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Kaohsiung's sex school starting its second year

Sex on the brain? Looking to combine work and pleasure? Look no further than the Graduate School of Human Sexuality at Shu-te University in Kaohsiung, which will begin the second year of its doctoral program this year.

"As long as there are people, there will be a job market for sexuality scholars," said Lin Yen-chin (林燕卿), director of the institute.

Gone are the periodic tables, maps and bulletin boards found in most classrooms. The walls at this school are covered with erotic photographs, which professors say are designed to help students open up and facilitate discussion of normally taboo topics.

With such a stimulating curriculum, small wonder that the school -- the only one of its kind in the country -- received 67 applications for just three places when the program began last year.

Lin said the majority of applicants were doctors, nurses, lawyers, police, media workers and people with religious backgrounds. The successful entrants were a prison counselor for sexual offenders, a psychiatrist and a psychologist.

But the program certainly isn't all fun and games. Lin said there is a serious shortage of sexuality experts in Asia, as well as a need for 10,000 in the US and that most applicants apply with the goal of using their expertise professionally.

Student and prison counselor Tsai Ching-hung (蔡景宏) said that traditional sexual education focuses too much on biology and ignores the social aspect. He said that while counseling inmates, he discovered that most were not motivated by a biological sexual desire. He said that a deeper understanding of criminals' psychological motivations is necessary to prevent sexual crimes.

Li Hsun (李珣), the only female student, said that at the beginning it was uncomfortable discussing sexual topics with all the male students and professors, but that "you just have to pretend that you're sexless, then it's OK."

"Interaction between the sexes isn't just about being physically attractive. Spiritual communication is also necessary," she said. "A healthy attitude toward sex is only possible with a deep understanding of it."
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