The delegation comprised presidents and vice presidents from twelve leading universities in Taiwan. While in Los Angeles they visited the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on March 2 and met with leading university officials: Prof. David D. Kim, Associate Vice Provost at the International Institute;  Prof. Min Zhou, Director of the Asia Pacific Center; Prof. Robert Candler, Associate Dean of the School of Engineering; Prof. M.C. Frank Chang, Distinguished Professor in the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering; and Prof. Mona Jarrah, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the Terahertz Electronics Laboratory.

They had discussions on current partnerships between UCLA, the Ministry of Education, and universities in Taiwan, and the importance of sustained higher education and research collaborations. The delegation was then given a tour of the UCLA Sensing & Robotics for Infrastructure Lab (SRILab). This provided an opportunity to see some of UCLA’s cutting-edge research in smart infrastructure and robotic sensing technologies, and how interdisciplinary innovation and advanced engineering solutions are addressing real-world challenges.

The visit concluded with both the delegation and the UCLA officials expressing their commitment to further deepening academic exchanges, and expanding joint research. They were all optimistic about future cooperation, particularly in emerging technology fields, faculty exchanges, and student mobility programs.

A delegation led by Administrative Deputy Minister Chu Chun-Chang 朱俊彰, comprising Dr. Liao Kao-Hsien 廖高賢, Director-General of the Department of Higher Education; Hsieh Chia-Yi 謝佳宜, Director of the Department of Human Resources Development of the National Development Council; Tseng Tai-Ju 曾黛如, Section Chief at the Department of International Cooperation and Science Education of the National Science and Technology Council, and the presidents and vice presidents of 12 national universities took part in this recruitment tour from February 27 to March 5, 2026.

FICHET— the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan—provided administrative support for the tour, including transportation and itinerary coordination and local events were organized by the respective overseas Education Divisions in the different parts of the US that the delegation would visit.

The inaugural Meet Talent, Meet Taiwan information and interview session was held on February 28 at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco. Deputy Minister Chu and David Wu 伍志翔, Director-General of TECO San Francisco welcomed everyone and provided policy briefings from the MOE and the National Development Council.

Leading officials from 12 top national universities then each spoke about the research strengths of their university: Dr. Liao Wanjiun 廖婉君, Executive Vice President, National Taiwan University; Dr. Chang Shyy-Woei 張始偉, Executive Vice President, National Cheng Kung University; Dr. Lyu Ping-Chiang 呂平江, Senior Vice President, National Tsing Hua University; Dr. Lin Chi-Hung 林奇宏, President, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University; Professor Li Tsai-Yen 李蔡彥, President, National Chengchi University; Professor Sung Yao-Ting 宋曜廷, President, National Taiwan Normal University; Professor Chen Shyh-Jer 陳世哲, Senior Vice President, National Sun Yat-sen University; Distinguished Professor Jan Fuh-Jyh 詹富智, President, National Chung Hsing University; Dr. Hsiau Shu-San 蕭述三, President, National Central University; Dr. Yao Ho-Teng 姚賀騰, Vice President, National Chung Cheng University; Dr. Yen Jia-Yush 顏家鈺, President, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech); and Professor Jen Yi-Jun 任貽均, President, National Taipei University of Technology (Taipei Tech).

The presentations were followed by roundtable consultations and preliminary interviews between the university officials and attendees interested in taking up a position teaching or doing research work at one of the universities in Taiwan.

A total of 87 scholars and researchers attended in person and another ten took part online. After the session, the delegation departed to continue the next stage of their recruitment mission in Los Angeles.

Her first stop was to take part in this year’s Study Overseas Fair at the University of Melbourne—the Global Experience Fair 2026, held on March 17. Representatives of the university’s international partners, universities and other tertiary institutions around the globe, and diplomatic missions—including the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia—set up areas to interact with the students.    

Secretary Lee spoke with many students about the possibilities Taiwan offers for a global experience. The most commonly asked questions were about summer exchanges and student exchanges as part of their university programs. The Fair itself was very global in its nature: Davidson Yue, who studied at National Taiwan University as a New Colombo Plan Scholar stopped at the TECO stall and talked with students about his experiences studying abroad. He described Taiwan as a culturally enriching, accessible study destination. Some of the students said that they’d already applied for a Huayu Enrichment Scholarship to learn Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan and were looking forward to the possibility. Sasha Spurna, who was at the fair as Exchange Co-ordinator at Aalto University in Finland, introduced herself to Flora as a previous Huayu Enrichment Scholarship recipient.  

The UNSW Exchange Expo held at the University of New South Wales on March 30 showcased international exchanges and short courses available for UNSW students. The students Flora spoke with at the Expo were particularly interested in Taiwan’s technology. Many students doing information technology programs asked about dual degrees with universities in Taiwan. 

The next day, March 31, Flora took part in a Study in Taiwan event at Macquarie University, organized by the Faculty of Arts. Some of the students spoke about the immersive language learning experience they’d had at National Cheng Kung University with Ministry of Education subsidies. This included visits to local historical sites and cultural experiences. They’d each been allocated a “language buddy” and this helped them drastically improve their Mandarin Chinese abilities in a short amount of time. The Macquarie University students were very proactive about graduate employability and many asked about the possibilities for gaining international work experience in Taiwan.

It’s very encouraging to see Taiwan’s emerging popularity among Australian students as a study destination and also as a career development destination.

A delegation of presidents and vice presidents of 11 national universities, led by Political Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Liu Kuo-wei 劉國偉 began the East Coast leg of the Meet Talent, Meet Taiwan initiative with an information session at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York on February 28. It was attended by more than 100 people: officials from U.S. education institutions—including the University of Pennsylvania, Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, the State University of New York, and the University of Rochester—and postdoctoral researchers, scholars, and PhD students from the greater New York area.

