The academic conference “Development and Transition of Higher Education,” co-held by Graduate Institute of Educational Policy and Leadership, TKU, and Taiwan Higher Education Society, took place on Oct. 23 and 24, in which Dr. Huang Jong-tsun, President of China Medical University, and Dr. Zhou Yuan-qing, Director of Chinese Association of Higher Education, delivered keynote speeches. In the conference, scholars from both sides of the strait enthusiastically discussed seven topics, including the cultivation of talents, the quality assurance and evaluation of higher education, which drew great response.

This educational conference takes place in Taiwan and Mainland China by turns. In the past, it was held by National Chengchi University. This year, TKU hosts the conference for the first time, in which 19 papers and 1 roundtable discussion are presented. Speaking of the future of higher education, Dr. Pan Mao-yuan, Emeritus Dean of The Institute of Education, Xiamen University, indicated that Taiwan has to face the problem of fewer students resulting form the low-birth rate, while Mainland China needs to ponder on the issue of fewer private universities due to the taxation. Hence, in Dr. Pan’s opinion, students of Mainland China should be allowed to study in Taiwan, so that the problem in recruiting students in the universities of Taiwan could be partly solved.

Zhang Xian-liang, Vice-President of Xinjiang University, pointed out that because Xinjiang University is located on the marginal area, it is difficult for them to attract talents. Through the conference, he absorbed many new ideas of running school, especially on the aspect of cultivating talents. He hoped that there will be a chance to have exchange-student project with TKU, promoting the communication between two schools.

( ~Shu-chun Yen )