Representatives of each of the eight Taiwan–UK University Consortium member universities holding copies of the newly signed MOUs

The Taiwan–UK University Consortium (TUKUC) held its second conference from October 22 to October 24, 2025 at the Moray House School of Education at the University of Edinburgh to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the member universities, four research universities in Taiwan: National Taiwan University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Sun Yat-sen University, and National Tsing Hua University, and four British research universities: Newcastle University, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Liverpool, and the University of the West of Scotland.

The universities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on November 20, 2023 launching the Taiwan–UK University Consortium for the broad purpose of promoting academic exchanges, collaborative research, and educational innovation, and to advance research and collaboration in key areas such as green energy, net-zero solutions, and innovative approaches to language teaching.

The Taiwan–UK University Consortium held its first conference at National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan from November 6 to November 8, 2024. It brought together researchers from the UK and Taiwan to present their research related to bilingual education and net-zero solutions, and discuss opportunities for collaborative research.

Professor Kim Graham, Provost of the University of Edinburgh, gave the first opening remarks, welcoming the conference participants. She was followed by Ding Chi-Hua 丁志華, Director General of the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K., Edinburgh Office, and Andy Cheu-An Bi 畢祖安, Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K., who both reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to advancing international higher education collaborations; Professor Li Chi-Peng 李志鵬, president of National Sun Yat-sen University who spoke on behalf of the delegation from Taiwan; Susan Milner, Director of the British Council Taiwan; and Professor Yvonne Foley from the TUKUC Secretariat.

The three-day program was a valuable opportunity for the member universities to review its achievements, and discuss directions for future joint research and institutional cooperation. It included keynote addresses, workshops, and collaborative sessions on current and potential collaborative research projects. Among the presentations was one on Bilingualism Matters—a Research and Information Centre at the University of Edinburgh, a consortium member. Public engagement is an essential part of the work of its researchers and it has developed a Bilingualism Matters International Network.

A highlight of the conference was the signing of a second MOU between the four member universities in Taiwan and the four member universities in the UK. The consortium members reaffirmed their commitment to cross-border academic partnerships, fostering sustained, meaningful collaboration between universities in Taiwan and the UK, and advancing academic excellence and shared education, research, and sustainable development goals.