University Academic Alliance in Taiwan Establishes Two New Partnerships “Deep in the Heart of Texas”
As 2023 drew to an end, Taiwan and Texas remained focused on the future. In September 2023, the Ministry of Education of Taiwan announced the establishment of a National Key Areas International Cooperation Alliance and an International Industry-Academia Collaboration Alliance, to attract outstanding international students to Taiwan to work and study. The formation of university alliances and the establishment of overseas bases will promote bilateral cooperation in training highly skilled people and developments to facilitate breakthroughs for future generations.
A memorandum of understanding was signed on November 27, 2023, between the University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT) and Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), by Prof. Wen-Chang Chen, the president of National Taiwan University on behalf of UAAT, and by John Sharp, Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System on behalf of TAMUS.
A second memorandum of understanding was signed on November 29, 2023, between UAAT and the University of Texas System (UTS). Prof. Wen-Chang Chen, signed on behalf of UAAT, and James Milliken, Chancellor of the University of Texas System, signed on behalf of UTS.
Political Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Mon-chi Lio took part in each of the signing ceremonies online. Among the other government and education officials from Taiwan and the State of Texas who participated in person and online were Dr. Nicole Yen-Yi Lee, Director General of the Ministry of Education’s Department of International and Cross-Strait Education; Arend Zwartjes, Public Affairs Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan; Yvonne Hsiao, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston; Dr. Li Tsai-Yen, president of National Chengchi University, and Dr. Wu Cheng-Chih, president of National Taiwan Normal University.
Deputy Minister Lio spoke at each signing ceremony, congratulating the universities involved, saying “This MOU will provide a strong foundation for strengthening academic exchanges, and cooperation between Taiwan and Texas. It sets the stage for robust semiconductor education and research collaboration, together with scope for a wide range of collaborative activities in other fields, including quantum technology, space technology, health science and engineering, agriculture, and Mandarin learning.”
John Sharp, Chancellor of the Texas A&M System, said: "I am eager to see how we will progress as we work closely together with our friends in Taiwan. This kind of collaboration leads to the most exciting advancements."
Prof. Wen-Chang Chen expressed similar anticipation, saying that he really looked forward to exciting synergy between the University Academic Alliance in Taiwan and the university systems in Texas, based on their respective core competencies and mutual interest.
The two MOUs place emphasis on cooperation in semiconductor-related fields, in accordance with the goals of the US–Taiwan Education Initiative Three-Year Strategic Plan (2023–2025). The focus of this strategic plan is to promote semiconductor technology related training, research, and industry cooperation, actively nurture semiconductor professionals, and facilitate related international industry-academia collaboration. These MOUs will facilitate new partnerships between leading institutions in Taiwan and Texas that will usher in a new era of international education collaboration in these sectors.