Officials from 12 universities in Asia gathered in Greater Tainan on Thursday to discuss strategies for boosting cooperation and decided to hold next year’s presidents’ forum of their organization in late August or early October in Taiwan.
The officials from Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam exchanged views on internationalization at this year’s Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities (SATU) Presidents’ Forum Steering Committee Meeting.
Internationalization has been one of the major aims for many universities in Taiwan. National Cheng Kung University and universities in Southeast and South Asia agreed on an agenda for future cooperation.
At the annual meeting, participants discussed issues pertaining to the forum’s development and activities for next year. Opportunities in academic exchanges and industry-academic collaboration were also explored.
In addition to holding next year’s Presidents’ Forum in Taiwan, the Tainan meeting also resolved to convene the 2013 Student Committee, which is smaller in scale, in a different country.
A scheme to integrate resources and facilitate mutual research cooperation among SATU member universities was also proposed at the meeting. The members expressed great interest in transnational research projects.
“We’ll serve as a platform to connect academics who share similar research interests and integrate resources to support the academic and research exchanges within member universities,” said Su Huey-jen (蘇慧貞), secretary-general of SATU International Secretariat and National Cheng Kung executive vice president.
“Each project will consist of a team of researchers, while the -faculty at National Cheng Kung will act as the principal investigator for the project,” said Huang Cheng-hung (黃正宏), executive secretary of SATU International Secretariat and the university’s vice president for international affairs.
At the meeting Huang also reported on recent work undertaken by the Presidents’ Forum.
The forum was established in 2003 by higher education institutions in Southeast Asia. Since then, SATU has held biennial meetings, providing a venue for leaders of prominent universities in the region.
The first forum was held in November 2006 in Taiwan, with more than 100 university leaders attending. In 2008, the issue of a universities responsibility in the 21st century was discussed. Last year’s forum focused on innovation, advancement and sustainability, with more than 100 delegates participating.
Shortly after being inaugurated president of National Cheng Kung University in February, Hwung Hwung-hweng (黃煌煇) succeeded academic Michael Lai (賴明詔) as chairman of the forum.
“Through the joint endeavors made by member universities, I look forward to carrying out the forum’s missions,” Hwung said.
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