TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Several Taiwan universities have failed to make improvements within the timeframe required by the Ministry of Education and must close their doors. 

Due to low enrollment and financial troubles, TransWorld University in Yunlin County closed on Wednesday (July 31). Tatung Institute of Technology in Chiayi City and Mingdao University in Changhua County shut down on Thursday (Aug. 1), per CNA. 

In August 2022, the Ministry of Education placed these universities on a “watch list.” They were given a specified period to make improvements to their finances and enrollment numbers.

Following the closures, the school land will be transferred to city and county governments. Severance pay was provided for teachers and staff members, and arrangements will be made for the enrolled students to be transferred to neighboring universities. 

Researchers have cited Taiwan’s falling birth rate as the reason for dropping enrollment, which impacts school finances.