TCU; ) is a private university in Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan. It was founded by the Tzu Chi Foundation (NGO) and is famous in Taiwan for the quality of the medical education it provides. TCU has strong ties with H ...
).
Engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
is popular, and engineering degrees account for over a quarter of the bachelor's degrees awarded in Taiwan. It is also related to future employment opportunities because of the government policy focusing on high-tech manufacturing industries. See also:
Engineering education in Taiwan
=Public
=
Some of the highly regarded public universities in Taiwan include: (Research = Designated National Research University)
*North, Research
**
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University (NTU; ) is a public research university in Taipei, Taiwan.
The university was founded in 1928 during Japanese rule as the seventh of the Imperial Universities. It was named Taihoku Imperial University and served d ...
: Research, formerly
Taihoku Imperial University, Taiwan's representative public university, founded in Japanese era. Distinguished programs in all fields.
AACSB
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, is an American professional organization. It was founded as the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business in 1916 to provide accreditation to ...
accredited.
**
National Tsing Hua (NTHU),
Yang Ming Chiao Tung (NYCU), and
National Central (NCU).
*North, General
**
National Chengchi (NCCU) and
Taiwan Normal (NTNU).
*Central and South
**
National Chung Hsing University
National Chung Hsing University (NCHU; ) is a research-led comprehensive university in South District, Taichung, Republic of China.
Currently, NCHU is among the four universities of the Taiwan Comprehensive University System, a research-led ...
: Well known for programs in
agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...
and
biology
Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...
.
**
National Cheng Kung University: Research, Best known for
engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
,
medicine
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pract ...
,
science
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
programs. One of only two higher ranking universities in Taiwan that offer
aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is si ...
program. There is a possible bright future with
private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is spaceflight or the development of spaceflight technology that is conducted and paid for by an entity other than a government agency.
In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Un ...
working for
privately owned non-governmental spaceflight companies or later on at
NSPO.
**
National Sun Yat-sen University
National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU; ) is a public research-intensive university renowned as an official think tank scholars' community, located in Sizihwan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. NSYSU is listed as one of six national research universities, ...
: Research, Distinguished programs in
oceanography
Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamic ...
,
computer science
Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...
,
optoelectronics
Optoelectronics (or optronics) is the study and application of electronic devices and systems that find, detect and control light, usually considered a sub-field of photonics. In this context, ''light'' often includes invisible forms of radiatio ...
,
nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...
,
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
,
sociology
Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of Empirical ...
and
business management
Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of managemen ...
programs.
AACSB
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, is an American professional organization. It was founded as the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business in 1916 to provide accreditation to ...
accredited.
=Private
=
![Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital 2018](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Fu_Jen_Catholic_University_Hospital_2018.jpg)
There are also a few representative private universities:
*
Fu Jen Catholic University: Well known for programs Foreign Languages and Literatures,
Philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
,
Law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
,
Business Management
Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of managemen ...
(
AACSB
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, is an American professional organization. It was founded as the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business in 1916 to provide accreditation to ...
accredited),
Theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
,
Fine Arts
In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...
,
Social Sciences
Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of soci ...
and
Communication
Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inquir ...
. It is notable for having established the first graduate-level program in Conference Interpreting in Taiwan. The student body also consists of many international students.
*
Soochow University: Well known for studies in
Law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
,
Accounting
Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "languag ...
, foreign languages and literature and
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
.
In contrast with junior high and high school, where students are pressured by the highly selective entrance exams, college life in Taiwan is generally seen as being rather relaxed. Graduate degrees from the
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
and
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
are also highly prized with many students applying to foreign graduate schools after completing university (though the number has declined somewhat in recent years). An average of 13000 university graduates per year choose to pursue graduate studies in the U.S.
Founded by Japanese government (1895-1945)
Similarities with universities in China
Many universities in Taiwan were originally established in
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
before the retreat of the
ROC government from Mainland to Taiwan after the
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
. Some of the universities who were originally established in the Mainland were reestablished in Taiwan. To avoid ambiguity, the ROC government generally added the ''National'' word in front of those universities in Taiwan to differentiate them with the ones in China.
