Coming attraction: education vouchers

Politics Taiwan Politics
1

I think this is more like help towards the parents -as most of these kids still live at home:

[quote]The Ministry of Education will grant a maximum annual subsidy of NT$10,000 to those jobless college or university graduates to support their return to school to receive further training courses, a top education official said yesterday…
Lu said the proposed “education coupons” are just virtual ones, unlike “shopping coupons” recently granted by the government to all nationals to stimulate domestic consumption.

Based on a preliminary enforcement plan by the MOEA, those college or university graduates, no matter how old they are, who have been forced to become jobless for over three months, will be allowed to apply for the education training subsidy if they want to return to school to receive further training courses.
[/quote]
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/t-business/2009/02/04/194528/Maximum-NT%2410000.htm

And also:

[quote]Statistics from the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics show college-educated people constitute about 40 percent of the nation’s unemployed — or 220,000 out of 549,000 people.

CEPD officials said the plan would seek to cut the number of unemployed people by 100,000 this year by encouraging them to return to campus and take courses on government funding.
…
An academic also questioned whether the plan would help college graduates find jobs.

“They [college graduates] were unable to find a job after studying in college for four years. Is it possible that they will find a job one year after going back to school?” said Tung Rei-pin (董瑞斌), dean of China University of Technology’s College of Business.

[/quote]
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/02/04/2003435235

Mmm, I didn’t know there was already one program to susidize vocational training.

Actually, I hope this helps one of my Taiwanese friends. She was a manager in China, and has been unemployed since her return… three years ago (there was an interim there working for an international company that was a mess, but let’s not name names). No one here want to pay even close to what she was making… before she left. Now she’s given up and says she wants to go back to school next term to see if that helps.

2

I dunno, sounds like a gimmick. Is unemployment in Taiwan due to under-education? Strikes me as odd.

Improving provision of skills training and vocational skills is always good, though.

3

[quote=“Buttercup”]I dunno, sounds like a gimmick. Is unemployment in Taiwan due to under-education? Strikes me as odd.

Improving provision of skills training and vocational skills is always good, though.[/quote]

I agree. I think that there’s quite a bit of unemployment in Taiwan because people are too educated. No one wants their kids to be unskilled laborers any longer. Maybe there is not enough face for plumbers and such, either, I guess. But, though Taiwan has one of the largest “business” employment sectors I’ve ever heard of, there are only so many college grads needed in any society, especially when there are sooo many “universities” out there, ready to “educate” the sheeple.

After you pay for an edumacatiun, you wanna get paid, baby. I guess few people in Taiwan can afford to pay these grads, now. The same kind of situation exists here, I think to a lesser extent still, but it will get worse.

I knew a young man, 10 or 12 years ago now, who gave up a college schollarship to work for Taipower when his uncle was able to get him a job there. Lots of people thought he was making the wrong decision, but he told me it was a good job–a golden rice bowl. He’s probably not doing too badly now.

4

I find the age discrimination for those over 35 to be one of the main hinderance to the unemployment issue…

A voucher won’t solve that problem.

5

[quote]I find the age discrimination for those over 35 to be one of the main hindrances to the unemployment issue…

A voucher won’t solve that problem.[/quote]
You know as annoying as AC regularly is, He does have a very good point now and many times before. What are the options for a university graduate with no job after the age of 35?

6

[quote=“Okami”][quote]I find the age discrimination for those over 35 to be one of the main hindrances to the unemployment issue…

A voucher won’t solve that problem.[/quote]
You know as annoying as AC regularly is, He does have a very good point now and many times before. What are the options for a university graduate with no job after the age of 35?[/quote]

…go back to school, like my friend.

The problem is that people do not want to pay for experienced workers, and as Housecat says, most are academically overqualified, but actual experience wise… What teh paper says and what happens in reality are two different worlds.

7

These vouchers can definitely make an impact on unemployment but for all the wrong reasons. The reason is that you’re not unemployed if you’re a student. People will go study for a few months, the vouchers run out, and they still can’t get jobs.

A contrasting suggestion of providing more research jobs was proposed. Or another more fruitful strategy for the government would be to consider what the future of Taiwan will be. Unemployed people have a lot of spare time to do political work, so the politicians need to do something.

8

I’m referring to the business practice in Taiwan large companies not to hire anyone over 35 for any meaningful position. Like girl over 25 are considered X-mas cake. Guys over 35 are considered to be old fried dough.

Go back for all the education you want. But if you’re over 35 by the time you come out, not many of the larger companies are willing to hire you.

Not saying more education in another field won’t open up opportunities, it is just a lot tougher for those over 35, due to the perception of age in Taiwan.

9

[quote=“ac_dropout”]I’m referring to the business practice in Taiwan large companies not to hire anyone over 35 for any meaningful position. Like girl over 25 are considered X-mas cake. Guys over 35 are considered to be old fried dough.

Go back for all the education you want. But if you’re over 35 by the time you come out, not many of the larger companies are willing to hire you.

Not saying more education in another field won’t open up opportunities, it is just a lot tougher for those over 35, due to the perception of age in Taiwan.[/quote]

When he’s right, he’s right
(occassionally).

Alas, what’s my poor friend to do? No more business in China, no hiring here, zemapan?!

10

With China closing the doors for Taiwanese managers, as they are no longer needed, the future looks bleak to a lot of people.

And, the future of Taiwanese IT business will be consolidation, which will make it even worse for all those oldies.

11

Isn’t it sad that the people with most experience and knowledge, who gave their best years to the companies, find themselves unemployed in their most productive years because such companies are not competitive at an international level and must lower costs at all costs to survive?

I mean, what is to come of this? There is a big 30-40 group unemployed because they have reached the maximum they can be paid in their field. Then there are the 20 somethings unemployed by choice -strawberry mama’s kids- or by fact -no openings- or even partially employed -ridiculous salaries.

Without guarantees, the Governement hast to throw more and more money away on social schemes -placebos for voters faithfulness.

Lucklily, there is still room as small enterprises. The TV news were showing a guy that was fired from a high-tech company, so he started selling “egg cakes” and he’s doing better than before. Another guy goes out every day and takes picks of “squids” -polluters- making 120 thousand a month.

12

Do you mean to say that $120,000/month can be earned by taking photos of polluters? I think I’m in the wrong business. How do you get this job?

13

As he did: he just goes out and do it -freelance.

EDIT:
there was a thread about it sometime ago…
http://www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=72865&hilit=squid

14

Oh, and in other news, a couple of samples how young 30 somethinsg are coping with the crisis: my friend’s brother is forced to take wu xin jia -leave without pay- so, he is traveling around. His girlfriend, who was fired from her job, is making cookies and cakes from home and selling them on the Internet.

15

What I just remembered was that a couple of weeks ago, the government drastically reduced the $5000/month MOE scholarships to Taiwanese graduate students. Now they are flipflopping and giving educational vouchers. To me, that indicates that these plans lack the marks of success strategies, and are instead some ideas that were concocted at various tea parties.