TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE, 教育部) defended the high academic standards of the Taiwan AI College Alliance (TAICA, AI聯盟) on March 12, emphasizing that its mission is to develop students with robust artificial intelligence capabilities rather than diluting course content for mass appeal.
According to the United Daily News (UDN, 聯合新聞網), the alliance's demanding credit assessment standards have triggered significant student withdrawals from specialized courses including AI ethics and generative AI humanities. Despite this trend, educational leaders remain committed to maintaining academic rigor.
At National Chengchi University (政大), Liu Ji-xuan (劉吉軒), director of the Interdisciplinary Artificial Intelligent Center, acknowledged the high dropout rates but highlighted the university's alternative pathway — a 9-credit "AI Interdisciplinary Micro Program" specifically designed to support beginners entering the field.
The MOE elaborated that TAICA's curriculum architecture spans core, advanced, and applied courses, deliberately structured to accommodate students from diverse academic backgrounds. The ministry noted that while some courses are conducted in English, prospective students can thoroughly review program descriptions to identify courses aligned with their preparation level.
In response to concerns about enrollment numbers, the ministry explained that it imposes no minimum student quota for courses — considering any enrolled student a successful outcome of the initiative. Launched in September 2023, the TAICA represents a collaborative effort among 55 universities across Taiwan, creating unprecedented opportunities for students to access cross-institutional learning in artificial intelligence education.