Nation wasting talent
The average age of professors at National Taiwan University is rising and 12,000 people are to reach retirement age within the next 10 years. Taiwan’s falling birth rate is a serious problem and a number of vocational high schools and universities are at risk of closing down.
However, some universities continue to open new graduate schools, while doctoral degree holders, who are getting younger, have problems finding teaching positions. If the graduates have no way of making use of their education, then the purpose of higher education becomes meaningless.
Young academics have no future in Taiwan, teachers complain that salaries are low, while retired instructors say that they still have something to offer. Talented students who do not want to be hampered by this situation are forced to go abroad to teach.
Universities in Singapore, Hong Kong, China and the Middle East are competing to recruit these talents.
Chinese schools offer annual salaries of 1 million yuan to 1.5 million yuan (US$151,000 to US$227,000), about five times the wages offered in Taiwan. Doctoral degree holders from top universities are paid more, so it is not surprising that so many people are leaving Taiwan.
Higher education is the future of any nation and Taiwan is nurturing many talented professionals and young academics, but there are more schools than needed. The number of people with doctoral degrees keeps increasing, and if salaries and benefits continue to lag, no amount of planning would be able to remedy the situation.
If the nation is to keep its educated elites at home, the Ministry of Education must take precautions and restrict the number of doctoral degrees, raise salaries and improve benefits. It is a pity to see Taiwan spend so much time and resources on educating talented people, only to let other nations enjoy the benefits.
Wu Yi-chung
Chiayi
Asia key to global security
US Senator Marco Rubio made the most sense among all Republican candidates in the US presidential race when he said that the US would help Taiwan, Japan and South Korea if needed (“US presidential candidate pledges to defend Taiwan,” Jan. 9, page 4).
Republicans and the US need to hear more discussions on such issues and less Donald Trump drivel.
US Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton has already voiced her determination to work for a safe East Asia.
It is a bipartisan concern and few candidates in the US seem to understand the importance of this region to global security.
Dave Hall
Taoyuan
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