China News Service, February 22. According to Taiwan's "China Times", affected by the "low birthrate", the board of directors of Dahan Institute of Technology, which is located in Hualien New Town, Taiwan and has been established for 47 years, decided on the 20th to suspend enrollment and operations starting in August 2024. After the education authorities of the Taiwanese government have recently approved the candidates for the new principal, they will arrange for 500 students and handle the resignation of 60 teaching staff in accordance with regulations.

  Dahan Institute of Technology, Hualien, Taiwan.

Image source: Taiwan's "China Times" photo by Luo Yijun

　　Dahan Technical College was founded in 1977. At its peak, the number of students exceeded 7,000, and it was known as the "Cradle of Local Political and Business Figures."

After the news of the closure came out, many alumni were shocked.

Jian Liji, chairman of the Alumni Association, said that it was very sad for the big man to give birth to children in Hualien, so his alma mater had to close down.

　　Dahan Technical College still had more than 3,000 students in the 2011 academic year. Since then, enrollment has been difficult, and the number of departments and students has decreased year by year.

According to statistics in the first semester of the 2023 academic year, there are only more than 100 students in the day department and more than 500 students in the whole school.

　　Tahan Institute of Technology pointed out that the school cannot withstand the pressure of a lack of students and cannot provide a perfect learning environment.

The school currently has zero debt, no loans, and still has school funds. Now it proposes to suspend enrollment and operations. It is a last resort and the expenditure fund will be used to protect the rights and interests of faculty, staff, and students.

　　The education department of the Taiwanese government stated that if Dahan Technical College is unable to continue operating a school, it should formulate a suspension plan in accordance with regulations, submit a school meeting report, and submit a letter to the education department after approval by the board of directors. During the review, the rights of faculty and students will be ensured.

　　It is understood that Dahan Technical College held an emergency school meeting on the 20th. The two attending directors only announced that recruitment and operations would be suspended for the 2024 academic year, teachers and students would be placed, and a transformation and development plan was made. After speaking, they left the meeting and did not accept questions. They ordered the teachers to The staff were very angry and believed that the board of directors only made a one-sided announcement and the school council meeting did not pass it, which was inconsistent with the provisions of the "Private School Law".

　　At the same time, Taiwan Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology and Taiwan Tzu Chi University will merge. From then on, there will be no University of Science and Technology in Hualien, leaving only two general universities, Taiwan Donghua University and Taiwan Tzu Chi University.

　　The education department of the Taiwan authorities stated that after the merger of Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology and Tzu Chi University, the existing academic system of the original Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology will still be retained. There will be a total of 691 enrollment places, providing opportunities for high school and technical high school students to enter technical colleges. Opportunities to maintain higher education resources in the Hualien area.