The Taiwan Scholarship program is designed to encourage promising students from foreign countries to pursue their undergraduate or graduate degree studies at a university in Taiwan. Four Taiwan Scholarships were awarded this year: to Giovanni Antonio Colitti, Scott Michael Faul, Christopher John Findler, and Nicholas Rowan Sidman, all of whom will study in Taiwan for a higher degree.

Another 28 people were awarded a Huayu Enrichment Scholarship for various periods: 3, 6, 9, or 12 months, between September 2016 and August 31, 2017; or to do a 2-month summer program in June and July, or July and August.

The Ministry of Education established the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Program to encourage international students to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan. These scholarships provide an excellent opportunity for international students to enhance their language skills and to gain new cultural experiences by being immersed in a congenial and vibrant Chinese-speaking environment. Applications for these two scholarship programs can be submitted between February 1 and March 31 each year and the selections are announced in July.

Successful applicants who have been awarded a scholarship are always invited to attend a pre-departure orientation held by the Education Division, TECO in Los Angeles. This year’s pre-departure orientation was held on July 8. Steve C.C. Hsia, the Director-General of TECO in LA, presented certificates to the 2016 scholarship recipients on behalf of the Ministry of Education in Taiwan, and details of the regulations governing all aspects of the scholarships, the process to apply for residency in Taiwan, activities which are not permitted (such as working illegally), and helpful information about living and studying in Taiwan were all given to the attendees.

Former scholarship recipients are always invited to come and share details of their experiences of studying in Taiwan and this year was no exception.