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Educators should rethink reforms

`The slower the reform in higher education is, the more serious the problem of unemployment and the threat to our living standards will be.'

Recent Ministry of Education plans to have colleges and universities raise millions of dollars for a small number of carelessly planned institutes has riled many intellectuals, who are concerned that the plans could result in a money crunch for universities.

If schools are required, in just a few short months, to raise a huge amount of money for the establishment of new educational centers, just finding convenient times for colleges and universities to meet will be difficult.

On top of this, decisions regarding which schools are more suited to open which centers should only be decided after lengthy debate and compromise.

Unfortunately, the ministry's plans do not accord with the far-reaching ambitions of some of Taiwan's world-class universities and they disregard the ideals of university education in general.

In short, the slapdash raising of several hundred million dollars in such a short period of time runs counter to the social conscience of intellectuals and the educational mission of universities.

Taiwan leads the world in terms of the ratio of colleges and universities to the nation's physical area. A constantly changing society, economic globalization, clashes with traditional values, Internet education and the ever-changing political and economic situation all mean that higher education in Taiwan is facing unprecedented competition.

Therefore, the issue of how to raise the overall quality of higher education by creating a new system for college education and research universities is the most urgent issue facing the sector.

First, universities must emphasize a liberal education and design curricula based on an ideal of education for all people. In particular, they should invite outstanding scholars to lecture on how the great changes in thought throughout history have influenced the evolution of major civilizational trends and public policy reform.

The purpose of this would be to avoid a withering of the civilizational spirit following a take-off in cross-strait economic relations, as well as to minimize the pursuit of fame and money.

Educators also have to consider that the young are less likely to go with the flow, have greater ambition and are more open-minded than their elders.

Next should be a thorough reform of teaching in more specialized fields. In particular, top universities must replace the system of compulsory credits and student recruitment methods -- both of which revolve around departments -- with integrated educational programs including inter-disciplinary study.

Conservative departments and professors failing to understand current trends face challenges over and above the difficulties of attracting the students and parents of the e-generation.

There are, for example, fundamental training problems in certain medical school departments which are much too oriented toward specialization, as well as within some departments at the College of Agriculture. The same concerns apply to students in literature, the law, business and sociology, which all face rapid scientific and technological change. These concerns have repeatedly highlighted the fact that Taiwanese universities must put more effort not merely into cooperation between themselves (which will only lead to budgetary problems), but also into designing a set of innovative educational approaches based on a new ideal, in order to cultivate a younger generation capable of thinking "out of the box." In other words, deep reflection and concrete action over contemporary problems are called for.

Third, there needs to be a reconsideration of the internal structures and organization within colleges and universities.

This should begin with head-hunting for university presidents whose principles coincide with the "university spirit."

Members of the social elite and influential leaders from outside the educational system should be invited to participate as members of university boards, which are in charge of the allocation of financial resources.

Further, a faculty senate system within each university should be established to define potential problems. This is a key element of the success of the University of California, Berkeley. In other words, there should be a debate about the most effective system for school administration, built from within, which has the power to respond to the needs of the times by ensuring the timely and flexible use of staff, resources and educational talent.

Fourth, university administrative planning committees should regularly examine academic trends, international competition and social needs. They should also establish core competence research groups in, for example, the fields of nanotechnology, biophysics, bioengineering and infectious diseases. These groups should integrate commercial funding and invite international scholars and experts to lecture. They should also send Taiwan's top talent to leading research laboratories overseas to learn new concepts and technologies.

Reflection and self-realization among university presidents and professors are the touchstones for the success of educational reform. Beginning today, we should direct our efforts toward thinking anew of how to cultivate the next generation, to enable them to face the challenges of the modern world.

The slower the reform in higher education is, the more serious the problem of unemployment and the threat to our living standards will be.

As the late scholar Hu Shi (胡適) said: "You reap what you sow."

When will higher education in Taiwan be able to move forcefully ahead toward dynamic reform?

King Chwan-chuen is a professor at the Institute of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University.

Translated by Perry Svensson
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