Journal of Education & Social Policy

A Review of Taiwan’s Current Higher Education Development and Challenges
Cheng-Chang Tsai

Abstract
In Asia, the last decade has presented unprecedented changes to some aspects of our society, including economic, political, cultural, and environmental aspects. Taiwan has also made tremendous progress and changes in the area of higher education. Following a global trend, Taiwan has entered the new century; into the new era of globalization and knowledge-based economy and we find ourselves facing some vital challenges in our higher education. In the past decade, higher education in Taiwan has increased rapid growth in quantities. The reasons behind this growth include political freedom and democracy, the deregulation of education policy, prosperity in social economics as well as other factors. Over the past 10 years, Education in Taiwan grew at the same pace with its prosperous economic development. Higher education has already become common in Taiwan. From 1994 to 2003, the number of college institutes has increased from 67 to 151, representing a 44% increase. By SY 2010, this number had increased to 165 institutions of higher education. There was also a rapid increase of junior colleges becoming colleges. Due to the increase in universities and students numbers, an imbalance indeed has been created between quality and quantity in terms of higher education institutes. The purpose of this article is to review and explore Taiwan’s current higher education development and challenges.

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