從大學合併現況，談臺灣高等教育的前路與挑戰

Examining the Current State of University Mergers: Future Directions and Challenges for Higher Education in Taiwan

面對少子化與全球高等教育競爭的雙重挑戰，臺灣政府推動大學合併政策，期望藉由資源整合提升高教品質與國際競爭力。然而，大學合併不僅是組織重整，更牽涉治理結構、校園文化、教學實踐與地區發展等多重層面。本文以臺灣過去二十年來的大學合併案例為基礎，探討其成效與困境，並特別聚焦於高雄科技大學的合併經驗，剖析其如何面對跨校區治理、數位轉型與校園認同等挑戰。最終，本文指出未來高教政策應超越合併本身，思考如何強化大學特色、提升教學創新與回應社會需求，方能在變遷環境中站穩腳步。

In response to the dual challenges of declining birth rates and global competition in higher education, the Taiwanese government has promoted university mergers in hopes of enhancing quality and international competitiveness through resource consolidation. However, university mergers entail more than organizational restructuring; they also involve governance, campus identity, teaching practices, and regional development. This paper examines the outcomes and challenges of university mergers in Taiwan over the past two decades, with a focus on the case of National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST). Through this case, the study explores how merged institutions navigate cross-campus governance, digital transformation, and identity issues. The paper concludes that future higher education policy must go beyond merger strategies to emphasize institutional distinctiveness, pedagogical innovation, and responsiveness to societal needs in order to thrive amid ongoing change.