Number of students

Figure 1 shows the statistics of students enrolled in FTE program at NCUE. The total number of FTE students in 2022 was 7,162, including 4,988 Bachelor’s students, 1,686 Master’s students, and 488 Doctoral students.

Figure 1. Statistics on the total number of students enrolled in FTE program at NCUE

Number of students with disability

There were 116 students with disabilities in 2022, and the proportion of students with disabilities was116/7,162 = 1.62%.The statistics for students with disabilities in various academic programs are as presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Statistics of the number of students with disabilities at NCUE

Educational system	Extremely severe	Severe	Moderate	Mild	None	Total
Doctoral programme	1	0	1	1	0	3
Master's programme	0	1	9	15	3	28
Bachelor's programme	3	12	14	43	13	85
Total	4	13	24	59	16	116
None: no grade or other category was filled in by the student (determined by the Committee Responsible for the Identification and Placement of Gifted and Disabled Students).

NCUE provides students with disabilities with a fair chance of admission by applying to study in NCUE through multiple approaches. After they are admitted, they are also provided with comprehensive care on enrollment and studies (including coursework guidance, support in daily life, and transition guidance). By establishing an accessible environment on our campus and ensuring their dormitory accommodation, the individual’s potential can be fully developed. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has subsidized more than 2.36 million for NCUE to support students with disabilities with verification reports to adapt to university life. The details are as follows:

1. Providing students with disabilities with multiple admission channels:

(1)We are one of a few national universities to proactively pave the way for students with disabilities to enter into higher education: NCUE proactively paved the way for students with disabilities to enter into higher education by joining the National Joint University and College Admission System for Students with Disabilities. We admitted 14 students in this way in 2022. Since 2015, NCUE admits students with disabilities individually through a special system, and admitted 8 students in this way in 2022. The system helps students with disabilities to enter a national university and pursue their dreams by majoring in their preferred disciplines.

(2)To encourage departments to provide extra places for disadvantaged students, NCUE’s Measures of Establishing the Recruitment Strategy Committee and the Implementation stipulates that each department can receive an additional operating fund calculated according to the number of extra places (including those designated for overseas students, students with disabilities, and indigenous students) provided, amounting to NT$5,000 multiplied by the actual number of students enrolled.

2. Supporting students with disabilities in their enrollment and studies:

(1)The Resource Classroom provides comprehensive enrollment and study services for students with disabilities: Various guidance and services that help students with disabilities adapt to university life are funded by the subsidies provided by the Ministry of Education, for which NCUE applies based on the Work Plan of Recruiting and Guiding University and College Students with Disabilities. The Ministry of Education subsidized more than NT$2,600,000 in 2022 to provide students with disabilities with appropriate services in counseling and assessment, and help them finish their studies successfully, with better adaptation to emotional issues, academic matters, society, and employment. We specifically arrange for these students to receive counseling during their studies, which includes general counseling, life counseling, and academic counseling. The onsite services available at NCUE’s resource room are detailed in Table 2, with the number of individuals receiving various services illustrated in Table 3 (Please see https://ncue7232105.wixsite.com/ncue/blank-4).

Table 2. Statistics for onsite services available at the resource room

Statistics of various services provided in the Resource Classroom	Students served (person-times)
Data query	94
Use of assistive equipment	35
Printing coursework	379
Self-study	221
Exam service	20
Data transfer	13
Academic counseling	182
Life counseling	148
Transition counseling	25
Psychological counseling	6
Other	2

Table 3. Statistics for services available at the resource room

Types of services provided by the Resource Classroom	Students served (person-times)
Coursework tutoring	46
Exam service	32
Study companion service	802
Assistive equipment lending	40
Learning materials conversion	26

(2)Academic support services: The Resource Classroom provides individual remedial teaching on difficult courses, exam services (explaining highlighted points, reviews of specific questions, etc.), learning material conversion, and learning equipment loans, while student helpers and volunteers are on site to help students with learning (adding/dropping courses, recording, explaining highlighted points, copying notes, etc.), and students can receive help with special education grant applications.