Teaching Excellence Universities Award
The Ministry of Education in Taiwan started the Teaching Excellence Universities Award in 2006. Since the beginning of this award, only six universities have earned this honor every year.
Medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...
in Taiwan begins as an undergraduate major and lasts six years (six years for
dentistry
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions o ...
), with the final two years being hands on training at a
teaching hospital
A teaching hospital is a hospital or medical centre that provides medical education and training to future and current health professionals. Teaching hospitals are almost always affiliated with one or more universities and are often co-located ...
. Graduates of medical school may elect to continue on to graduate school to pursue a doctoral degree.
Law school (College of Law)
There are no law schools in the sense of US law schools. Many universities have college of law or department of law, provide legal education as an undergraduate major and lasts for four years.
Teacher training
Most higher educational institutions offering programs in education. Such programs run four years, in addition to a half-year internship, with students receiving teaching credentials at the end of the program. They also have to take extra test for being a teacher in public school. While currently education programs are available in most institutes of tertiary education, prospective teachers typically go to a "university of education" if they want to teach primary school, and a "
normal university
A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high school level, turni ...
" for secondary school. One exception is National Changhua University of Education, which, like normal universities, is renowned for its dedication to cultivating secondary school teachers.
= Teachers' In-service Advancement Education Information & Resources
=
With the implementation of reformation of education policy in Taiwan, in order to integrate the resources of teachers' in-service advancement education and to encourage teachers to participate in the in-service advancement education activities positively, the Ministry of Education established 12 regional teacher's in-service advancement education centers in 2003. The National Kaohsiung Normal University (NKNU) was chosen as the general coordinator and was responsible for setting up, managing the Nationwide Teacher In-Service Education Information Web.
Th
Nationwide Teacher In-Service Education Information Webprovides teachers with a communication platform for in-service teacher advancement education in Taiwan. That is to encourage teachers to have a continuous growth in teaching. The information of advancement activities and teachers’ participation records are shown by digital platform.
This network provides activities and individual's learning records for K-12 teachers. This database-technology platform is in an electronic format to record teacher's training progress and learning time. It establishes a regulating mechanism to integrate educational and administrative resources from education institutions and local authorized educational authorities respectively. That is for fulfilling the ideals of educational reform in an effective way.
The purposes of Nationwide Teacher In-service Advancement Education Information Web are as follows:
* To provide a platform about in-service education information for teachers teaching in K-12 schools. It also has the information about validate training hours and training records in electronic format, etc. It will enable teachers from all over the country to review their whole lifelong training records and will help promote the policies about teachers’ in-service advancement education.
* To establish a regulating mechanism for integrate educational and administrative resources from education institutions and local authorized educational authorities. It will help training organizations to plan training activities and programs that meet the needs of teachers who participate in the in-service education.
* To supply course information and requests, and to open different training options and ways for teachers. It will be a great help for administrators in policy making and teachers can get trainings nearby.
* To provide in-service advancement education consultation and communication channels for teachers. It will solve teachers’ problems effectively and increase the opportunities of receiving suggestions.
* To supply records in teachers’ training detail for education organizations, establish a frame of reference with educational policy-making, and fulfill the needs of educational reform.
Graduate school
Each college in each university usually has their own graduate schools. In addition, the
Taiwan International Graduate Program affiliated to
Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica (AS, la, 1=Academia Sinica, 3=Chinese Academy; ), headquartered in Nangang, Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. Founded in Nanking, the academy supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from ...
, the national academy of Taiwan, offers an English-language program in life sciences and physical sciences for both Taiwanese and international students.
Doctoral programs in Taiwan last two to seven years; most are four years.
International programs
International programs in Taiwan include
bachelor's
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...
,
master's
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. and
PhD degree programs targeted at students from abroad.
Vocational
Vocational education in Taiwan is offered at junior colleges, institutes of technology, and at universities of science and technology where they can earn associate degrees to doctoral degrees. There are currently 87 institutions in Taiwan that offer vocational training. The Ministry of Education has been promoting vocational education and trying to persuade young Taiwanese to consider vocational schools as an alternative route to attending university.
Junior colleges
Junior colleges can be classified into 5-year junior colleges and 2-year junior colleges according to entry requirement. Since 2004, they offer
associate degrees
An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree.
