More than three-quarters of respondents to a survey released yesterday by the National Applied Research Laboratories said that earning a doctorate is rewarding, but those with doctoral degrees in the natural and life sciences reported lower satisfaction.
At a news conference in Taipei, the Science and Technology Policy Research and Information Center unveiled the results of the poll, which surveyed Taiwanese who obtained doctorates between 2001 and 2017, as part of a long-term project to track talent.
The center in 2018 sent out 29,702 questionnaires and received 4,897 valid replies, center associate researcher Lo Ai-yen (羅愛雁) said.
Photo: CNA
The center did not reveal the results until yesterday because it needed time to analyze the results, Lo said, adding that it hoped to announce them at a time when more doctorate holders are starting to find jobs.
A total of 75.7 percent of respondents said that it was rewarding to earn a doctoral degree.
It also found that 85.7 percent of respondents aged 50 or older found having a doctorate rewarding, greater than the 76 percent of people aged 40 to 49 and the 66.2 percent of people younger than 40.
Holders of doctorates in education were the most satisfied at 84.9 percent, followed by those with advanced degrees in agriculture; mechanical engineering; medical fields; arts and humanities; and business management, the survey found.
By comparison, 62.8 percent of holders of a life sciences doctorate and 70.5 percent of those with a natural sciences doctorate considered their degrees beneficial, the lowest two among 12 disciplines, it found.
In terms of gender, 78.4 percent of female respondents said that their doctorates were beneficial, greater than the 74.6 percent of male respondents.
Respondents in education possibly reported greater satisfaction because academic degrees are pertinent to the promotion of teachers, while doctorates are not always required for people working in scientific fields in Taiwan, Lo said.
In addition to the requirements of their jobs, women are likely to consider more factors, such as self-achievement and education for children, while men might focus on work when evaluating the worth of diplomas, she said.
As for their motives for attaining doctorates, 78.5 percent referred to job requirements, 78.2 percent said that they hoped to become the top talent in their fields and 66.8 percent cited the expectations of parents, family members or others, the survey showed.
It also found that people who worked while studying for their doctorate and those who worked before enrolling in doctoral programs had greater satisfaction with their degrees than those without full-time work experience.
People who obtained doctorates from foreign universities also had greater satisfaction that those who received them from domestic institutions, it showed.
People who cannot decide whether to pursue a doctorate should first enter the workforce to clarify their needs, Lo said, adding that work experience could also foster industrial-academic exchanges.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS