Growing number of local students studying in China

While diplomas from universities in China are not yet recognized by the government, the trend of Taiwanese students seeking degrees on the other side of the Taiwan Strait appears to be unstoppable.

A record number of 37 Taiwan students was accepted this year by Beijing University (北京大學). Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (南京中醫藥大學) and Zhanghai University of Medicine (上海醫藥大學), each admitting around 70.

According to statistics provided by Chen Cheng-teng (陳正騰), secretary general of the Taiwanese Student Union (大陸台生聯誼會), more than 200 students -- three times more than last year -- applied to Beijing University this year. Only six were admitted last year.

"Although the Ministry of Education does not have official figures, the tendency [for Taiwanese students] to study in China will continue. There are a growing number of students coming to me for advice," said George Yang (楊景堯), an associate professor at the Tamkang Graduate Institute of China Studies.

Chinese medicine has always been the most popular major because of China's long history and extensive research in this field.

As trade with China has grown, majors in law and business management are also increasing in popularity.

"I don't think students' decisions are affected by the government's reluctance to acknowledge their degrees. What really attracts the students is the rosy outlook of the job market," said Chu Jung-pin (朱榮彬), director of the Taiwanese Student Union.

"Regardless of the ambiguous attitude of our government, China is swiftly opening its doors to students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan."

In the past, no students from Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan were allowed to take the bar examination in China, but the Chinese government has just lifted this restriction against people from Hong Kong and Macao, said Chu.

"I am sure the ban against Taiwanese students will be eased in the foreseeable future," Chu said.

While there are no official statistics for students who study in China, there are reportedly tens of thousands of Taiwanese students currently studying there. An estimated 1,000 Taiwanese hold Chinese degrees that have yet to be recognized by the Taiwanese government.

The decision of whether or not Chinese degrees will be acknowledged by Taiwan's government has been a highly contentious issue because of the politics involved.

Regardless of the trend, the Taiwanese government has never been supportive of students studying across the strait and has been dragging its feet on the issue.

"The decision is not actually in the hands of the education ministry [given that it is a touchy political matter]. It is controlled by the Mainland Affairs Council, the Executive Yuan or the administrative department of `even higher rank' than the executive branch [the Presidential Office]," said Chang Kuo-pao (張國保), deputy director of the higher education department of the education ministry.

Minister of Education Ovid Tzeng (曾志朗) has promised to have the matter sorted out by the end of the year.

In the face of mounting pressure, Chang said that the ministry has drafted relative measures as well as a detailed list of schools that should be acknowledged, but lacks the authority to provide any timetable.