2024 Breakthrough Forum: How to Respond to the Wave of School Closures？
Under the impact of declining birth rates, schools at all levels are closing at an alarming pace. Not only are higher education institutions shutting down one after another, but primary and secondary schools in remote areas are also vanishing rapidly. The Ministry of Education has even acknowledged that the 2028-2029 academic year will bring a tsunami of closures among private universities, with only a handful likely to survive.
The longstanding issues within Taiwan’s education system—urban-rural disparities, rigid curricula, and blind spots in private school policy—are being magnified in the wake of these closures. Faced with institutional shutdowns, what options remain for affected students? How can faculty be appropriately relocated or transition to new careers? What should schools that remain open do to reposition themselves? And what policies should the government adopt to effectively address this crisis? These pressing questions deserve widespread public attention.
To tackle this issue, the Fair Winds Foundation is honored to host a forum featuring President Tang Yen-Po of St. John's University of Science and Technology, former Mingdao University educator Liu Chia-Yu, Principal Maishu Takelu of Xinyi Junior High School in Nantou County, and Chairwoman Li Hui-Lan of the Taipei Teachers’ Industrial Union.
The discussion will be moderated by Chairman Jiang Yi-huah of the Fair Winds Foundation, and will explore a range of challenges and policy strategies in hopes of contributing meaningfully to Taiwan’s educational development. All are warmly welcome to join!
Time: Saturday, September 21, 2024 2:30 PM –4:30 PM
Venue: GIS MOTC Convention Center – International Conference Hall (3F, No. 24, Sec. 1, Hangzhou S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100)
Contact: (02) 2752-1700
Organized by: Fair Winds Foundation
Co-sponsor: The Storm Media
與會來賓
Jiang Yi-huah is Bauhinia Chair Professor at the Institute for Strategic and International Affairs, National Chung Cheng University, and chairman of the Fair Winds Foundation. Born in Keelung, Taiwan, Professor Jiang holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Political Science from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University. Born in Keelung, Taiwan, he has served as Associate Research Fellow at Academia Sinica’s Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences; Associate Professor, Professor, and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Political Science at NTU; and Professor of Public Policy at City University of Hong Kong. Between 2008 and 2014, he held various senior government positions, including Minister of the Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission, Minister of the Interior, vice premier, and premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Professor Jiang’s research focuses on political philosophy, liberalism, democratic theory, national identity, and Taiwan’s political development. Among his major publications are Liberalism, Nationalism, and National Identity (Yang-Chih, 1998), Essays on Liberalism and Democracy (Linking Books, 2000), and Nationalism and Democratic Politics (NTU Press, 2003). He has received several accolades, including the Distinguished Teaching Award from NTU (2001) and the Outstanding Research Award from Taiwan’s National Science Council (2002).
Dr. Tang holds a Ph.D. in Law from Chinese Culture University. He is currently President of St. John’s University of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Association of Private Educational Institutions, Chairperson of the Ministry of Education’s Private School Advisory Committee, and member of the Private School Exit Foundation. He also serves as a board member of the Foundation for Promoting Private Education, a municipal advisor to Taipei and New Taipei City Governments, and Chairman of Huagang Arts School. He previously served as President of China University of Technology, Taipei University of Marine Technology, Yu Da University of Science and Technology, and Chongyu Institute of Technology. He was also Chairman of the Association of Private Universities and Colleges of Science and Technology, Executive Director of the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan, and recipient of numerous honors including the Ministry of Education’s Excellent Teacher Award, Premier’s Service Medal (Third Class), and recognition as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Private School Presidents.
A graduate from the Institute of Enterprise Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Liu has worked in education for 38 years. With the closure of Mingdao University, he embraced a career transition, now engaged in the planning of ceremonial services (weddings and funerals), continuing his dedication to public service. His research interests include student activity management and personality development. He previously taught graphic engineering at Ling Tung High School in Taichung and served as lecturer in Business Administration at Mingdao University.
A member of the Bunun tribe from Dongpu Village beneath Yushan (Jade Mountain). He served as Principal of Puli Junior High School for seven years and currently leads Xinyi Junior High School. He is also convenor of Nantou County’s Remote School Education Resource Center and a Ph.D. candidate at National Chi Nan University’s Graduate Institute of Educational Policy and Administration. In 2023, he founded the Bunun Forest Academy to build and pass on the Bunun cultural knowledge system. He resides in Takulan Hills, part of the Junda Mountain Range, and dedicates himself to cultural education and literary writing.
Ms. Li holds credentials from Taipei Provincial Teacher College, National Taichung University of Education, and a master’s degree in Industrial Design from Huafan University. Currently serves as Chairwoman of the Taipei Teachers’ Industrial Union, Curriculum Reviewer for the Ministry of Education, Educational Advisor to the Taipei City Government, Indigenous Affairs Consultant at the National Academy for Educational Research, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Joint Association of Civil Servants, Military Personnel, Police, and Firefighters, Supervisor of the Nantou Regional Industrial Development Association, and Advisor to several organizations including the Taichung School Nurses Association, New Taipei Education Union, Nantou Ren’ai DOC, and the Cross-Strait Century Exchange and Cooperation Association.