NCSSFL Delegation Visits Taiwan to Deepen Taiwan-U.S. Educational Cooperation
At the invitation of the Ministry of Education, the delegation from the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL) visited Taiwan from June 6 to 13, 2026. The delegation was led by NCSSFL President Dr. Cathleen Skinner and included Secretary Ms. Agnieszka Bourret, Past President Dr. Ann Marie Gunter, and State Member Dr. Lisa Harris, four state-level language education leaders from the United States.
Following NCSSFL’s inaugural delegationed visit to Taiwan in 2025, Dr. Skinner who visited Taiwan last year as President-Elect is returning this year as President. This return demonstrates the continued deepening of exchanges between the two sides. During the visit, the delegation exchanged views with Taiwan counterparts on language education policy, the promotion of Mandarin Chinese education, and bilingual talent cultivation, further deepening the Taiwan-U.S. educational partnership.
NCSSFL is a key organization in shaping language education policy across the United States. It has long been instrumental in the development of language proficiency standards and the promotion of the Seal of Biliteracy, and plays an influential role in the development of K-12 language education in the United States.
To continue promoting Taiwan-U.S. exchanges in language education, the Ministry of Education has commissioned the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) to facilitate ongoing collaboration. In 2023, FICHET signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NCSSFL and the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NADSFL), establishing an institutional cooperation mechanism to promote teacher professional development, teacher recruitment, and educational exchanges.
During their stay in Taiwan, the delegation visited K-12 schools, Mandarin Chinese education institutions, and the Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency-Huayu (SC-TOP). These visits allowed them to gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s achievements in bilingual education, Mandarin Chinese teaching, and language proficiency assessment. The two sides will also hold in-depth discussions on Mandarin Chinese teacher training, educational exchanges, and future cooperation.
The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) has earned growing recognition from the U.S. education community in recent years. To date, education departments in 28 U.S. states have officially recognized TOCFL as an approved assessment for students applying for the Seal of Biliteracy.
Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Kuo-Wei Liu received the delegation on June 8. He stated that under the framework of the U.S.–Taiwan Education Initiative, Taiwan and the United States have continued to deepen cooperation in language education, teacher professional development, and educational exchanges.
Deputy Minister Liu highlighted that the adoption of TOCFL by 28 U.S. states for the Seal of Biliteracy marks a significant milestone in bilateral language education cooperation. Looking ahead, the two sides will continue to promote cooperation in Mandarin Chinese education, teacher professional exchanges, and language proficiency certification, further strengthening the foundation of Taiwan-U.S. educational cooperation.
The Ministry of Education will continue to work through cooperation platforms such as FICHET and NCSSFL to deepen Taiwan-U.S. collaboration in language education, teacher training, and talent exchanges. Jointly cultivate international talent with intercultural communication skills and global perspectives, bringing deeper and more sustainable momentum to the Taiwan-U.S. educational partnership.
