A study of continuing education at higher education institutions in Taiwan

The study examines the proficiency levels and professional development needs perceived by continuing education leaders at higher education institutions in Taiwan. The subjects were 143 continuing education leaders at Taiwanese higher education institutions.;The Continuing Higher Education Leadership (CHEL) Self-Assessment Inventory from the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) was used as the survey instrument to gather continuing education leaders' perception on their proficiency levels and professional development needs. A total of 104 usable questionnaires were received, which represented a response rate of 72.73%.;The major findings of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) Continuing education unit is ranked high in the organizational chart of higher education institutions in Taiwan because the majority of continuing educators report directly to the president of their institutions. However, their annual budget is not high. (2) The majority of continuing education leaders in Taiwan indicate that continuing education is not their long-term career objective, indicating the lack of enthusiasm by continuing educators for the field. (3) Continuing education leaders in Taiwan indicate that they have middle to high levels of proficiency. They indicate that they have personal qualities that suit for continuing education, but they lack the ability to recognize the application of technology in education. (4) Continuing education leaders express that they expect to reach a high level of proficiency and recognize proficiency of continuing education as important in developing continuing education. Among five areas of proficiency, the proficiency in personal qualities is regarded as the most important proficiency needed in continuing education. (5) Continuing education leaders indicate that they have low levels of professional development needs and their needs focus on recognizing the application of technology in education and administrative abilities. (6) Continuing education is not the emphasis of public universities and universities of technology in Taiwan. The fact is supported by the low levels of proficiency and professional development needs perceived by continuing education leaders at these institutions.