According to newspaper reports, oral tests are to be gradually added to national examinations starting next year.
Additionally, for jobs that require high stress resistance and emotional stability or involve firearms, science-based psychological tests are to be used to help with talent selection.
Although the new direction is correct, there must also be adequate preparation.
The psychological requirements for different civil servant positions vary greatly. For example, the psychological qualities needed for a general administrative post are different from those for a National Security Bureau job. Despite some special examinations including oral tests, it seems difficult to pick the right people based on a brief exam.
Also, a particular psychological quality might be an advantage for one type of work, but a disadvantage for another.
The Examination Yuan must create a database of psychological traits required by different types of jobs and establish a baseline for each position and level. By comparing applicants’ psychological test results against such a baseline, the government would be able to understand whether they are suitable for the jobs they are applying for.
Next, the government should reform its training and promotion systems to encourage employees to enhance their mental fortitude. The psychological qualities required to serve as a junior, intermediate or senior-level civil servant are not the same.
However, the curriculum does not provide psychological training for next-level posts.
Psychological tests should also be integrated with the assessment of the related training and promotion systems.
Although an intermediate-level civil servant might have completed the training necessary for a promotion to senior level, if their mental state does not fully meet the baseline of a good senior employee, the training system should offer courses on improving their mental fortitude. That person should not be promoted until they pass all the courses.
The high-tech industry has long incorporated psychological tests in talent recruitment, to reduce training costs while boosting industrial efficiency.
Today, the functions required by modern civil servants are different from those required by officials who were selected through the imperial examination system of the past. Therefore, national examinations should be adjusted in a timely manner.
Liu Chao-lung is an associate professor in National Changhua University of Education’s Department of Public Affairs and Civic Education.
Translated by Eddy Chang
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then
RSS