TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Education's (MOE, 教育部) latest July report revealed that 70% of full-time professors at Taiwanese universities hold foreign doctoral degrees, while only 30% hold domestic ones. This preference for overseas doctorates has made it difficult for locally trained Ph.D. holders to secure faculty positions.
Chen Hao-ming (陳浩銘), a professor in the Department of Chemistry at National Taiwan University (台大化學系), believes that deep-seated biases contribute to this issue. He cites three main challenges for domestic Ph.D. holders: research focus, international connections, and a general lack of ambition and aspiration.
Academician Yeh Jien-wei (葉均蔚) from Academia Sinica (中央研究院) suggests that domestic Ph.D. holders should pursue postdoctoral research abroad and accumulate quality research papers. He argues that this would enhance their competitiveness, especially when there is no strong demand for foreign-trained specialists in a particular field.
Yeh also notes that changing the preference of faculty review committees for foreign doctorates is unlikely. Instead, he advises local Ph.D. holders to improve their skills and research achievements to gain the appreciation and support of most committee members.
The ongoing debate highlights the need for systemic changes to support the career prospects of domestically trained scholars. As the academic community considers these suggestions, the focus remains on bridging the gap between local and international academic standards.