Abstract
The Council of Education Reform of the Executive Yuan in Taiwan raised the issue of incorporating national universities in 1996. After that initial effort, the Ministry of Education in 2000 revealed its proposal to incorporate national universities in a White Paper on higher education policy. In 2003–2006 the government has tried at least twice to sell the policy to legislators in Taiwan's parliament (the Legislative Yuan). The first attempt was made in 2003 when the government submitted its bill to revise the University Act. In the bill, a whole chapter was devoted to regulations concerned with the incorporation of universities. The proposal promised university corporations autonomy, and, in particular, more flexible personnel and accounting systems. The bill, however, failed to pass the Committee of Education and Culture in the Legislative Yuan. In October 2005, the Ministry of Education tried again by including only one article related to the incorporation of universities in the bill. That article was to provide universities with a legal foundation for incorporation, but the Legislative Yuan passed the bill without including that particular article. It thus failed again. The Ministry of Education has not, however, given up on its policy of incorporating universities. In a special NT$50 billion dollar aid package to universities, the government required that all recipients include a plan for incorporation. In order to receive the special assistance, most universities have chosen not to resist. The incorporation of national universities in Taiwan is an issue that needs to be closely watched in the future.