The Cabinet yesterday proposed relaxing rules on employment for faculty jobs and teaching positions at tertiary education institutions to increase flexibility in the recruitment of talent for those organizations.
Currently, universities and junior colleges may apply Article 19 of the Act Governing the Appointment of Educators (教育人員任用條例) to appoint an individual without a degree conferred by junior colleges or higher levels, but who have made special academic contributions, as a teacher at their universities.
The Ministry of Education proposed an amendment whereby Article 19 would apply to an individual who has earned a junior college degree or higher and who currently is subject to requirements to become a lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor or a professor stipulated in articles 16, 17 and 18.
If the amendment passes, an individual who holds a doctoral degree or an equivalent certificate and has engaged in research work related to their major for three years, five years short of the minimum requirement of the eight-year experience stipulated in Article 18, would be eligible for faculty positions at tertiary education institutions.
The rule would apply to both Republic of China citizens and foreigners.
In related news, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Architects’ Act (建築師法) to loosen a rule that disqualifies individuals undergoing psychiatric treatment from being architects.
An individual found by a state hospital to be suffering from a mental disorder or illness is disqualified from practicing architecture and barred from obtaining an architect’s license, while their license or certificate would be revoked if it had been previously issued.
The Ministry of the Interior proposed revising the rule, which it said “unduly restricts freedom of choice of occupation” and thus is “not in line with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.”
If the legislature approves the amendment, the ministry would have to consult with two physicians to determine if a psychiatric patient is able to practice architecture or obtain the architect’s license before it invokes the rule.
The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the Veterinary Drugs Control Act (動物用藥品管理法) to enhance the penalty for illegal production, imports or use of animal drugs.
The amendment introduced a penalty that whoever is guilty of manufacturing or importing forbidden veterinary drugs would be sentenced to seven years in prison, or life in prison if the offense results in the death of a human being, and would be sentenced to between three years and seven years in prison if the drug caused serious bodily injury.
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