Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Education Discusses University Alliance, Chinese Language Learning Cooperation, and Other Educational Collaboration with Illinois
Dr. Lio Mon-Chi, Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Education, led a delegation of ten which visited Illinois from May 22 to 23, 2023. He and members of the delegation met with Martin Torres, the Deputy Governor for Education, and Ginger Ostro, Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. During the visit, Deputy Minister Lio and education officials in Illinois discussed opportunities for and the challenges of strengthening educational ties between Taiwan and Illinois in detail.
Their discussions included the establishment of a university alliance between Taiwan and Illinois, and cooperation in Chinese language learning under the framework of the US-Taiwan Education Initiative. This Initiative highlights and enhances Taiwan's critical role in providing Chinese language learning both to Americans and people around the world while safeguarding academic and intellectual freedom
Taiwan and Illinois have long been partners in the field of semiconductor and other technology creation and innovation, and Taiwan’s MOE hopes that the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) will support and promote the creation of a strategic alliance between institutions of higher education in Taiwan and those in Illinois for the purpose of training semiconductor and technology professionals. The proposed alliance would usher in a new era of international education collaboration in these sectors.
Taiwan’s MOE is also looking forward to the IBHE’s reviewing Illinois higher education regulations to facilitate the possibility of dual-degree programs between institutions of higher education in Taiwan and those in Illinois.
Under the US-Taiwan Education Initiative, Taiwan’s MOE is working to expand access to Chinese and English language instruction, and it hopes that the IBHE will support this education initiative and encourage institutions of higher education in Illinois to participate in university-to-university collaboration through the associated Taiwan Huayu BEST program.
In addition, Taiwan’s MOE proposed the signing of an MOU with IBHE to maintain and enhance bilateral co-operation in educational matters, and promote mutual understanding and the pursuit of common benefits and collaborative development. The MOE hopes to welcome Deputy Governor for Education Martin Torres and IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro to Taiwan to sign the MOU in person.
