| Education is strongly emphasized in the ROC and a large share of government expenditures is allocated for educational purposes. With an increasing share of the population receiving higher education, people with at least a college or university degree now account for the largest group of Taiwan’s literate public aged 15 and above—at 34.9 percent, which is 18.5 percentage points more than 10 years ago.
Every year in international competitions such as the International Science Olympiads, young people from Taiwan win distinction in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and informatics. Taiwan’s successful high-tech sector has consistently attracted about 45 percent of university students to major in science and engineering in the last decade. Taiwan’s high-caliber human resources have contributed tremendously to enhancing economic prosperity and the quality of life.
Increasing numbers of universities offer degree programs taught in English. Both government and university scholarships are available for international students. The Taiwan Scholarship Program, for instance, offers grants to students interested in Mandarin Chinese studies as well as those who wish to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in diverse fields. Interested applicants may contact Taiwan’s embassies and representative offices or visit the Ministry of Education’s Web site at
http://english.moe.gov.tw.
Education Profile (2008-2009)
Literacy rate (age 15 or higher): 98 percent (2008)
Government outlays for education: 19 percent of combined central and local government expenditures, accounting for 4.5 percent of GDP (2008)
Institutions of higher learning: 162 (147 universities and colleges, 15 junior colleges)
Students enrolled in institutions of higher learning:
Total: 1.3 million
Master’s programs: 181,000
Doctoral programs: 33,000
Taiwanese studying abroad: 37,800
Fostering creative expression while amply grounding learners in traditional skills and concepts are twin educational challenges in Taiwan. (Chang Su-ching)
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