从台湾社会的发展看台湾留美运动的兴衰

The rise and fall of the study in America movement in Taiwan

战后台湾留学生运动的兴起、发展及衰落 ,与台湾现代化的萌芽、发展与成熟息息相关。 1 95 0年代至 1 960年代 ,台湾经济筚路蓝缕 ,到先进国家留学 ,成为一代青年的最高愿望。同时 ,台湾与美国经济发展的巨大悬殊使留美学生很容易做出滞留不归的抉择。从 1 970年代台湾开始经济起飞 ,到 1 980年代台湾完全脱贫致富 ,台湾留学生经济状况改善。同时 ,从 1 980年代起 ,美国劳工市场的不景气与台湾社会经济的发展吸引一部分留美学生返台工作。到 1 990年代 ,留美学生的返台率进一步提高 ,反映了台湾经济进入国际中心 ,劳工人才开始流向台湾。 1 990年代后期 ,留学美国运动开始衰落 ,许多台湾青年不再视留学为“正途”。这一现象不仅体现了台湾学术研究水平的提高 ,本土培养的研究人员已具有国际竞争力 ,也反映了台湾经济国际化。

The evolution of the study in America movement in Taiwan reflects the socio-economic changes of Taiwan since World War II. In the 1950s and 1960s, to study abroad, especially to study in America, had proved to be the priority for most college and university graduates in Taiwan, who were attracted by the better educational and occupational opportunities in the United States. Most of the students from Taiwan during this period chose to stay in America after the completion of their education. The economic taking-off in the 1970s and the subsequent economic prosperity in the 1980s in Taiwan began to draw more Taiwan Residents students back to Taiwan for job placement. Since the late 1990s, young Taiwan Residents have been less interested in studying abroad, as a result of the improvement of quality in graduate programs and the increased accessibility to internet sources and information in Taiwan.