On August 18, Julie Chiu-Yu Chan, Deputy Director of the Department of International & Cross-strait Education, officially welcomed the officials to Taiwan and exchanged views with them about possibilities for future educational and academic cooperation.

A feature of their visit for local scholars and students was a seminar held on August 21 to provide information about scholarships available under the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme and Marie Sklodowska-Curie programme to personnel and students at Taiwan’s institutions of higher education. The keynote speakers both work in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education and Culture: Ms. Monika Holik is the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Agency’s Head of Unit of the Erasmus and Jean Monnet Programmes, and Dr. Kamila Partyka is the Policy Officer of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Unit.

Taiwan’s students and scholars are clearly very keen to actively participate in European cultural and educational exchange. Over 300 people attended this seminar and enthusiastically asked questions—professors and students, university representatives, and other interested parties. All were pleased to get helpful details about how to apply for scholarships to undertake study and post-graduate research in the EU. The Marie Sklodowska-Curie scholarships will be awarded for the first time next year. Ten Taiwanese students have already been selected to receive an Erasmus Mundus scholarship this year, to start their doctorate or master’s degree course this September.