The history of human resource development in Taiwan: 1950s--1990s (China)

This study traced the history of Human Resource Development (HRD) in Taiwan from the 1950s through the 1990s. The author used an historical methodology to review the evolution of HRD strategies and policies adopted by the government, private and public enterprises, civic organizations, and research institutions in Taiwan. The purposes of this study were to trace the history of HRD in Taiwan since the 1950s, identify HRD patterns from the history of HRD in Taiwan since the 1950s, and posit an HRD definition that is derived from the history of HRD in Taiwan.; This overview of the government-initiated and government-encouraged emergence of developing human resources to boost Taiwan's economy and enhance Taiwanese welfare is analogous at the macro level to the concept of HRD in business management at the micro level. Since the 1960s, Taiwan's HRD strategy has been integrated with national economic objectives for the nation, and there exists a national structure of government agencies and organizations responsible for planning and implementing these strategies. Since the 1980s, the series of measures designed to liberalize and to restructure the economy have played a vital role in establishing a foundation for employee training and, in particular, enterprise training, in Taiwan. The upgrading of industries and the advancement of competitive ability in the international market since the 1990s certainly has been important in strengthening the role of HRD in Taiwan.; Three factors have been fundamental in shaping Taiwan's development of HRD: (1) Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's teachings; (2) the government's commitment to develop its economy and to fulfill social expectations through the development of human resources; and (3) the pragmatic and pluralistic approaches adopted in policy formulation.; Finally, the author provided nine patterns derived from the history of HRD, and she also posited three functions for Taiwan's HRD system. In addition, the author provided a definition of HRD derived from the history of HRD in Taiwan—HRD is an intentional, innovative, long-term, and committed process of developing an individual's work-related learning capabilities through vocational education and training, organization development, and career development with an aim to contribute to individual, organizational, and national growth.