Over the last five years, the number of students registering for the admission exam for tertiary level vocational education has reduced by 8.3 per cent, according to the latest announcement by the Testing Centre for Technological and Vocational Education.

The popular areas of studies used to be subjects such as Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Business and Management, and Mechanical Engineering, which have been increasingly losing attention from students and are suffered from a decrease rate that is higher than the average. The popular areas for studies are now replaced by Personal Services and Home Economics, including subjects like Culinary Studies, Beauty and Hairdressing, Fashion, etc. Many of these subjects are believed to lead to better career prospects, especially in the service industry where job opportunities seem to be thriving.

Local education experts indicated that as a result of the aging population, many institutions are looking for ways to retain recruitment. Areas that have higher employability have therefore become a focus for investment. For many private institutions this is a particular area of focus as it gives them greater advantage when competing for students with the public-funded institutions whose fee level is around 50% less than the private ones.   

In light of the changing student focus on study subjects, the Department of Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education responded that the shifting to service-related subjects could have an impact on the industrial development that has been an important base to support Taiwan’s economic growth. The Ministry is looking at providing financial support to public-funded vocational senior high schools with their industrial learning facilities to ensure that talent cultivation reflects the future needs of both industries and businesses to reach a balanced portfolio at the national level, reported the United Daily.