University merger policy sets long-term goal for academia

Six local universities will merge into three due to the nation's declining birth rate, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday.
The decreasing number of students led the MOE to downsize the number of universities and polytechnic institutes. The ministry has been reviewing the university enrollment system and has decided on the new admission policy targeting university amalgamation given the dramatic drop in college applicants.
Minister of Education Chiang Wei-ling said that the MOE is currently adjusting its college admission system and aims to merge six major universities into three universities.
The top six universities to undergo mergers are: National Taiwan University and National Taipei University of Education; National Tsing Hua University and National Hsinchu University of Education; and National Pingtung University of Education and National Pingtung Institute of Commerce. More...