Hybrid university in Taiwan: the prominence of traditional intellects

Abstract

There has been a debate as to how local universities have been influenced by international forces. There is a concern that local or domestic cultures and values might be eroded or undermined. Therefore, it would be meaningful to examine such dynamics and explore how hybridity could be formed through these interactions. It is against such a wider context that we chose two Taiwanese universities as case studies to reveal the detailed process and its conceptual implications. Our research findings indicate that, in addition to adopting a Western academic structure and system, both universities retain some Confucian or East Asian values and intellectual climates. The combinations of various Western and Eastern features highlight the uniqueness of hybridity. The evidence proves that a new conceptual model for a hybrid university in Asia might be meaningful and desirable.