TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's academic landscape has faced a daunting challenge in recent years: a scarcity of qualified faculty members.
A significant factor contributing to this issue is the comparatively low salary for professors, with the average in Taiwan amounting to just one-fifth of that in Hong Kong, a stark contrast emphasized by Chang Yao-wen, dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at National Taiwan University.
Chang recalled that one of his doctoral students chose to join the faculty at the Chinese University of Hong Kong after teaching in Hsinchu, as in Hong Kong, there is a fivefold increase in salary.
Compounding this challenge is a declining interest in pursuing doctoral degrees, discouraging internationally renowned educators from choosing Taiwan as their teaching destination.
The semiconductor industry, a critical player in Taiwan's economic landscape, also exacerbates the situation.
The increasing demand for talent and rising salary adjustments pose a risk of losing faculty members, particularly in the electrical engineering and computer science departments, according to Lin Por-yee, Director of the Taiwan Higher Education Union.
In response, the Executive Yuan plans to invest NT＄33.29 billion over the next five years, commencing in 2024, to address the issues of low salaries and talent gaps in higher education. As part of this initiative, academic research funds for professors at public universities will see an increase of around NT＄6,000 to NT＄9,000 per month.
Private schools are also stepping up, committing to a 15% increase in academic research funds, with the Ministry of Education subsidizing 70% of the expenses.
While the government's efforts are acknowledged, private schools express hope for more comprehensive measures.
The higher education union has initiated a petition, joined by 80 public and private institutions and 500 teachers, urging the Ministry of Education to implement equal salary adjustments.
Tackling the low salary conditions for faculty is crucial. It is an investment in Taiwan's educational future. By ensuring competitive salaries, the nation can retain and attract top-tier talent, fostering a vibrant academic environment that is integral to the prosperity of the country.