1950年代—1960年代的台湾留美学生

Study-in-America Students of Taiwan in the 1950s and the 1960s

台湾的留美学生是中国近代留学运动中的一部分。当时包括公教人员的进修、军官的培训,此类人员属短期性质,与学位无关。此外大多为学生赴美,分为自费、公费两类,都要参加“教育部”主办的留学考试。公费生通过留学考试以后,还要参加教育部门的讲习会,了解中国各方面情况,以便以后在国外作中外文化交流之用,还要呈缴学成归来的保证书。1950-1970年代,台湾赴美人员总数在25000人左右。到1971年,返台者2341人,1971-1981年,返台总数为19639人,其中大部分为学生。滞留未归的文科学生多数成为美国高校东方图书馆和东亚系的专职人员,为传播中华文化作出了贡献,而理科学生基本上任教于教育机关及其他部门。回台的学生对台湾的社会发展和经济起飞有较大贡献。当选“中央研究院”院士的有20多人;丁肇中、李远哲等获得诺贝尔奖。此期台湾留美政策有摇摆不定的缺点,留美学生过于重视理工,忽视人文。中国150多年的留学史以美国为中心,值得多加探讨。

The study-in-America students of Taiwan, part of the modern movement of study abroad in China, can be divided into two types: study at their own expense and study at public expense. All of them must pass the entrance examination sponsored by 'the Ministry of Education'. Then they have to attend some lectures to learn something about China in order to have cultural exchange, and to present their letters of guarantee to return back after study. From 1950 to 1970 there are about 25,000 students studying in America. The number of the returned students in 1971 is 2341, but during the ten years from 1971 to 1981, there are19,639 students returned from America. They have made great contributions not only in spreading Chinese culture but in the social and economic development in Taiwan. More than twenty of the returned students have become academicians and Ding Zhaozhong and Li Yuan-zhe have received Nobel Prize. The policy of study in America is not stable in Taiwan at the time. And the students pay more attention to science and engineering than to human studies. It is worthy of consideration that the 150-year history of Chinese students studying abroad is centered in America.