Director Bi and the Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP, Secretary of State for Education in England

Andy Cheu-An Bi, Director of the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, was invited to attend the Education World Forum 2022 as a representative of the Ministry of Education in Taiwan, and the Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom.

The Education World Forum 2022 was held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, from Sunday, May 22 to Wednesday, May 25. Its theme was: Education: Building Forward Together; Stronger, Bolder, Better— a reference to the unprecedented global challenges which have arisen over recent years. This year’s Education World Forum was once again held live and delegates from 117 countries participated, including 116 government ministers.

Director Bi attended the Forum on Monday, May 23, the first day of plenary sessions. Challenges facing for the education sector that were addressed during the sessions included the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, provision for child refugees displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and geographical inequity in educational resources.

The opening remarks were given by the then Secretary of State for Education in England, the Right Honourable Nadhim Zahawi MP. He emphasised the right of every child to receive an education, and the government’s commitment to recruiting international students, improving education standards, and facilitating student mobility. He also took this opportunity to introduce the Turing Scheme, a government programme that provides funding for nearly 40,000 students from the UK to undertake short-term study courses or internships abroad.

Director Bi was particularly interested in Mr Zahawi’s speech and he was delighted to greet him in person at an evening reception following the plenary sessions. They discussed the high quality of education provided in their respective countries and expressed their hopes for further policy dialogue and exchange between the UK and Taiwan.

Director Bi was also honoured to meet Professor Sir Steve Smith, Professor of International Studies and former vice-chancellor at the University of Exeter, who is a Special Representative for Education and International Education Champion of the UK government. Sir Steve was a valued contact of the Education Division when he was serving as vice-chancellor and on the board of Universities UK, and he continues to assist in the promotion of bilateral cooperation in higher education.