MOA signing ceremony participants in British Columbia included —from third left—Michel Tarko, Anne Kang, Li-Hsin Angel Liu, Randall Martin, Colin Doerr, and Joanne

The British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE) and the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on March 14, 2022 in a virtual ceremony cohosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Vancouver. This MOA renews an official partnership between BCCIE and FICHET that began in 2015 and under which BCCIE and FICHET have both endeavored to establish and advance academic collaborations between educational and research institutions in British Columbia (BC) and in Taiwan.

The MOA was signed by Dr. Randall Martin, Executive Director of BCCIE and Dr. Huey-Jen Jenny Su, Chairperson of FICHET. Dignitaries at the signing ceremony included the Honorable Anne Kang, British Columbia’s Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training; Ms. Li-Hsin Angel Liu, Director General of TECO in Vancouver; Dr. Michel Tarko, President & CEO of the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and Board Chair of BCCIE; Mr. Colin Doerr, Director, External Relations, BCCIE; Mr. Ajay Patel, President of Vancouver Community College; Joanne Curry, Vice-President External Relations at Simon Fraser University; Dr. Nicole Yen-Yi Lee, Director General of the Department of International and Cross-strait Education of the Ministry of Education; Ms. Tracy Lang, Director of the Education Division of TECO in Canada; and Dr. Meifen Chen, Chief Executive Officer of FICHET.

“I recognize the value of international education to BC and its contribution to our diversity,” said Minister Anne Kang. “As students travel to new places, meet different people, and encounter new ideas, they bring together skills, talents, and cultural perspectives to help us build a diverse society and stronger economy. I know this partnership will open doors to new opportunities for our students.”

“Canada is a long-time and important educational partner to Taiwan,” said Li-Hsin Angel Liu, Director General of TECO in Vancouver. “The signing of this Memorandum of Agreement between FICHET and BCCIE will help to activate the willingness of both sides to cooperate in academic and technical education fields, and we hope to cultivate more mutually beneficial relationships. The new generation with international vision and cross-cultural communication skills will enhance the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s higher education sector. Our office will diligently support both organizations’ implementation of cooperative activities as outlined in the provisions in the agreement.”

“As we know, international academic cooperation and collaborative research can make a vital contribution to tackling many challenges facing our world, and people’s everyday lives,” said Director General Nicole Yen-Yi Lee. “We greatly value the longtime education cooperation and exchanges between British Columbia and Taiwan, and between the British Columbia Council for International Education and FICHET. The renewal of this partnership will maintain and enhance a wide range of bilateral academic and educational cooperation in the higher education sector, including exchanges, research collaboration, and overseas study opportunities for students in Taiwan and in the British Columbia.”

“It has been exciting to realize the positive effects of this agreement in promoting higher education exchanges between Taiwan and Canada,” said Executive Director Randall Martin. “The renewal of the cooperative agreement promises to encourage more BC teachers and students to pursue opportunities for joint research and study with universities in Taiwan.” FICHET Chairperson Dr. Huey-Jen Jenny Su added, “Since the official signing of the Academic Cooperation Agreement in 2015, BCCIE and FICHET have jointly pursued goals that are committed to promoting various engagements and cooperation in the areas of learning, teaching, and research. I believe the renewal of our agreement will further strengthen the collaboration between our two organizations.”