The Tatung Institute of Technology in Chiayi City and Mingdao University in Changhua County ceased operations yesterday, while TransWorld University in Yunlin County on Wednesday closed its doors due to low enrollments and financial problems.
TransWorld University was placed on a watch list by the Ministry of Education in August 2022 due to its poor finances and given a grace period to make improvements.
However, it failed to make improvements in time and was ordered to stop enrolling new students for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Photo: CNA
According to regulations, the assets of institutions in debt must be donated to public organizations, central government agencies or other public education providers.
The Yunlin County Government has expressed an interest in taking over the land, a local government official said on Wednesday.
After its closure, arrangements would be made for 320 students at the university to study elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Tatung Institute of Technology, established in 1963, closed its doors yesterday as the nation’s falling birthrate continues to affect enrollment and finances at education providers, with the property to be transferred to the Chiayi city and county governments.
Severance and other payments for 20 teachers and 29 staff members at the university have been remitted to their personal bank accounts, while 80 students would transfer to other institutions in Chiayi or Tainan, Tatung Institute of Technology president Yang Chang-yu (楊昌裕) said.
Also, Mingdao University officially closed its doors yesterday, with its acting president, Lin Chin-min (林勤敏), overseeing the liquidation of its property and other tasks.
Its Department of Smart and Quality Agriculture would continue operations as part of an off-campus program run by Tunghai University, department head Liu Cheng- wei (劉程煒) said.
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