This study explored gender parity on the basis of distinctive development stages in the higher education system of Taiwan. Gender parity is one of the key components used to determine equal opportunities of accessing higher education. Therefore, this study evaluated gender parity in higher education institutions and explored the potential capacities for gender parity at the undergraduate, master and doctoral levels by using a quantitative longitudinal method. Student enrollment data from 1950 to 2014 were collected from the Ministry of Education and transformed by Becker’s coefficient of discrimination (D) to interpret the meanings at various development stages in this system. In addition, this study applied an ARIMA (auto regression integrated moving average) model to project the gender parity D for the next decade. Reviewing the D trend from 1950 to 2014, this study found that higher education expansion has played a crucial role in promoting gender equality. The results of the ARIMA model revealed that the number of male and female students studying in undergraduate programs will become more equal in the next 12 years. Although male students are still favored for enrollment at the master’s and doctoral levels, inequality is declining according to the results of this study. The findings in this study can be used for developing a policy for higher education institutions based on the function of gender parity.
關聯:
The 4th Higher Education Research Association Conference 2016 Proceeding