The f ...
under Article 29 of the Junior College Law. Various subjects that are covered by junior colleges include marine resources, medicine, languages, home economics, and tourism and hospitality.
= 5-year junior colleges
=
Students enter five-year junior colleges after graduating junior high school and passing a national exam. The curriculum is similar to that of vocational schools with the exception that 5-year junior colleges run for two additional years. Students are required to complete 220 credit hours in these programs. Upon graduation, students are awarded an associate degree.
= 2-year junior colleges
=
Two-year junior colleges offer advanced vocational training for graduates of vocational or senior high schools. 2 year junior college programs are attended by vocational senior high school graduates or graduates of a university of science and technology. They also accept students who have completed a vocational program during high school. Upon graduation, students are awarded an associate degree. Graduates of 2 year junior colleges can choose to enter the workforce, start their own business, pursue additional studies at a two-year institute of technology program in a department of their choice or choose to pursue additional education at a four-year university.
Institutes of Technology and Universities of Science and Technology
Under the University Act, institutes of technology and universities of science and technology offer associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. Both institutes of technology and universities of science and technology admit students who have graduated from a junior college or those holding a similar academic qualification and have undertaken an entrance exam. Two year and four year bachelor programs at institutes of technology and universities of science and technology. A bachelor's degree is awarded to a student who has completed 128 credit hours after graduating from a four bachelor's degree program. Two year bachelor's degree programs are for students who already hold an associate degree and have completed 80 credit hours. Master's degrees require an additional 24 credits while PhD students have to complete an additional 18 credits along with a dissertation.
Private education
Private educational institutions are pervasive in Taiwan ranging from private schools at all levels to supplementary
cram schools or ''buxiban''.
Cram schools
With the intense pressure placed on students to achieve by parents, many students enroll in private after-school classes intended to supplement their regular education. These cram schools are an extremely large (and profitable) business in Taiwan and have been criticized by some as being the result of cultural overemphasis on academic achievement. Popular subjects in cram schools include
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
,
mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
, and
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
. Cram schools are mostly popular amongst junior and senior high school students.
Classes are generally very orderly and controlled, with class sizes as high as 200 or so students in some well-known institutions. The quality of cram schools varies considerably. Some of the larger schools and chains write their own programs and produce their own textbooks.
Kindergartens and preschool
While many public kindergartens and preschools exist in Taiwan, private kindergartens and preschools are also quite popular. Many private preschools offer accelerated courses in various subjects. Curriculum at such preschools often encompasses subject material such as
science
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
,
art
Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.
There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...
,
physical education
Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning by using a play and movement explorati ...
and even
mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
classes. The majority of these schools are part of large school chains, which operate under
franchise
Franchise may refer to:
Business and law
* Franchising, a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business to franchisees
* Franchise, a privilege to operate a type of business such as a cable television p ...
arrangements. In return for annual fees, the chain enterprises may supply advertising, curriculum, books, materials, training, and even staff for each individual school.
There has been a huge growth in the number of privately owned and operated English immersion preschools in Taiwan since 1999. These English immersion preschools generally employ native English speaking teachers to teach the whole preschool curriculum in an ‘English only’ environment. The legality of these types of schools has been called into question on many occasions, yet they continue to prosper. Some members of Taiwanese society have raised concerns as to whether local children should be placed in English immersion environments at such a young age, and have raised fears that the students abilities in their mother language may suffer as a result. The debate continues, but at the present time, the market for English Immersion Preschools continues to grow.
In October 2016,
Education Minister Pan Wen-chung
Pan Wen-chung (; born 28 November 1962) is a Taiwanese educator and politician. He first served as Minister of Education from May 2016 to April 2018 and returned to the post in January 2019.
Education
Pan obtained his teaching certificate from ...
said that the
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan () is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Its leader is the Premier, who is appointed by the President of the Republic of China, and requires confirmation by the Legislative Yuan.
...
will allocated a budget of NT$6.2 billion to establish 1,000 kindergartens over the next four years so that it can raise the percentage of children enrollment by 30-40% by 2020.
