The response of physical education department leaders to organizational restructuring mandated by Taiwan higher education reform (China).

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Physical education, which plays a major role in determining the health and quality of life for students, plays a critical role in institutions of higher education. In Taiwan, Physical Education Departments have historically been a second-level administrative department under the Department of Student Affairs in institutions of higher education. Since 1994 higher education reform, most universities have moved the Physical Educational Departments to a first administrative level. Physical Education Departments face numerous challenges after the elevation of their administrative status to level one. This change in status has required substantial organizational improvements in order to fulfill the new goals for higher education. This research investigated the current status of higher education institutions Taiwanese Physical Education Departments in order to determine the degree of organizational improvement resulting from higher education reform.
A survey was sent to 150 chairs of Physical Education Department in all public and private non-religions higher education institutions in Taiwan. There were 112 completed surveys received providing an effective response rate of 75%.
The analyses of the data indicate that Physical Education Departments have reached a high level of compliance with the mandates and goals of Taiwanese higher educational reform. With few exceptions, the Physical Education Departments have met the expectations of higher education reform and may be characterized as having achieved approximately 98% of the goals directed to them by the MOE.
Based upon the responses of the department chairs, this research found very few differences in organizational structure among Physical Education Departments were found. Therefore, the invariant organization structure of Physical Education Department nullified correlative analysis using demographic variables and/or Knowledge Management as predictive variables.