Taiwanese universities on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote cooperation with Japanese universities in Okinawa Prefecture and Kyushu with a subsidy provided by the Ministry of Education, the ministry said yesterday.
The University Academic Alliance in Taiwan, comprising 12 universities, signed the MOU with the Kyushu-Okinawa Open University comprising 11 Japanese universities, the ministry said in a news release.
National Taiwan University president Chen Wen-chang (陳文章) and Kyushu University president Tatsuro Ishibashi on behalf of the groups, signed the MOU, with representatives from the 23 universities involved as well as Deputy Minister of Education Liu Mon-chi (劉孟奇) and Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima witnessing, it said.
Photo courtesy of National Sun Yat-sen University via CNA
Fukuoka, which is in Kyushu, would support and promote cooperation between the universities and industry, Takashima said.
Taiwan and Japan have been working closely on higher education and the cooperation deepened after the Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing joint venture between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and its Japanese partners was established, Liu said.
To support the initiatives outlined in the MOU, the ministry is to provide NT$50 million (US$1.53 million) annually from this year to 2028 for exchanges, including faculty and student interactions, dual-degree programs, cooperative research, corporate internships, international industry-university cooperation and Mandarin-language education, he said.
At a forum after the ceremony, the two university groups introduced the characteristics of their institutions and the efforts they have made to cultivate talent, the ministry said.
The Taiwanese alliance has signed similar MOUs with four other groups abroad, the University of Illinois System, the Texas A&M University System, the University of Texas System and a group of 14 Czech universities, it said.
In other developments, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) president Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) signed MOUs with four US universities on cooperation in chemistry, polymers, materials, engineering and finance, NSYSU said yesterday.
During a visit to the US with faculty and staff members, Cheng signed agreements with Case Western Reserve University, the University of Akron, Rutgers University and Baruch College to bolster international connections and cultivate more international talent, it said.
NSYSU has a dual degree program that allows its undergraduate students to study for three years at NSYSU followed by two years at a US university, after which they would be able to obtain a bachelor’s degree from NSYSU and a master’s degree from the US university, it said.
The new MOUs provide students with more opportunities to study at prestigious US universities, which is an outcome of NSYSU’s efforts to promote international cooperation, it said.
Creating an internationalized environment for students has always been the goal of NSYSU, Cheng said, adding that the promotion of international cooperation in the past few years symbolizes its commitment to education and academics.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the
RSS