University coalitions from Taiwan and Japan concluded a memorandum of understanding on educational cooperation April 22 in Fukuoka, marking another milestone in the bilateral partnership, according to the Ministry of Education.
The agreement was signed by Chen Wen-chang, president of Taipei City-based National Taiwan University, and his counterpart Tatsuro Ishibashi, of Fukuoka’s Kyushu University, and laid out points of collaboration between the University Academic Alliance in Taiwan and the Kyushu-Okinawa Open University. Also in attendance were Deputy Education Minister Lio Mon-chi; Fukuoka’s mayor, Soichiro Takashima; and other officials, as well as representatives of the 12 members of the UAAT and 11 members of the KOOU.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lio said Taiwan and Japan are friendly partners, especially in the field of higher education, adding that as the countries’ bilateral investment and trade relationship continues to grow, deepening educational collaboration is increasingly important. He cited the recent joint establishment of Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inc. in Kumamoto as an example of expanding technical collaboration and an opportunity for greater academic cooperation.
The cooperation between the UAAT and the KOOU will pave the way for student exchanges and research cooperation, Lio said. To that end, the ministry will provide NT$50 million (US$1.5 million) annually through 2028 to promote programs including dual degrees, Mandarin courses, overseas research and international academic-industry collaboration, he added.
Following the signing ceremony, a forum introducing the coalitions’ strengths and talent cultivation policies was held to help the two sides explore future possibilities, according to the MOE.
Established in 2023 with the support of the MOE, UAAT includes such members as NTU, National Chengchi University and National Tsing Hua University. The alliance has inked MOUs with a similar Czech coalition of 14 universities, as well as the Texas A&M University System and the University of Texas System to date. (YCH-E)
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