To promote innovative education under the Free Economic Pilot Zone (FEPZ) program, the government will help domestic universities work with their foreign counterparts to create experimental types of degree and professional track programs, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today.
After receiving a briefing from the Ministry of Education (MOE), the premier said the goal is to set up five such programs within one year, 10 within three years, as well as to establish five independent colleges and one branch campus by the third year. He said the MOE and other government agencies must break away from the regulatory frameworks and management mentalities of the past and provide incentives for schools to design more flexible courses.
As a high-end service industry, higher education is more dynamic and has larger market potential than other levels of education. Since the FEPZs promote foresight, liberalization and internationalization, they allow for innovative and efficient management models that give universities more independence. Taiwan's higher education sector must evolve with global trends to stay competitive and keep from being marginalized, Jiang emphasized.
The innovative education initiative lays out two business models that build around either foreign or domestic universities. Reputable foreign schools setting up campuses or independent universities in Taiwan tend to attract more international attention, Jiang said, therefore more local schools should be encouraged to adopt the foreign-based model for their collaborative programs.
The premier also directed the MOE to increase communication with legislators and the public to better understand their views. By changing the laws in line with people's expectations, the MOE can gain wider public support.
The MOE said the initiative will be implemented in two stages. First, various regulations and administrative directions will be eased to facilitate the establishment of degree and professional track programs. Second, branch campuses and independent colleges will be set up once the special FEPZ statute is passed by the Legislative Yuan.