National Taiwan University moved up 20 spots to 134th in the latest global university survey released Oct. 3 by U.K.-based Times Higher Education. The main reasons cited for the rise were improved teaching and research, as well as an increase in citations of NTU research in international journals.
The 15th Economic and Technical Cooperation Conference between the ROC and Swaziland kicked off Oct. 3 in Taipei City. Chaired by Shih Yen-shiang, ROC minister of economic affairs, and Prince Hlangusemphi Dlamini, Swazi minister of economic planning and development, the meeting featured presentations by private and public sector representatives from both sides.
A delegation to Central and South America organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) arrived Sept. 29 in Bogota, Colombia. The group held 333 one-on-one meetings between Taiwan enterprises and Colombian buyers, with more than US$9.78 million in business opportunities generated. The next stop on the delegation’s itinerary is Brazil.
The ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Department of Industrial Technology said Oct. 3 that it has allocated NT$950 million (US$32.4 million) this year toward spurring investment in industry foundation technology development. It is forecast that accumulated investment by 2016 will reach NT$10.37 billion, with the main focus on the chemical, electrical, electronics, machinery, materials and software sectors.
Mass layoffs in Taiwan for January to September totaled 202, with 6,852 employees affected, the Council of Labor Affairs announced Oct. 3. The figures for the same period last year were 113 and 4,355, respectively. According to the CLA, July to September was the worst period, with 107 layoffs affecting 2,742 employees. (SB-JSM)