Riding the waves of globalization, the primary aim of our international education effort is to cross boundaries between countries for the promotion and mobility of human resources, which are a goal for many countries also interested in international education. In order to promote our international education exchange programs and to integrate the cross-strait educational affairs, the Ministry of Education has re-constructed its former Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations, along with the Mainland Affairs Division and the Commission of Overseas Chinese Education Affair to become the new Department of International and Cross-strait Education.

　　The Department of International and Cross-strait Education has six sections with following duties and functions:

• International Cooperation Section:

Monitor and assess the performance of overseas mission offices,

Participate in international organizations (such as APEC, UMAP, and the Annual Meeting of Educators),

Subsidize international academic and educational exchange,

Establish bilateral MOUs with members of international community,

Promote the Taiwan Study Project with overseas universities,

Hold bilateral higher education forum.

• Cross-strait Affairs Section:

Manage administrative affairs of students from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao seeking to study in Taiwan,

Manage administrative affairs of Taiwanese students seeking to study (or currently studying) in Mainland China,

Manage administrative affairs of short-term/exchange students from Mainland China,

Supervise collaborative agreements with schools in Mainland China,

Promote educational exchanges with Hong Kong and Macao,

Provide guidance and counseling in school administration of Taiwan Businessmen's Schools in Mainland China and of Overseas Taiwan Schools.

• Studying Abroad Section:

Review and grant “To Study Overseas on Government Scholarships” and other studying abroad scholarships,

Review and grant MOE Study Abroad Program subsidies,

Provide information of foreign government scholarships for studying abroad,

Provide emergency assistance for overseas students,

Raise awareness of studying abroad and overseas study tours,

Review standard form contracts of overseas education agencies,

Provide regular updates to the Database for the Reference List of Foreign Universities.

• Protocol Affairs Section:

Receive visiting international university, government, and other VIPs and high-ranking dignitaries,

Act as MOE contact window to foreign embassies and missions,

Provide support for educational MOU signing ceremonial events,

Provide work permit application information for overseas teachers and professionals at language centers affiliated with a university or college.

• Overseas Compatriot Students and International Students Service Section:

Review and grant the Ministry of Education Short Term Research Award,

Manage the Taiwan Scholarship Program and its quota,

Update and provide interpretations on the regulations regarding international students undertaking studies in Taiwan,

Process applications from overseas compatriot students applying to Taiwan undergraduate and graduate programs,

Update the Regulations Regarding Study and Counseling Assistance for Overseas Compatriot Students in Taiwan.

Provide international student advisors training and development, and international students inquiry service.

• Overseas Taiwanese School and Mandarin Chinese Education Section:

Promote global Mandarin Chinese education,

Review and grant subsidies for Mandarin Teachers and Teaching Assistants to teach overseas,

Review and grant the Huayu Enrichment scholarship,

Promote international recognition of the Certificate of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language,

Provide subsidies for overseas Mandarin education promotion activities.

　　The Department of International and Cross-strait Education officially commenced on January 1, 2012. All employees and resources working within former organizations, as well as related efforts, are joining this newly restructured organization. In addition to continuing the existing projects of cooperation, the Department of International and Cross-strait Education signals an entirely new level of academic community cooperation in order to maximize the reach, visibility and impact that international education can have for Taiwan’s international partners and for forward-reaching professional pathway. Going forward, the Department will steadily advance towards achieving the following visions: expanding substantive international and cross-strait cooperation and exchanges, increasing the recruitment of outstanding overseas compatriot students, mainland Chinese students, and international students, cultivating international talents with a global perspective, and establishing a national brand for Mandarin language teaching while expanding global connections in Mandarin language education.