PRINCIPAL FORUM - JUNIOR COLLEGE’S FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

2018-08-16

In recent years, technological and vocational education has begun to be reaffirmed, because many students and parents have realized that not everyone needs a college diploma. It is important to have a living ability and professional skills. Therefore, on 16th of Aug., 2018, Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA) held a Principal Forum specifically for “Junior Colleges” and focused on the topics of “how to develop the institution’s characteristics”, “how to implement the integration of learning and usage” and “how to improve the quality of institution operation through the evaluation mechanism under the premise of guaranteeing the teaching quality”.

President Huang from Jenteh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, President Hong from Chung-Jen Junior College of Nursing, Health Science and Management, President Lin from Cardinal Tien Junior College of Healthcare and Management, President Chen from Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, President Yeh from Min-Hwei Junior College of Health Care Management, President Tsai from Yuh-Ing Junior College of Health Care and Management, and Vice-President Chang from National Taitung Junior College were all invited to attend the forum.

It was found from the discussions during the forum that although the participating junior colleges were facing the difficulties such as low birth rate and internationalization, they still worked hard to manage the institutions with their characteristics, which are the unique advantages "pragmatic and practical employment-oriented" teaching method, focusing on the students’ character education and internship opportunities to strengthen the students’ capabilities in being employed after graduation. It is really commendable that these junior colleges can still maintain stable sources of students under the challenges and difficulties.

Starts from the next cycle of evaluation, Ministry of Education decides to change the evaluation mechanism from “Grading” to “Accreditation” which will be the same as University of Science and Technology and Institute of Technology. The principals are happy to see the change, only for the practice of junior college, they put forwards their own opinions and views. It is hoped that in the future, the junior colleges can truly achieve the quality for school operation after passing the evaluation and bring opportunities for continuous learning and growth.

The forum was ended with enthusiastic speeches from the principals and came to a successful ending. TWAEA hopes that through the participation of the presidents from junior colleges, the forum can provide further inspiration and help the institutions move towards sustainable development.