The MOE announced its evaluation report for Taiwan’s vocational and technological colleges and universities for the 101 academic year (2012/8-2013/7). It includes a “comprehensive evaluation” of 11 universities of science and technology, 5 technical colleges and 7 junior colleges, and also includes a “follow-up evaluation” of 5 technical colleges. The evaluation categories and items and statistical figures are shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The “comprehensive evaluation” ranking statistics are shown in Table 4.

1. 11 universities of science and technology (214 departments, graduate schools or colleges evaluated):
   (1) Administrative category: All 11 universities were ranked number one (100%).
   (2) Professional category: Among a total of 214 departments, graduate schools or colleges involved, 144 have been ranked number one (67.29%) and 70 ranked number two (32.71%). (Cases involving field interviews without rankings and unpublished rankings were not included in the calculations.)
2. 5 technical colleges (39 departments or graduate schools evaluated):
   (1) Administrative category: 3 technical colleges were ranked number one (60%) and 2 were ranked number two (40%).
   (2) Professional category: Among a total of 39 departments or graduate schools involved, 20 have been ranked number one (51.3%), 17 ranked number two (43.6%) and 2 ranked number three (5.1%). (Cases involving field interviews without rankings and unpublished rankings were not included in the calculations)
3. 11 affiliated departments or graduate schools of nursing in technical colleges and universities of science and technology.
   Professional categories: Among a total of 11, 6 were ranked number one (54.55%) and 5 were ranked number two (45.45%).
4. In the “follow-up evaluation” 5 technical colleges (with 7 departments or graduate schools evaluated) were ranked number three in the 99 academic year (2010/8-2011/7):
   Professional category: Out of a total of 7 departments or graduate schools, 3 have been re-evaluated and ranked number two (50%), while 3 are still ranked number three (50%). (A case of a field interview without rankings was not included in the calculations).
5. 7 junior colleges (45 departments involved):
   (1) Administrative category: 5 junior colleges were ranked number one (71.43%) and 2 were ranked number two (28.57%).
   (2) Professional category: Among a total of 45 departments evaluated, 17 have been ranked number one (37.8%), 27 ranked number two (60%) and 1 ranked number three (2.2%). (Those cases of field interviews without rankings and unpublished rankings were not included in the calculations.)
   This evaluation report has been made available to the public on the website of the Higher Vocational and Technological Education Institutional Evaluation Network at http://tve-eval.twaea.org.tw/

In addition, as part of the MOE’s policy of improving Nursing education and enhancing the quality of health care for all citizens of this country, the Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan has set up a committee entitled the “Taiwan Nursing Accreditation Council” (TNAC) for the evaluation of Nursing education in Taiwan. Starting from the 98 academic year (2009/8-2010/7) and as part of the new cycle of “comprehensive evaluation” for technical colleges and universities of science and technology, evaluations of affiliated departments or graduate schools of Nursing were conducted together by the TNAC.

The MOE pointed out that, compared with the previous academic years, in the 101 academic year (2012/8-2013/7) the administrative category of an evaluation had no significant impact on the overall ranking, as a very high percentage of schools were ranked number one.

As far as evaluations in the professional category were concerned, in the 101 academic year the universities of science and technology did not have any third-ranked departments or graduate schools. However, the technical schools and junior colleges had 2 and 1 third-ranked departments or graduate schools, respectively. For the most part schools could only get a number three ranking if the core competence of those departments or graduate schools could not match the educational goals of the institute, department or even the school, and if there was no clear connection between their core competence and their course arrangements. By using this evaluation system, the MOE hoped to enhance these schools’ managerial efficiency.

The evaluation of vocational and technological colleges and universities, aiming to rate pros and cons, discover problems, determine directions, urge improvements, advise and make recommendations etc., has been undertaken for many years. Evaluation of these schools has been highly regarded by Taiwan’s industries, government and academia since its implementation, as it contributes to the enhancement of the quality of technological and vocational education. The MOE has decided to make these evaluations, whose results it always announces, one of its vital functions. The evaluations will help the MOE to determine tuition & fee adjustments, recruitment quotas and related grants & subsidies, and to make other strategic decisions (see Table 5).