(a)Individual remedial teaching (difficult courses):

The Resource Classroom arranges for students with disabilities to be individually taught by tutors on courses that are deemed difficult by them, such as psychological and educational tests, English, and statistics, helping them to catch up on coursework.

(b)Examination services (explaining highlighted points, reviews of specific questions, etc.):

According to the types and degrees of disabilities of different students with disabilities, the Resource Classroom has designed a “Special examination service table” to provide appropriate help according to the needs of course teachers and students.

(c)Learning assistance by work-study student and volunteers (adding/dropping courses, recording, explaining highlighted points, copying notes, etc.):

Work-study students and volunteers are arranged by the Resource Classroom to take shifts to help students add/drop courses, with recording, copying notes, and explaining highlighted points. Designated student helpers are also arranged to help students with disabilities search for information.

(d)Learning material conversion:

Students receive help converting their textbooks into Braille or enlarged fonts, or convert written data to electronic files.

(e)Students can apply to use assistive equipment.

(f)Application for special education scholarships and grants (handled by the Office of Student Affairs) and application for external scholarships and grants.

(3)Life support services: Regular Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training are held to help students with disabilities familiarize themselves with the on-campus environment. Regular extracurricular activities, get-togethers, and teacher–student forums are held to allow students with special needs to get to know, understand, and support each other, while counseling teachers can exchange opinions with students and provide timely assistance. If the students face difficulties due to personal issues, they will be referred to the counseling center for psychological counseling (individual counseling and growth groups). NCUE offers various learning support services for students with disabilities, as indicated in Table 4, and conducts various activities as shown in Table 5.

(a)Orientation and Mobility training:

The Taiwan Foundation for the Blind is usually invited to conduct O&M training to help blind students familiarize themselves with the campus environment as quickly as possible.

(b)Extracurricular activities and get-togethers:

To allow students with special needs to get to know, understand, and support each other, the Resource Classroom hosts dinner parties, external visits, and experience sharing by alumni on civil service examinations or on teacher selection exams at the beginning and the end of each semester.

(c)Student forums:

To promote the learning effectiveness of students in classes and to understand their progress, the Resource Classroom regularly holds forums for counseling teachers and students that allow counseling teachers to exchange opinions with students and provide timely assistance.

(d)Psychological counseling (individual counseling and growth groups):

If students with disabilities face difficulties due to personal issues, the Resource Classroom will refer them to NCUE’s Psychological Counseling and Guidance Centre so that they can participate in individual counseling and growth groups.

(e)Arrangement of on-campus accommodation and transportation.

(f)Imporving the accessible environment.

Table 4: Students (person-times) served by different types of services in 2022

Type of supporting services	Students served (person-times)
Help with learning	1,056
Life assistance	950
Career and transition services	232
Consulting and sonseling	243

Table 5. Statistics of supportive activities provided by the

Resource Classroom to students with disabilities in 2022

Name of support service	Number of participants
2nd semester of 2021 - Social skills counseling activity	4
2nd semester of 2021 - My teacher, therefore I am - Leveraging resources and building up strength to win in the game of life	11
2nd semester of 2021 - General education lecture - SE-RNA (Special Education RNA) Transforming lives - The journey from a special education student to a special education teacher	52
2nd semester of 2021 - Homecoming of alumni with disabilities to share their experience	11
2nd semester of 2021 - Special education promotion	600
2nd semester of 2021 - Off-campus visits and experiential activity	12
2nd semester of 2021 - Symposium on sharing of the pros and cons of entrepreneurship for the new generation	9
2nd semester of 2021 - Student forum at Baoshan Campus	16
2nd semester of 2021 - Student forum at Jinde Campus	20
1st semester of 2022 - Student forum at Jinde Campus	35
1st semester of 2022 - Pre-employment seminar - Essential guide to prepare you for future workplace	6
1st semester of 2022 - General education lecture - Long-term care and how far we are from it	39
1st semester of 2022 - Seminar on workplace strategies	8
1st semester of 2022 - Succulent planting experience workshop	7
1st semester of 2022 - Entrepreneurship experience sharing seminar by young farmers with disability	6
1st semester of 2022 - End-of-term luncheon and transition meeting	17
1st semester of 2022 - Off-campus visits and experiential activity	18
1st semester of 2022 - Comprehensive lecture series on civil service examination	15
1st semester of 2022 - New student parent meeting	21
1st semester of 2022 - Student forum at Baoshan Campus	23

(4)Support services concerning transition counseling: NCUE provides student transition communication services, as well as graduate transition communication and tracking services.

