Taiwan’s University Academic Alliance & Texas A&M University System Hold Collaboration Conference
The University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT) and the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) are both committed to fostering academic collaboration and research, and cross-cultural interaction. They signed an agreement on November 27, 2023 to facilitate collaboration in a number of key areas, including semiconductors design and production.
A UAAT delegation of 21 professors, led by Distinguished Professor Chou Chi-Chung 周濟眾, Vice President of National Chung Hsing University, travelled to Texas to participate in a collaboration conference with TAMUS representatives on September 9 and engage in academic exchanges on semiconductors, space technology, agriculture, and Mandarin language-learning education.
The UAAT delegation included representatives from seven other leading universities: National Cheng Kung University, National Central University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Taipei University of Technology, National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.
TAMUS was represented by Chancellor John Sharp, Vice Chancellor Joe Elabd, Deputy Associate Vice Chancellor David Staack, and numerous faculty members from four key research fields. The conference was attended by more than 70 people, reflecting the strong interest in deepening academic collaborations with Taiwan.
The conference had lively panel discussions on semiconductors, space technology, agriculture, and Mandarin language education. The discussions focused on potential future collaboration topics and modes. Andrea Yang, the Director of the Education Division of TECO in Houston gave a presentation on the progress of actions taken in the past year under the U.S.–Taiwan Education Initiative, Taiwan’s diverse Mandarin learning environment and the plans for a Mandarin learning hub for TAMUS.
During the UAAT delegation’s visit, a ceremony was held to complete the signing of a letter of intent to engage in Mandarin language education related cooperation. Distinguished Professor Chou Chi-Chung presented two copies of the Letter of Intent that had already been signed by Professor Jan Fuh-Jyh詹富智, president of National Chung Hsing University, to Chancellor John Sharp for him to sign. The universities intend to cooperatively establish a Mandarin learning hub that will assist students at the 10 universities within the TAMUS network to learn Mandarin.
After the conference, Director-General Hsiao hosted a dinner for the delegation and Taiwanese-American faculty members at TAMUS, giving them an opportunity to network and talk about future projects.