A 15 member committee at the nation's most prestigious institution of higher education will choose its new president next week. The two-day forum held for six presidential candidates to discuss what they would do if elected, however, sparked controversy over the legitimacy of the election process.
Students and professors at the National Taiwan University criticized the university's election committee for selecting the candidates secretly during the forum, which was held at the school yesterday and Saturday.
"The election committee failed to invite talented people from outside of the university to run for the presidential post," said Chen Rui-rong (
The election is to find a successor to Chen Wei-Jao (
The six candidates are politics professor Bau Tzong-ho (包宗和), chemistry professor Shie Ming-peng (彭旭明), engineering college Dean Yang Yeong-bin (楊永斌), Dean Lee Si-chen (李嗣涔), current vice president Wu Ching-hsiung (吳靜雄) and atmospheric sciences professor Chen Tai-Jen (陳泰然). All currently work at the university.
Other well-known schools, such as National Tsing Hua University and National Chiao Tung University, invited both domestic and international scholars to run for president when elections were held. National Taiwan University's failure to include academics from outside the university may hurt its reputation, some professors said at the meeting.
During yesterday's forum, Bau said that if he is elected, he would reform the school's academic ethics policy, enhance research and promote international exchanges.
"The university has earned a good international reputation for its academic freedom and dedication to research. I will strive to carry on this tradition," Bau said.
Atmospheric sciences professor Chen said that he would aim at broadening the scope of university services and increase administrative efficiency.
Representatives from the student union called on candidates to pay more attention to issues including allocation of the university's resources, academic reviews and school budget.
"The university should include students' opinions before making decisions especially with regard to tuition." said Wang Chung-wei (王中威), member of the university's student union. "In addition, we also ask the president to allocate resources to every department fairly."
Wu promised not to favor any department if elected. The university will also increase research funding for graduate school students, he said.
The university held its first presidential election in 1993, in which Chen was elected by the election committee. According to the university's regulations, each president can be re-elected twice, and serve for three four-year terms.
The committee is made up of representatives from the administration, academia, and alumni groups.
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