2025 Taiwan-India Higher Education Leaders Forum Boosts Academic Collaboration
The 2025 Taiwan–India Higher Education Leaders Forum took place at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in Delhi, on March 25. It was organized by FICHET—the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan—and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). This was the third forum for leaders of universities and institutions of higher education in Taiwan and in India. It was also the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations between Taiwan and India. Education has been a powerful bridge connecting them and in recent years, Taiwan and India have cultivated deeper educational ties, and expanded student exchanges, research collaborations, and faculty partnerships.
The focus of the forum was on semiconductor technology and cooperation to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and its theme was New Frontiers of Collaboration – Semiconductor Technology and Sustainability Between Indian and Taiwanese Universities. It provided an opportunity for academic leaders from India and Taiwan to explore collaborations regarding semiconductor technology, technological innovation, sustainability, knowledge exchanges, institutional alliances, and student exchange programs.
A delegation of 44 people representing 15 universities in Taiwan, led by Distinguished Professor Wu Cheng-Chih 吳正己, FICHET chairperson and the president of National Taiwan Normal University, participated and interacted with representatives of 42 universities in India. Among the university representatives were nearly 70 university presidents or heads of international offices at universities in Taiwan or India. Baushuan Ger 葛葆萱, Taiwan’s Representative in India, and Peters Chen 陳立穎, Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India, also took part, accompanied by senior officials.
The welcome remarks from distinguished guests were followed by discussions on strengthening academic ties. Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, the president of AIU, pointed out the significance of 2025: it is a milestone year, marking AIU’s centenary. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Semiconductor Mission is creating avenues for greater collaboration between Taiwan and India, particularly in semiconductor research and development, and he emphasized the potential for joint ventures and academic alliances in this pivotal sector, saying "Taiwan is a global leader with a well-established semiconductor ecosystem".
Keynote speakers spoke about the contributions of Indian and Taiwanese universities to advancing innovation and research in semiconductor technology, and experts from India and Taiwan shared insights on groundbreaking developments and advocated bolstering academic and research cooperation and joint research initiatives. A panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the AIU, examined the role of universities in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A highlight of the forum was the signing of a third renewal of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between AIU and FICHET, first signed in 2010, to enhance academic exchanges and partnerships. This will contribute to the continued strengthening of educational and research collaborations between Taiwan and India. The 2025 Taiwan–India Higher Education Leaders Forum concluded with a networking session, where the participants discussed future opportunities for international academic and research cooperation.
