Following the announcement of this year's university examination results in August and publication of the charts listing the grades required for entry into the "top ten" most popular departments, a surprising change has appeared in the first category which includes humanities, law, business and education. For the last seven years the highest position in this category has been held by National Taiwan University's (Taida) International Trade Department with its promises of a prosperous future for graduates. This year, however, it has lost its place to Taida's Law Department by 0.5 point.

"It is not that there is a lack of enthusiasm for industry and economics, but that there is even more enthusiasm for law," explains Hsu Shih-chun, dean of Taida's School of Management. That the four departments of the School of Management--International Trade, Finance, Business Management and Accountancy--all still appear in the top ten confirms this.

The Legal Market Needs To Expand: As for the reason behind the popularity of the Law Department. "It is mainly linked to the move towards a legalistic society which has led to a rise in demand," feels the dean, Tai Tung-hsiung. For example, the two main routes for graduates from the department--the judicial exam and the lawyer's exam, have both seen a rapid increase in admissions in the past few years. "So as to handle everproliferating complex legal problems government departments have also rushed to open legal offices, or perhaps it is the extra allowances that professional lawyers have been given that is obviously getting them more and more attention."

Professor Ho Te-fen of Taida's Department of Law, points out that based on her contacts with students, broadcasts on the mass media have given a deeper impression of the integrity of judges, procurators and lawyers. "More than a few students have said they were influenced in their choice of law by the popular American T.V. series 'L.A. Law'", she says. That Taida's Law Department should be the most favourite is not surprising.

New Glamor for National Taiwan University's Law Department: However, the new list has not shown a rise for all law departments. Overall, National Chengchi University has risen slightly, but the rest have stayed in their original places. It is only Taida that has proven so seductive. This is related to the advance of the department's alumni on the political stage. Apart from the fact that vice-premier of the Executive Yuan, Shih Chi-yang, vice-chairman of the Executive Yuan's Mainland Committee, Ma Ying-jeou, the general secretary of the Straits Exchange Foundation, C.V. Chen, are all graduates of Taida's Department of Law, the department is given added glamor by the ten members of the Legislative Yuan who emerged from it.

As for Taida's displaced Department of International Trade, although it is still determined to be the first choice for business students, from next year it's name will become history.

"The nation's economy has already developed from import-export trading to establishing erseas factories, investment and distribution," points out Hsu Shih-chun. In response to this situation, the department for training personnel in international trade has already been re-established with the new name of the Department of International Enterprise, and it is to concentrate on raising personnel for the management of cross-national enterprises.

"Apart from knowledge of trade and enterprise management," says professor Wu Ch'ing-sung of Taida's International Trade Department, "crossnational management also involves lessons on each area's language, politics, taxation, law, history and culture. Because of this, when the name is changed, the course contents will also be adjusted."

Valuing Science and Engineering--Neglecting Culture: Another aspect of the chart is that the three categories of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Medicine, and Agriculture are still headed by Taida's Electrical Engineering Department, School of Medicine, and Department of Plant Disease and Pest Control, with no great change in any category. Nevertheless, what should be paid attention to is that this year places in these three departments make up a historical high of nearly 65 per cent of the total, quite a distance from the 28 per cent allotted the first category.

The Ministry of Education points out that this has arisen because of the establishment of independent engineering and medical schools in the past few years. Moreover, universities are increasing departments so as to attract sufficient students and are making electronics, mechanics and information technology and other popular engineering departments the priority. An imbalance between valuing sciences and engineering and neglecting culture is thus appearing.

"The Ministry of Education is already considering how next year's departments will be increased and then the emphasis will be on the humanities, law and business," says Yang Chao-hsiang, administrative vice-minister at the ministry. "This is not only to balance the quotas and ensure the quality of students but also, after considering the wealth of the country and the resulting rise of service industries, we must be stronger on raising personnel of this kind so as to satisfy demand."

You will have to wait until next year's table to see the results.

[Picture Caption]

The department of law at National Taiwan University has leapt to the top of the list as the most sought-after department among students taking the college entrance exams. (photo by Diago Chiu)

The department of law at National Taiwan University has leapt to the top of the list as the most sought-after department among students taking the college entrance exams. （photo by Diago Chiu）