自由時報
26 Aug. 2026 10:24AM, By Xiao-yun Lin, TAIPEI林曉雲／台北報導
The Ministry of Education issued the reference manual for establishing gender-friendly dormitories in higher education institutions, which features practical cases from several campus dorms. (Photo / Provided by the Ministry of Education)
University dormitories no longer have to be strictly separated by gendered buildings or floors. The Ministry of Education (MOE) released the "Reference Manual for Establishing Gender-Friendly Dormitories in Higher Education Institutions" today (26th), introducing housing models such as mixed-gender floors with single-gender rooms and gender-neutral apartment-style dorms. The manual incorporates real-world cases from NTNU, NCCU, and Taipei Medical University (TMU) for schools' reference. The MOE emphasized that schools are not required to adopt a single, uniform model; instead, they can implement these changes progressively based on campus conditions and student needs, while balancing residential safety with personal privacy.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) explained that as early as July 15, 2022, it issued the "Guidelines for Campus Gender-Friendly Restrooms and Dormitories" and established the "Principles for Handling Gender-Friendly Student Dormitory Accommodations." These policies encourage schools not to rely solely on biological sex as the exclusive basis for housing assignments, but to also consider individual student needs, privacy, and residential safety.
Commissioned by the MOE, the manual was co-authored by the Taiwan Gender Equity Education Association (TGEEA) and Professors Bi Heng-da and Lin Mei-chun. Through domestic and international literature reviews, field visits, and case studies, it outlines actionable measures for schools across multiple dimensions, including policy, application processes, physical space, dormitory management, and student self-governance.
How do these arrangements work in practice? NTNU adopts the "mixed-gender floor, single-gender room" model, arranging rooms in an alternating pattern. NCCU utilizes "gender-neutral apartment-style dorms," where students form groups to apply and draw lots together; once selected, students coordinate room assignments among themselves without school intervention. Meanwhile, Taipei Medical University's (TMU) Shuangho Dormitory features a central reading zone integrated with study spaces to bridge the distance between students of different genders.
Lin Pei-yu, a chief at the MOE’s Department of Special Education, emphasized that the core philosophy behind gender-friendly dormitories is not to demand a single, uniform housing format across all schools. Instead, it aims to guide institutions in rethinking their residential systems and spatial utilization to build an environment that meets diverse gender needs while balancing housing safety and personal privacy.
Lin Pei-yu stated that schools can implement the initiative gradually based on their campus conditions. For instance, they can start with shared spaces in existing dormitories, progressively developing models such as different genders residing in the same building on different floors, the same floor in different zones, or the same floor in separate rooms. These models can then be adjusted dynamically based on student needs and actual boarding experiences.
The manual also uses a Q&A format to compile practical challenges schools may encounter during implementation. The Ministry of Education (MOE) hopes that universities will approach overall planning from policy, institutional, spatial, and educational dimensions. By sharing case studies from various institutions, schools can progressively improve their accommodation environments, ensuring that safety, privacy, respect, and diversity and inclusion (D&I) are truly integrated into students' campus lives.
教育部發布大專校院性別友善宿舍建置參考手冊。（教育部提供）
News Source：https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202608260117.aspxhttps://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/5552484