Education is highly valued in Taiwanese culture, characterized by a rigorous and competitive system. Nine years of compulsory education was extended to 12 years in 2014, covering elementary through senior high school.
Taiwan possesses a dense network of higher education institutions, heavily emphasizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to feed its industrial base.
Notable institutions include: - **National Taiwan University (NTU):** The most prestigious comprehensive university in the country, located in Taipei. - **National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) & National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU):** Both located in Hsinchu, these are critical feeders of engineering talent to the nearby science parks. - **National Cheng Kung University (NCKU):** A leading engineering and comprehensive university based in Tainan. - **Taipei American School (TAS) & Taipei European School (TES):** Prominent international schools serving the expatriate community.
The country is also supported by an extensive system of public libraries, vocational colleges, and continuing education centers.