Premier Sean Chen said at an Executive Yuan meeting today that technological and vocational education (TVE) is crucial to national competitiveness, and the government must look beyond the scope of traditional education and incorporate population and industrial policies in order to train the workforce effectively.
The premier made the remarks after being briefed on the Ministry of Education's (MOE) plans for a second phase of TVE reform, an important pillar of the Economic Power-Up Plan. The following summarizes matters discussed at the meeting:
1. The MOE should integrate the functions of its Department of Technological and Vocational Education with those of its Central Regional Office, and set a clear definition of TVE as soon as possible.
2. The objectives in the second phase of TVE reform are adjusting structure, making curriculums more relevant to industry needs, and promoting employability. The plan aims to prepare students of senior vocational schools and institutions of technology to work immediately after graduation, provide quality technicians that meet industrial needs, improve society's opinion of the value of TVE, and enhance TVE competitiveness.
Although the framework of the second-phase reform has been modified from the first, the contents do not vary considerably. The premier asked the MOE to fast-track the changes with the Council of Economic Planning and Development. The MOE was also instructed to "apply medicine" for what ails the TVE system and remove the four obstacles mentioned today. Specific steps and time frames will be prescribed to complete unfinished work from the first phase.
3. The MOE should estimate a budget needed for the reform, then adjust it according to feedback from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics. If the budget is insufficient, the MOE may apply for more from the Executive Yuan.
4. The MOE will work in tandem with businesses and other government agencies to promote industry-academic cooperation and equip students with practical work skills. The reform plan will also incorporate today's suggestions, such as unifying TVE policies, working with industries to cultivate talent, establishing research and development centers in schools, and promoting development of local industries.
The MOE should also set an appropriate definition of TVE. For example, should the financial or service industries be included in the TVE system? And when the MOE sets up practice firms to provide virtual business training, it will need to have clear guidelines on the scope and content of TVE.
Meanwhile, the work of promoting industry-academic cooperation and training students should not rest solely with the MOE but should involve participation from agencies such as the Council of Labor Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the National Science Council. The MOE will identify the appropriate agencies and pool together their resources.
5. The MOE plan mentioned TVE systems in Germany, Australia and Japan as examples worth following. In those countries, vocational education is tied to job training, the industry plays a major role in nurturing talent, TVE courses are flexible and diverse, and technicians of all trades are well-respected. The MOE was asked to supplement information on the foreign TVE systems and provide additional data for agencies to consider when forming policies.
Other helpful suggestions were also raised at today's meeting: For the TVE system to prepare students with a quality skill set that matches businesses' needs, the government should survey the labor market and provide supply-and-demand estimates. Companies should offer attractive salaries and jobs with promising futures. School curriculums should stay in step with industry trends. Inter-ministry teamwork combined with industry-academic cooperation will narrow the gap between the classroom and the real world.