The Ministry of Education (MOE) has approved a plan to merge National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) and Hwa Hsia University of Technology, the first merger involving public and private universities in Taiwan.
NTUST and Hwa Hsia, a private technical university in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和), were notified of the MOE’s approval on Thursday, Department of Technological and Vocational Education Director Yang Yu-hui (楊玉惠) said.
The consolidation plan was approved as proposed without any further conditions, she said.
Photo: Rachel Lin, Taipei Times
Many private universities have struggled to enroll students and stay afloat, as the number of university-aged students has declined due to a fall in the country’s birthrate.
In this school year, Hwa Hsia only filled 42.39 percent of its openings, the fifth-lowest rate among private universities in Taiwan.
Although the move was described by the ministry as a merger, NTUST is to take over the assets of the private school to give it a smooth exit.
The Union of Private School Educators on Friday disputed the MOE’s characterization of the move as the first “merger” between a public and private university.
“NTUST is taking over Hwa Hsia,” union president Yu Jung-hui (尤榮輝) said, adding that Hwa Hsia would first shut down in accordance with the Private School Act (私立學校法), and donate its remaining assets to NTUST.
Regardless of how the move is described, Yang said that it was a successful case that other private schools could learn from, adding that schools should plan in advance rather than waiting until they encounter financial difficulties.
However, it was relatively easy for Hwa Hsia’s board to approve the move, because most of the board members were appointed by the MOE and did not have a financial stake in the school, she said.
Under the plan, Hwa Hsia would not enroll any new students for the next academic year, and would close at the end of the academic year in 2026.
Students enrolled at Hwa Hsia and who meet all requirements for graduation would receive their diploma from the university.
NTUST would hire some of Hwa Hsia’s faculty over the next four to five years, based on employment contracts, a joint statement by the universities said on Friday.
Hwa Hsia said that in the interim period, its campus in Jhonghe would be used by NTUST, while its other campus properties would be donated to NTUST after Hwa Hsia’s debts are paid off.
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