Proposed Taiwan Advanced Academy of Science Sparks Debate; Ministry Cites Japan, Korea, Israel Models

The Ministry of Education (MOE) is planning to establish the 'Taiwan Advanced Academy of Science' (TAAS), targeting students with clear academic aptitudes, a move that has sparked widespread discussion. The MOE stated today that it is referencing practices from Israel, South Korea, and Japan, while integrating the experience of the Academia Sinica and universities to provide a more flexible mechanism. President Lai Ching-te has declared a goal of producing at least three Nobel laureates within 30 years. To this end, the MOE is planning the TAAS, which would pool resources from National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and National Cheng Kung University for joint admissions. It also proposes establishing a National Taiwan Science Experimental High School to create an international research talent cultivation model distinct from the current system. Currently, policies like TAAS are not yet finalized and remain in the planning and consultation phase. However, following media reports, they have triggered debate. For instance, Lee Chia-tung, former president of National Chi Nan University, posted on Facebook that Nobel Prizes are unpredictable and that exceptional academic achievements are often 'accidental.' He argued that the government should focus on emphasizing basic research, improving the environment to attract international talent, and allowing scholars to conduct research with peace of mind. The MOE responded in writing that TAAS is not intended to establish a new university or research institution, but rather to provide students at the high school and university levels with more opportunities to engage with research environments, participate in academic exploration, and receive more autonomous and long-term support. Concerns have been raised that the new TAAS and the experimental high school might exacerbate competition for school placement due to special admission mechanisms. The MOE emphasized that the current plan is not a large-scale admission channel, but rather focuses on cultivating learning interest, research potential, and autonomous exploration through high school experimental education and cooperation with research institutions, aiming to avoid education oriented solely toward entrance exams. The MOE stressed that the relevant planning is based on principles of small-scale pilot testing, sandbox experimentation, aptitude-based cultivation, and ensuring no impact on the current admission system, providing students with different learning needs and research interests in basic sciences a more diverse development choice.