3+3 High School system
Following the new policy of the test to enter senior high school (the CAP test), it is now wildly believed by the parents that it is better and more convenient for their kids to not need to worry about continuing education from junior to senior high school by continuing education at the same private school. This system allows for students to skip the CAP test, otherwise known as"Comprehensive Assessment Program for Junior High School Students" and take only the university entrance exam after completion of senior high. Therefore, many senior high schools in Taiwan such as
Private Nan Shan Senior High School started their own Junior departures. Since most of the public school does not offer 6-years secondary education, the private schools start to gain more and more applications from students in recent years .
Other
Special Education Services in Taiwan
![High_School_Student_Conducting_a_X-Ray_Diffraction_Test](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/High_School_Student_Conducting_a_X-Ray_Diffraction_Test.jpg)
As Special Education Act was announced in 1984, students with special needs started to receive special education services in Taiwan. Two subgroups were further classified by professionals in special education, including students with difficulties and students with giftedness. In order to provide support that meet students needs, three main ways of special education services are provided: centralized special education class, decentralized resource room, and itinerant resource program. Students from age 2 to 22 can receive special education services in the process of assessment, placement and educational provision.
Nursing education
*Contain three kind of education entry, after the education done, the student will be gained the qualifications participle National exam for professional nurse license.
Chinese as a second language
Taiwan has long been and with the growing popularity of learning Chinese internationally, an ideal destination for learning the language.
See:
List of Chinese language schools in Taiwan
Taiwan has long been a destination for foreign learners of Mandarin and is home to many Mandarin language schools. Several schools also offer courses in Minnan, or less commonly Hakka and Cantonese. Below is a list of Mandarin language schools ...
Students
In 2015, there were 40,000 students from Mainland China studying in Taiwan, in which 34,114 of them were short-term exchange students.
See also
*
Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica (AS, la, 1=Academia Sinica, 3=Chinese Academy; ), headquartered in Nangang, Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. Founded in Nanking, the academy supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from ...
*
Taiwan studies Taiwan studies, or Taiwanese studies, is a multi-disciplinary academic division of area studies (a part of East Asian studies) focused on studying Taiwan and the people on/in/of Taiwan both on its own and in comparison with other world areas. Academ ...
*
Scholarships in Taiwan
The scholarships in Taiwan include scholarships for pursuing degrees (bachelor degree, bachelor, master degree, master or PhD), academic exchange, conducting research, learning Mandarin language, Mandarin and experiencing culture in Taiwan. They a ...
*
Gender Equity Education Act (Taiwan)
Gender Equity Education Act () of Taiwan was enacted on June 23, 2004. The General Provisions states the purposes of the act: "to promote substantive gender equality, eliminate gender discrimination, uphold human dignity, and improve and establish ...
*
Buxiban
A cram school, informally called crammer and colloquially also referred to as test-prep or exam factory, is a specialized school that trains its students to achieve particular goals, most commonly to pass the entrance examinations of high sch ...
*
History of education in Taiwan
The recorded history of education in Taiwan can be traced back to the Dutch colonial period.
Dutch Formosa
In 1636, the Dutch started a school for the Sinckan people that not only featured religious instruction, but also provided schooling in ...
*
Institute of Engineering Education Taiwan The Institute of Engineering Education Taiwan (; literally Chinese Institute of Engineering Education) is a non-profit, non-governmental; organization committed to accreditation of engineering and technology education programs in Taiwan
Taiw ...
*
National Education Radio
The National Education Radio (NER; ) is a government owned radio station in the Taiwan (ROC) and is located in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei City, Taiwan next to the Taipei Botanical Garden and National Museum of History.
History
The radio ...
**
Engineering education in Taiwan
References
*
*
External links
ROC Ministry of EducationThe History of the Ministry of EducationStudy in Taiwan- Commissioned by the Ministry of Education,
Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of TaiwanTaiwan looks to double numbers of overseas Mandarin studentsForeign student numbers almost double since 2007TaiWan Advanced Research & Education Network (TWAREN)- run by the
National Center for High-Performance Computing
The National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC; ) is one of ten national-level research laboratories under National Applied Research Laboratories (NARL), headquartered at Hsinchu Science and Industrial Park, Hsinchu City, Taiwan. The NC ...
The Nationwide Teacher In-Service Education Information Web
{{Education in Asia