The sixth Taiwan–Thailand Higher Education Forum was held in Kaohsiung in Taiwan, organized by the Ministry of Education ofTaiwan, and hosted by National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. The Ministry of Education in each country agreed to hold such a forum once every year or every two years, in each country alternatively. The very first forum was held in Thailand in 2011 and the second was held in Taiwan. At each of the previous forums, the respective higher education systems were comprehensively outlined, and opportunities for bilateral cooperation were discussed.
The theme of the 2017 Taiwan-Thailand Higher Education Forum was “Taiwan–Thailand Partnership for Enhancing Global Mobility, Innovating Leadership, and Connecting with Industry”. Various fields of interest for development in the university sector were also discussed, such as Smart Agriculture, Biomedical, Biotechnology & Health Care, Smart Engineering & Technology, and Business and Tourism.
This year’s forum was attended by 121 representatives from the Office of the Higher Education Commission and universities in Thailand, and by 116 representatives from the Ministry of Education and universities in Taiwan. Dr. Yao Leehter, Deputy Minister of Education in Taiwan, Mr. Piroon Laismit, Executive Director of Thailand Trade and Economic Office, and Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, former Minister of Education in Thailand, all gave welcome remarks and praised the closer ties of educational cooperation between the two countries.
During the forum, a special MOU signing ceremony was arranged for a Taiwan–Thailand University Student Internship and Exchange Alliance under the New Southbound Policy as an Industry-Academia Collaboration New Model. The MOU was signed by the presidents of King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand; National Pingtung University of Science and Technology; National Taipei University of Technology; and Cheng Shiu University.
Mutual efforts and international internship collaboration will enable universities in Taiwan and Thailand to better prepare their students and equip them with the practical skills and competencies that will allow them to integrate knowledge with work, broaden their vision to international levels and have successful careers in our increasingly globalized world.
Establishing educational relationships and exchanges between countries has become a priority in today’s globalized world. And increasing students’ cross-border mobility is an essential element of enhancing their capacity to respond to the challenges of globalization and a complex future. Taiwan is always happy to welcome students and researchers from overseas, and explore developing collaborative internship and research projects worthy of joint commitment and efforts. A forum like this provides a perfect opportunity to strengthen and broaden ties and interaction between universities in Thailand and Taiwan.

Photo:Taiwan-Thailand University Student Internship and Exchange Alliance MOU Signing Ceremony