Dr. Mon-Chi Lio, the Political Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Chu Chun-Chang, Director-General of the Department of Higher Education, Dr. Yang Yu-Huei, Director-General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education, and Ms. Lin Hsin-Pei, Head of the Overseas Chinese Students and International Students Service Section of the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education visited Malaysia from August 18 to 21, 2022, to promote Taiwan as an excellent study destination for Malaysian students and to foster more talent cultivation cooperation. This visit to Malaysia was the first overseas visit made by a Ministry of Education delegation since the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.
The delegation paid a courtesy visit to the University of Malaya on August 18, accompanied by Prof. Yuh-Long Oliver Su, chair of the University Entrance Committee for Overseas Chinese Students (UECOCS); Prof. Robert Y.S. Chen, the president of National Pingtung University; Prof. Mike Guu, former president of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology; Prof. Wuu Dong-Sing, the president of National Chi Nan University, and Prof. Chou Te-Kuang, the vice president of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, where they received a warm welcome from the vice-chancellor Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Mohd. Hamdi Abd. Shukor.
During the visit, discussions were held on topics related to a range of potential bilateral education and research collaboration projects between the university in Malaysia and universities in Taiwan. The University of Malaya is ranked first among the public universities in Malaysia, and it has already signed more than 150 MOUs with thirty-three universities and colleges in Taiwan, and Dr. Lio expressed hopes that further education cooperation would soon be entered into. Dr. Lio was later interviewed by Sin Chew Daily, the leading Chinese-language newspaper in Malaysia, providing an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of Taiwan’s higher education and promote studying in Taiwan among local people.
The delegation also called on FAATUM—the Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia—and exchanged ideas about promoting study in Taiwan. The delegation expressed the Ministry’s great appreciation of FAATUM’s long-term support of Taiwan and the work it undertakes to popularize Taiwan’s excellent education system and provide information and advice to those who are considering studying in Taiwan.
The visit of the delegation coincided with the 2022 Taiwan Higher Education Fair in Kuala Lumpur, the first in-person Taiwan Higher Education Fair held overseas since the outbreak of the pandemic. Mr. Chu Chun-Chang gave a presentation at the Higher Education Fair on the latest higher education policies and developments in Taiwan. He pointed out that higher education in Taiwan concentrates on nurturing students’ global mobility skills. Taiwan’s higher education institutions have internationalized campuses, excellent resources and services, and affordable tuition fees, and these factors are attracting more Malaysian students to study in Taiwan.
Dr. Yang Yu-Huei, Director-General of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education, also gave a presentation, in which she emphasized that Taiwan’s technological and vocational education provides a full range of teaching facilities, practical learning environments, and comprehensive courses, and it employs professional teachers and instructors from related industries. This allows students to engage in hands-on learning and improves their employability.
The visit to Malaysia was very successful. The delegation enjoyed valuable interactions with local officials and potential students, and these revealed that Malaysians are widely aware of Taiwan’s New Southbound Talent Development Policy and its many bilateral education exchange programs.
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