The declining birthrate in Taiwan has been implicated in the closure of seven universities across the country this year.
The tertiary instutions, including Mingdao University, Taiwan Shoufu University, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Tungfang Design University, TransWorld University, Tatung Institute of Technology, and Dahan Institute of Technology, have permanently closed their doors to students and staff.
Over a thousand students have been reassigned to other universities to continue their studies for the start of the new academic year.
Regarding the unemployed faculty members, most schools said they have been processing to arrange retirement, layoffs, or finding new placements for the displaced staff.
Professor Chen, now serving in Soochow University, used to teach in Tungnan University but was forced to retire because of the poor student enrolment.
“After three times of negotiation, I was totally hopeless about the school’s gratitude that they just wanted me to retire,” Professor Chen said.
“The Ministry of Education has tried various policies. While it appears the student population did increase, have these measures truly addressed the issue of low birthrates?” Chen said.
“Perhaps only when more schools close will the supply and demand finally balance.”
Taiwanese Legislator Shyh-Bao Lai echoed these concerns, noting that Taiwan once established universities as frequently as convenience stores, with the number reaching a peak of 164. “It is not surprising that we are witnessing a wave of schools closing.”
“The severe devaluation of university degrees and the normalisation of low wages among young people are challenges the authorities must tackle as it deals with the mess left by previous misguiding policies,” Lai remarked, calling for the central government to cope with these issues with educational reform.
