隨著高等教育的商品化擴張，當前台灣高等教育面對的不僅是教師勞動權保障的議題，也擴大到學術自由、學生受教權以及知識份子參與公共領域等整體高教體系的危機。2011 年工會法修法宣告臺灣高等教育正式解嚴，新成立的高等教育產業工會不僅代表大專教師在高教危機中階級意識的覺醒，更是知識份子重新投入公共領域、介入高等教育改革的機會。雖然大專教師並無強制入會的規定，但加入高教工會不僅是大專教師專業社群凝聚力的表現，也是重建大學與社會關係重要的起點。

The expansion of higher education system not only brings a crisis for the labour right of teachers and staffs, but also a threat for the rights of student, academic freedom and public participation. To response to the crises, Taiwan Higher Education Union (THE Union) has been built in February 2012, when the regulation for teachers to organize the Union was removed. The Union represents the awareness of class consciousness for labours in the higher education system, and creates an opportunity for intellectuals' involvements in public sphere and educational revolution. Although the membership of THE Union is not mandatory, it is a right and obligation for teachers to join the Union, which intends to play an important role in rebuilding the relations between university and society.