Taiwan’s Education Ministry strengthens university advisers’ role amid student stress and fraud risks

With universities preparing to reopen, Taiwan’s Education Ministry is asking campus advisers to watch for more than academic difficulties. Student psychological pressure, adjustment problems and involvement in fraud schemes, including work as money couriers, are all on this year’s agenda.

The ministry is holding the 2026 National Workshop for University Adviser Affairs Officers over two days. Under Taiwan’s existing three-tier counseling system, advisers can identify warning signs through everyday observation and relationships with students, then connect them with resources inside and outside the university.

Yang Yi-yin, a section chief at the ministry, said students receive developmental, intervention and treatment-oriented counseling. Advisers serve as essential first-line staff, while the officers attending the workshop provide them with administrative support. A prosecutor from Taiwan’s High Prosecutors’ Office, Su Pei-yu, is explaining the legal risks and response procedures for students who become involved in fraud, including as couriers.

The workshop also examines how universities run campus- and college-level adviser systems. Participants from National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, Tamkang University, National Changhua University of Education and Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages are sharing institutional and practical experience. Social-emotional learning and AI applications are included as schools consider how advisers can work with academic affairs, international affairs and information systems offices. Yang said cooperation between advisers and administrative staff could help identify student needs earlier, provide necessary assistance and reduce the risk of crises.

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Advisers are an indispensable first line of support staff.