In recent years, the declining birthrate has led to enrollment shortfalls across higher education institutions (HEIs). To safeguard teaching and learning quality, the Ministry of Education (MOE) enacted the Guidelines for Student Rights to Education in Junior Colleges and Higher Education Institutions (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines are intended to ensure that, despite recruitment pressures, HEIs do not resort to administrative measures, such as merging classes, downsizing faculty and staff, or other cost-cutting actions, that would compromise teaching and learning quality and thereby impair students’ rights to education. Since 2014, the MOE has commissioned the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT) to implement the Project for the Protection of Student Rights to Education in Junior Colleges and Higher Education Institutions (the “Project”).

To gain a system-wide understanding of how students’ right to education is being protected, the MOE will expand the Project’s scope by conducting sample audits of HEIs that have not previously been reviewed.

Moreover, to help HEIs stay current with the legal framework and major policy priorities, the Project consolidates MOE policies and illustrative cases of common pitfalls and, in accordance with MOE directives, convenes nationwide info sessions─ thereby further safeguarding students’ right to education.