|
|
|
(Last updated: 31 Mar 2008)
Trends and opportunities
The market
Taiwan’s educational system is currently undergoing major reform with the key objective being to internationalise the education system. It will not only provide additional places at local institutions, but also create a favourable environment for Australian (and other) recruitment activities in Taiwan.
Education is important for Taiwanese and entrance exams for the better known schools are highly competitive. Compulsory education is for nine years, with six years of primary school and three years of junior high school. The breakdown of graduates is:
- Senior vocational schools (three years) – 134,013
- Senior high schools (three years) – 112,598
- Junior college (five years, admission for junior high school graduates) – 123,317
- Universities and college (two or four years) – 173,567
Overseas education is now an alternative to fulfilling military training. In order to qualify for the suspension of military duties, students must go offshore before 31 December in the year they turn 18 and obtain a letter of admission to a formal course leading to, at least, a bachelor’s degree before 31 December in the year they turn 19.
Since 1998 students have been permitted either to gain credit points towards their degree at the home institution or to receive a degree from overseas if an agreement was in place with the foreign educational institution and the home institution. Taiwan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is likely to create a less restrictive environment especially in the higher education sector i.e. for the delivery of courses by foreign institutions in Taiwan as well as in distance education.
Opportunities
The best opportunities in Taiwan's education and training sector for Australian exporters are:
- Study tours – summer or winter study and sightseeing tours are popular due to Australia’s price competitiveness compared with other destinations.
- Aviation sector – Taiwan’s air safety management has room for improvement so there are opportunities in pilot training and flight safety management.
- Environmental management - there are opportunities for waste treatment and environmental studies and training.
- English language training for future primary school teachers. The severe shortage of primary school teachers in Taiwan has seen the Ministry of Education coordinate a program to recruit and train about 3500 new primary school teachers with seven leading universities. The training includes 360 hours of English language training.
- Higher education, especially undergraduate degrees.
- Vocational education and training sector, such as TAFE.
- Distance education
Competitive environment
The USA is the dominant exporter of education to Taiwan, followed by the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. Each country’s share of the market is:
- USA - approximately 42 per cent
- UK - approximately 27 per cent
- Australia - approximately 11 per cent, excludes student visas issued in Australia or students enrolled in courses less than 13 weeks long
- Canada - approximately seven per cent, this only relates to graduates and post graduates
- Japan - approximately five per cent
- New Zealand – approximately two per cent
|
 |
|
|
Tariffs, regulations and customs
Industry standards
With Taiwan’s accession to the World Trade Organization in January 2002, it opens the door for higher education provision such as setting up an offshore branch in Taiwan. While the Ministry of Education (MOE) decided to relax restrictions on the ‘setting up offshore branches in Taiwan’ and ‘delivery of courses in Taiwan’, there are still some restrictions.
Primarily, the Private School Act is the basic law governing the delivery of courses by foreign educational institutions. No institution can recruit students or offer them accredited courses in Taiwan without the approval of MOE.
Foreign institutions can only offer courses that are accredited, either by MOE or relevant education bodies or professional organisations in their home country. No foreign universities or institutions are allowed to deliver courses in Taiwan, unless they are doing so in collaboration with a public or an approved private university or college of higher education under an international cooperation or exchange program.
|
|
|
|
Marketing your products and services
Market entry
Taiwan’s international education market is still very much dominated by educational agents although independent students may apply through different means themselves, such as online or via AEI. Therefore, institutes should consider the following strategies:
- Make a long-term commitment to export education to Taiwan
- Recruit an agent with a good reputation and strong contacts
- Aggressively participate in promotional activities, eg. regular exhibitions and seminars
- Prepare promotional material in Taiwanese
As more students look to study overseas or via foreign providers, the quality of the education service is becoming more important. Australian institutions should consider the following when marketing their education services in Taiwan:
- Emphasise high quality especially for science and technology courses
- Emphasise value for money in comparison with destinations such as the USA, UK, or Japan
- Regularly use promotional means such as participating in exhibitions (Austrade holds an annual education show in Taiwan), advertising, fairs, and seminars. This year’s Study In Australia 2004 will be help from 2 – 6 October in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.
Distribution channels
Australian institutes are encouraged to work closely with local agents for recruiting students and to visit Taiwan regularly to maintain good relationships with local agents. It is also very important to attend exhibitions and seminars. The Australian Education International and IDP provide specialists to increase awareness of Australia’s general competence as a provider of international education.
|
|
|
|
|
Contact details
The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government’s trade and investment development agency, operating as a statutory agency within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.
Austrade assists Australian businesses contribute to national prosperity by succeeding in trade and investment, internationally, and promoting and supporting productive foreign investment into Australia.
Austrade:
- Delivers services that assist Australian businesses initiate, sustain and grow trade and outward investment.
- Promotes Australia as an inward investment destination and, with the States and Territories, supports the inflow of productive foreign direct investment.
- Administers the Export Market Development Grants scheme.
- Undertakes initiatives designed to improve community awareness of, and commitment to, international trade and investment.
- Provides advice to the Australian Government on its trade and investment development activities.
- Delivers consular, passport and other government services in designated overseas locations.
A list of Austrade offices (in alphabetical order of country) is available.
More information
For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au |
 |
Share this content
|
|
|