The 2019 Asia–Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition (APAIE) took place from March 25 to 29 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. More than 2,500 higher education institutions and related experts from 60 countries worldwide attended the conference which had Diversity and Inclusivity of Higher Education in the Asia Pacific as its theme. Mr. Andy Cheu-An Bi, the Director General of the Department of International & Cross-strait Education of the Ministry of Education led a delegation from the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) and personnel from the international affairs departments of universities in Taiwan to attend APAIE.

A “Taiwan Night” cultural event on March 26 was organized by FICHET for 42 guests from 15 countries who were representing 27 institutions of higher education that have a sister-school relationship with one or more similar institutions in Taiwan. Mr. Andy Cheu-An Bi said in his welcoming remarks that the higher education sector in Taiwan is actively engaged in refining its many internationalization policies. An ever-widening range of opportunities for cooperation between local universities and foreign universities is essential for enhancing educational effectiveness and providing more opportunities for students.

During the conference, representatives from National Taiwan University, National Taipei University of Technology, National Dong Hwa University, Asia University, National Cheng Kung University, National Taiwan Normal University, Providence University, Taipei Medical University, National Chung Hsing University, and FICHET gave twelve talks and three poster presentations regarding the education system in Taiwan, and their experiences educating students and training skilled professionals. And twenty-five of Taiwan’s tertiary education institutions set up booths with the theme “Study in Taiwan” as part of the exhibition to promote the range of programs available and the advantages of studying in Taiwan.

Their participating in the APAIE conference and exhibition benefits Taiwan’s higher education sector as a whole and makes an important contribution to its further development because it provides valuable opportunities for discussing the details of experiences of, and expectations regarding international cooperation. They can absorb new perspectives and knowledge regarding international education, and at the same time, APAIE is an excellent opportunity to promote the advantages that Taiwan’s higher education sector offers students from around the world.

Photo: Prof. Chen Mei-Fen, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET); Mr. Andy Cheu-An Bi, the Director General of the Department of International & Cross- strait Education of the Ministry of Education; and Dr. Huey-Jen Jenny Su, the Chair of the FICHET Board, together with personnel from the international affairs departments of universities in Taiwan who were taking part in APAIE.