(a)Student transition notification services.

(b)Graduate transition notification and tracking services.

3. A campus environment with accessible facilities for students with disabilities:

NCUE places considerable emphasis on building a campus environment with accessible facilities. The buildings and campus facilities are inspected and improved in accordance with accessibility regulations, while millions of NTD are spent annually to improve the accessible facilities. The total amount spent on the improvement of accessible facilities has reached NT$99,540,000, providing consummate accessible facilities on campus. There are 23 major buildings on the campus, each of which is equipped with accessible elevators and accessible toilets, with a 100% installation rate. The status of relevant facilities are as shown in Table 6. All accessible ramps, guide facilities, and accessible stairway hand railings in the buildings are set according to accessibility regulations. The status of accessible facilities is shown in Figures 2-5. The accessibility facilities at both the Jinde and Baoshan campuses of NCUE are shown as in Figures 6-7, reflecting our effort in providing a barrier-free campus environment for students with disabilities.

Table 6. Accessible facilities available on campus

Accessible Facility	Quantity	Installation Rate
Accessible elevator	23	100%
Accessible toilet	61	100%
Renovated accessible ramp	19	100%
Accessible stairway hand railings	36	100%
Guide facility	26	100%

Figure 2. Accessible stair handrail	Figure 3. Accessible ramp
Figure 4. Accessible elevator	Figure 5. Accessible toilet
Figure 6. Map of the accessible facilities on NCUE’s Jinde campus
Figure 7. Map of the accessible facilities on NCUE’s Baoshan campus

4. Priority accommodation for students with disabilities:

There are seven dormitories on campus, and the allocation of rooms for students with disabilities at each dormitory is detailed in Table 7, with a maximum capacity of 3,300 students. Every year, NCUE guarantees that freshmen, students with disabilities, overseas Chinese and foreign students, government-funded students, students from outlying islands, students with outstanding athletic performance, disadvantaged indigenous students, and students from low- to middle-income families are given priority in the allocation of accommodation; students from low-income families can live in the dormitory for free. The accommodation for the remaining students is allocated by lottery, and the accommodation rate is as high as 95%. Students with disabilities are entitled to discounts on tuition and miscellaneous fees, while their dormitory accommodation is guaranteed. They may be allocated to accessible dormitories according to their physical and mental conditions. The spatial environment inside the dormitory rooms and bathroom facilities are illustrated in Figures 8-9.

Table 7. Statistics on accommodation for students with disabilities in 2022

Dormitory	Number of rooms	Number of rooms allocated to students with disabilities
3rd dormitory	77	3
5th dormitory	90	4
6th dormitory	63	1
7th dormitory	140	3
8th dormitory	179	6
9th dormitory	151	6
10th dormitory	187	8

Figure 8. Accessible facilities in dormitories	Figure 9. Accessible facilities in dormitory toilets

5. Operating funds prepared for counseling for students with disabilities:

According to the Fundamentals for Subsidizing Universities and Colleges on Recruiting and Counselling Students with Disabilities issued by the Ministry of Education (https://edu.law.moe.gov.tw/LawContent.aspx?id=FL026216), NCUE applies for an annual subsidy from the Ministry of Education provided by the Work Plan of Recruiting and Guiding University and College Students with Disabilities, so as to provide various forms of counseling and services to students with disabilities. In 2022, the Ministry of Education subsidized more than NT$2,360,000 to help students with disabilities verification reports adapt to university life, expand their networks, and increase their ability to study various courses so that they can finish their studies successfully. The funds are also used to provide support services that enhance their adaptation to emotional issues, academic matters, society, and employment.