Taiwan turns to general education to prepare students for AI

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — With AI systems handling more routine tasks, Taiwan’s education ministry is turning to general education to help students learn how to connect ideas across fields.

To push universities in that direction, the Ministry of Education has opened nominations for the 12th National Outstanding General Education Teacher Award and is calling on campuses nationwide to recommend long-serving teachers with strong records in cross-disciplinary teaching.

Officials describe general education as a core mechanism in higher education for building students’ critical thinking, humanities grounding, and ability to integrate knowledge across domains — skills the ministry argues are essential in an AI-driven society.

Up to five teachers will be honored in this round, each receiving NT$300,000 (US$9,600), and nominees must have offered general education courses for at least six semesters within the past six years.

Universities and colleges are urged to use fair, transparent internal selection processes and to focus on teachers who have long been deeply involved in general education, so the award reflects the best of Taiwan’s higher education system.

The education ministry will hold an online briefing on Nov. 28 from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., while nominations will be open through Jan. 20.