Many Taiwanese universities require students to meet English proficiency standards for graduation, which schools said aim to enhance students’ employability and global mobility, but such policies have faced backlash from students, as they have to pay additional fees for benchmark tests.
Ministry of Education data for the 2023-2024 academic year showed that 97 institutions still require English proficiency tests for students graduating from regular bachelor’s programs.
The ministry on Sunday said that under the University Act (大學法), institutions should set their own graduation conditions and assessment criteria within a reasonable and necessary scope.
Photo: Yang Mien-chieh, Taipei Times
It said it reminded schools in 2019 to carefully consider the appropriateness of including English proficiency tests as graduation requirements, adding that the purpose of such tests should be to help students improve their English skills, not merely compel them to pass a test.
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University academic affairs director Chen Yung-sheng (陳永昇) said that only a small number of students have failed to graduate due to English proficiency requirements.
However, given that most of the university’s programs are in electrical engineering, science and biomedical fields — where English is often essential — the school canceled the test requirement and instead encouraged students to improve their English naturally, he said.
The university promotes diverse English-learning opportunities and English-medium instruction courses to foster a bilingual campus environment that motivates students to use English, he added.
National Cheng Kung University academic affairs director Shen Sheng-chih (沈聖智) said that while the school still values students’ foreign language skills, it has authorized each department to set its own standards, based on their academic and professional needs.
The university also offers online summer courses through its language center to help students improve their English, he said, adding that the school aims to be flexible and adjust policies based on feedback.
Meanwhile, National Taiwan University (NTU) said it requires undergrads to acquire six English-language course credits and pass an advanced English course before graduation.
However, students who meet certain English test score criteria may apply for exemptions, the university said.
NTU student Lee Jui-lin (李瑞霖) said that setting an English proficiency threshold for graduation is redundant, as departments that require intensive use of English texts often already hold students to higher standards.
However, for departments focused on other languages, such as Japanese or Korean, mandatory English proficiency standards can unfairly delay graduation, he said, adding that the university should let departments decide their own rules.
At Chung Yuan Christian University, undergraduate students are still required to meet specific English test score thresholds — such as passing the intermediate level of General English Proficiency Test, scoring at least 550 on the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) or achieving 4.0 on the International English Language Testing System.
University academic affairs director Pi Shih-ming (皮世明) said that most of the university’s students major in engineering and employers in such fields usually require a TOEIC score of 550.
Rather than having students struggle after graduation, it is better to help them meet the standard while still in school, he said.
The university provides students with multiple ways to reach the requirement, including offering English courses, campus activities, summer intensive programs and internal proficiency exams for those who have repeatedly failed external tests, ensuring their graduation is not delayed, Pi said.
In 2017, National Chengchi University (NCCU) law student Lai Yi-ling (賴怡伶) refused to submit proof of her English test results, protesting the school’s requirement that students pay for external testing to meet graduation criteria.
As a result, she did not receive a diploma, for which she filed an administrative lawsuit. That same year, several student associations launched petitions calling for the abolition of the policy.
NCCU and other universities including Fo Guang University and National Taipei University of Education have since scrapped the requirement.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS