| Abstract: | Over the years, Taiwan has experienced “brain drain”, as more than 80 percent of its students who completed their graduate
study in the United States have failed to return. Instead, they have found their ways into the faculties of American colleges
and universities or employment opportunities in various research organizations and industries.
This article examines brain drain, its origin in Taiwan, and government response. One of the major findings of this study
is that the elite emigration in Taiwan has been caused by a host of complex academic, social, economic, and personal factors.
Second, Taiwan’s brain drain into the United States is primarily a case of “education and migration.” It is an outflow of
college graduates, not an exodus of trained scientists and engineers; therefore, Taiwan’s manpower loss in the short run is
not as serious as the case where mature and experienced scientists and professionals leave. Furthermore, whereas a large number
of college graduates leave each year to study abroad, a much larger number of the graduating class does remain in Taiwan.
To reverse Taiwan’s brain drain, the government of the Republic of China (ROC) has already implemented an ambitious program
to recruit Taiwan’s highly trained talents from overseas. Taiwan’s successful experience could be emulated by other developing
countries.
Shirley L. Chang received her B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature from National Taiwan University, Master of Library
Science from Columbia University, and M.A. in Higher Education from The Pennsylvania State University. She is Chairman of
the Department of Library Services and Catalog/Reference Librarian at Stevenson Library, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven,
PA 17745. |
