TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The National Taiwan University established the International School of Politics and Economics on Monday (May 6). The school, the first of its kind in the country, offers all courses in English with a focus on political science, economics, and leadership. It is open to both local and international students, with programs slated to start in autumn 2025.
Data from 2023 shows that Taiwan provides nearly 500 English-taught degree programs across various levels, including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral. The Ministry of Education noted that, as of March 2024, over 50 higher education institutions offer entirely English-taught programs.
The government aims to enhance local students' English proficiency and attract international talent through these programs. The number of international students in Taiwan has seen significant fluctuations, rising from 80,000 in the 2013 academic year to 128,000 in 2019, then dropping during the 2020 and 2021 academic years due to COVID-19, before recovering to 104,000 in 2022.
Most of these international students hail from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, according to the Ministry of Education and the National Development Council. With the goal of becoming a bilingual nation by 2030, Taiwan has been promoting English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) courses since 2021 to adapt to globalization and the demands of digital technology.