The Development of Institutional Research and Its Implications for University Governance in Taiwan

Abstract

In Taiwan, a series of higher education policies centered on institutional research started in 2015. The driving force behind this policy change was the collective concern that the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s higher education was declining. Policymakers expect that, through this change, the application of institutional research improves the low efficiency of the current university governance system. University leadership and management would thus be able to operate in a professional manner with the support of institutional research units, thereby leading to the advancement of higher education quality. This chapter investigates the constraints in university governance faced by university leadership in Taiwan and describes the evolution of institutional research and its function in Taiwanese universities. The policy initiatives centered on institutional research are investigated in line with the theory of policy instruments to examine the completeness of the strategic plan. This chapter also addresses the emerging challenges and suggestions for ongoing reform in university governance. By using Taiwan as the case study, this chapter sheds light on the synergy between institutional research and university governance.