The number of Taiwanese students applying for visas to study abroad remained between 32,000 and 37,000 annually from 2004 to 2008, despite a growing number of graduates, an official at the Cabinet-level National Science Council NSC said Saturday.According to Ministry of Education statistics, the accumulated number of graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in Taiwan rose from around 253,000 people in 2004 to more than 285,000 in 2008.
The figures suggest a drop in the percentage of graduates seeking advanced education abroad, said Chang Ching-ray, director general of the NSC'S Department of International Cooperation.
Moreover, department researchers found that in recent years, more and more graduates went abroad for short-term language courses only, instead of acquiring an academic degree, Chang noted.Most graduates stayed in Taiwan for higher education, he said.
Amid globalization, Taiwan needs a pool of talent with international vision, Chang said, adding that local young people need to be encouraged to study abroad.To achieve that goal, the NSC has prepared various subsidy programs, including an academic exchange plan with the German Academic Exchange Service, under which Taiwan sends up to 30 Ph.D. candidates to Germany every year for research visits, Chang said. By Lin Huei-chun and Elizabeth Hsu enditem/bc