Taiwanese Lawmaker, Students Meet Education Ministry on University Act Reforms

Taiwanese legislator Fan Yun, along with fellow lawmakers Wu Pei-yi and Kuo Yu-ching, convened with representatives from the National Union of Taiwan Students (NUTS) and the Ministry of Education to advance proposed revisions to the University Act. The meeting, held at the Legislative Yuan, brought together over 80 student delegates from more than 30 student associations nationwide.

The primary focus of the discussion was the "University Act" amendment, which seeks to enhance higher education reform and safeguard student rights. Legislator Fan Yun emphasized her ongoing commitment to this cause, noting that legislative drafts have been consistently proposed since she took office. She highlighted the progress made, including public hearings and consultations, with a detailed clause-by-clause review scheduled for the current legislative session.

Key proposals debated included increasing student representation on university administrative committees, advocating for a ratio of 1/8 to 1/5, and ensuring at least half of non-supervisory faculty are elected. The group also addressed the selection process for private university presidents, suggesting it should mirror that of private schools with student representatives, and called for optimizing the reappointment procedures, referencing a recent controversy at National Tsing Hua University.

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The Ministry of Education has a position, but some areas are still stuck in the details when it comes to writing them into articles.

Ministry of Education Vice Minister Chu Chun-chang acknowledged the ministry's support for many of the proposed changes, such as increasing student representation to 1/8 on administrative committees and including student delegates in private university presidential selections. However, he noted that specific details are still being finalized. Students also raised concerns about recent Ministry of Education regulations impacting student associations' ability to operate, including contacting new members, and the implementation of energy-saving measures that restrict campus space usage and air conditioning. Vice Minister Chu pledged to collect feedback and make further adjustments.

Another significant issue addressed was the abolition of dormitory curfews, a topic previously raised by student unions. While the Ministry cited safety concerns and adherence to internal student discussions for the continued existence of curfews in seven schools, students argued this infringes on the autonomy of adult students, sometimes forcing them to spend nights in convenience stores. Legislator Fan Yun agreed, stating curfews could paradoxically increase risks for students unable to return to their dorms. Both Fan Yun and Vice Minister Chu committed to further discussions and improvements on these matters.

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Dormitory curfew policies actually make students who cannot return to the dormitory less safe.