In 1996, in order to make it easier for technical and vocational students to continue in education, then education minister Wu Ching proposed a new policy by which vocational education would be promoted as part of a two-track education policy. This involved encouraging the best performing vocational colleges to transform themselves into technical colleges. The first schools given permission to make the change included Chianan Medical College, Kunshan Engineering College and Nantai Business College.
民國八十五年，為了暢通技職學生的升學管道，前教育部長吳京提出了開拓技職為第二教育國道政策，鼓勵績優專科改制為技術學院，首批核准改制的學校包括：嘉南藥專、崑山工專和南台工商專校。