Graduates Flock to European Schools
(Condensed from the Taipei Journal, January 12, 2001)
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| President Chen Shui-bian receives exchange students from Europe. (Courtesy
of the Office of the President) |
The United States has been the favorite destination of Taiwan graduate students
for over four decades. In recent years, however, European universities
have challenged their American counterparts for the Taiwan academic
market.
During the 1999-2000 academic year, the number of Taiwan students studying
in the United States fell by 6 percent from 31,043 to 29,234, compared to the
previous year. In the peak year of 1994, 37,581 Taiwan students were enrolled
at 921 accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States. According
to the ROC Ministry of Education (MOE), this decreased enrollment is part of
a six-year shift in Taiwan study patterns.
Lee Chen-chin, director of the MOE's Bureau of International Cultural and Education
Relations, indicated the decline was, in part, due to an increase in the number
of Taiwan students entering graduate studies on the island. "However, it also
correlates with the increase over the last few years in the number of local
students enrolling in Europe," he said.
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| A growing number of Taiwan students choose to pursue graduate studies in Europe.
(Photo by Chen Mei-ling) |
In 1998 and 1999, over 13,000 Taiwan students were studying in the United Kingdom,
with an additional 1,500 in France and 1,443 in Germany. Greater prosperity
on the island has allowed residents to expand their overseas contacts beyond
such traditional destinations as the United States. In recent years, more young
tourists from Taiwan have visited Europe, stimulating their interest to study
there. Consequently, schools in the United Kingdom launched aggressive recruiting
campaigns to attract Taiwan graduate students.
Moreover, in its annual program for overseas study subsidies, the ROC government
has increased the student quota for advanced education in Europe.
Taiwan students take English-language courses throughout junior high and high
school, making Britain and other English-speaking countries obvious alternatives
to the United States for advanced degrees. In fact, Europe has enjoyed the fastest
enrollment growth, with France registering a three-fold increase in the number
of Taiwan students during 1999.
Graduate study abroad is no longer limited to the elite of society. Today,
advanced education has mass appeal, and tens of thousands of Taiwan students
will benefit from overseas study in Europe over the next decade.
| Table VIII. Taiwan Students Enrolled in European Universities |
| Country \ Year |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
| United Kingdom |
5,095 |
6,414 |
6,173 |
13,000 |
| Germany |
1,368 |
1,372 |
1,422 |
1,443 |
| France |
571 |
* |
590 |
1,500 |
| Switzerland |
11 |
* |
193 |
193 |
| Italy |
* |
152 |
159 |
133 |
| Spain |
* |
* |
150 |
148 |
| CIS |
* |
* |
142 |
121 |
| Netherlands |
40 |
58 |
53 |
53 |
| Belgium |
106 |
97 |
88 |
88 |
| Sweden |
* |
* |
* |
19 |
| Austria |
* |
* |
* |
194 |
Source: Ministry of Education,
Republic of China
* Not available |
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