Taiwan aiming to recruit more foreign university teachers

By Elaine Hou. The Cabinet passed a draft amendment Thursday that will loosen the regulations pertaining to university teaching positions as part of the Taiwan government's efforts to attract more foreign talent.
The draft amendment to the Act of Governing the Appointment of Educators allows Taiwan universities to hire teachers who have made "special academic contributions," regardless of their degree level, the Ministry of Education said.
However, job applicants will be required to pass a review by a committee of the education ministry, it added.
The bill is aimed at giving universities and colleges more flexibility to recruit exceptional teachers and help address the brain drain problem in Taiwan, said Wang Ming-yuan, a member of the ministry's Council of Academic Review and Evaluation.
"The education ministry began reviewing the existing regulations after some universities complained about the limitations on hiring teachers," Wang told CNA.
The current regulations stipulate that applicants with a bachelor's degree or higher must have experience in a specific field or a published work, among other requirements, in order to qualify for a teaching job at Taiwan's universities and colleges.
The amendment will now be sent to the Legislature for approval.