Tom Chih-Chiang Lee 李志強, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, welcomed the delegation and attendees. He told them that this office will continue to serve as a bridge connecting outstanding academics and researchers in the northeastern area of the United States with opportunities to work in Taiwan.

Dr. Liu spoke about Taiwan’s growing demand for high-level academic personnel as universities face a wave of faculty retirements. Taiwan continues to play a key role in semiconductors and other global high-tech industries. Taiwan’s higher education system welcomes outstanding scholars of all nationalities and he outlined some of the supportive career development opportunities being offered. Jonathan Liao, Managing Director of the International Talent Taiwan Office, later gave details of Taiwan’s Employment Gold Card, a four-in-one permit for foreign professionals that combines visa, residency, work authorization, and re-entry.

Officials from leading universities in Taiwan spoke about their own university’s academic programs and research strengths. This was followed by opportunities for people considering teaching or doing research in Taiwan to have one-on-one consultations with university leaders.

The attendees found the information session very informative about Taiwan’s higher education environment, and related policies, and some expressed interest in teaching or research work in Taiwan.

She told the attendees about Taiwan’s world-class education, academic programs, and living environment and encouraged the Thai students to apply for one of the Ministry of Education scholarships available to undertake part of their higher education in Taiwan and broaden their global perspectives: the Taiwan Scholarships to undertake degree programs at any level; the Huayu Enrichment Scholarships to study Mandarin Chinese; and TEEP—the Taiwan Experience Education Program, which offers a wide range of opportunities and provides a monthly scholarship.

Three Thai alumni of universities in Taiwan then talked about their experiences as students living there, studying for degrees in engineering, and science fields, and learning Mandarin Chinese. There was a strong response from the students, particularly science and engineering field students, who asked many questions and expressed interest in applying for a scholarship, making the session very lively.

The next Study in Taiwan information session was held at the Knowledge Knowing Building in Phuket on March 14 with a similar format, the first one ever held in southern Thailand. Education Division Secretary Hsueh Yi-Han provided information about Taiwan’s education, academic programs, living environment and the Ministry of Education scholarships available, and three Thai alumni of universities in Taiwan spoke about their experiences there. They had received a Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarship, a Taiwan ICDF Scholarship, and a Huayu Enrichment Scholarship respectively, and their presentations attracted the attention of students interested in the humanities, social sciences, applied foreign languages, urban governance, and Mandarin teaching. There were also some cultural interaction activities to give people a taste of Taiwanese culture.

The two sessions attracted approximately 200 attendees: Thai students, parents, and education professionals. The information provided at each session increased many students’ interest in studying Mandarin Chinese, and the presentations by the alumni about their experience of academic and daily life in Taiwan helped give people confidence about being an overseas student at a university there.

The Education Division is continuing to promote education and research exchanges between Taiwan and Thailand, and provide information about study opportunities and scholarships. The next Study in Taiwan information session will be held in northern Thailand.

Han Kuo-Yao 韓國耀, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City, and Lin Wei-Chih 林韋至, Educational Counsellor at the Education Division there hosted a welcome banquet for the representatives of Taiwan’s higher education to discuss student recruitment strategies and local outreach efforts to strengthen long-term engagement and establish stable higher education and research cooperation between Taiwan and Vietnam. Educational Counsellor Lin Wei-Chih said that the number of Vietnamese students studying in Taiwan—recently almost 53,000—has continued to grow. They now constitute the largest number of international students in Taiwan, more than twice as many as those from the country with the second largest number. In 2026 Vietnam received the largest allocation of Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarships, scholarships for students undertaking a degree program at any level at a university in Taiwan. This is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen educational cooperation and exchanges with Vietnam.

The first university admission and career information day was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 8, and the second was held in Can Tho on March 22. The focus was on helping Vietnamese students make informed choices about their academic paths: selecting the right major can shape future career opportunities.

Representatives of more than 130 Vietnamese and international universities took part. The participating universities set up consultation booths and met directly with students and parents, offering on-the-spot details of academic programs, admission requirements, study pathways, and scholarship opportunities, and the atmosphere was very lively.

The two days attracted nearly 20,000 students, reflecting the growing interest of Vietnamese students in overseas study. Many interacted with the representatives of the 48 universities in Taiwan, asking about programs and scholarships available, and received immediate details of their options for studying there.

Vietnamese students are very interested in science and technology fields. Đỗ Thiện, a high school student from An Giang Province who has been closely following developments in Taiwan’s medical technology sector attended to find out whether he’s eligible to study in Taiwan, and if so, how to apply for a Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarship. “I’m especially interested in healthcare and technology, and Taiwan offers strong programs in both,” he said. Trương Nguyễn Lê Khoa, a student at the University of Science, Vietnam National University–Ho Chi Minh City, said he is considering further study of wafer fabrication and IC design in Taiwan and asked about programs in semiconductor-related fields. The availability of programs taught in English will be a key factor in his decision.

Strong interest was observed in fields such as AI, semiconductors, healthcare, and business, and how to apply for programs and available scholarships. The students had many questions about programs that integrate academic training with industry needs, and future career pathways. To address this interest, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Kun Shan University worked together to present a forum in Can Tho, to give students information about Taiwan’s INTENSE Program (the International Industrial Talents Education Special Program). The INTENSE Program offers an enormous range of specialized programs aligned with industry needs, which will attract more Vietnamese students to Taiwan. Educational Counsellor Lin Wei-Chih spoke at the forum about Taiwan’s industry-oriented skilled workforce development policies, and Taiwan’s educational cooperation with Vietnam.

On March 3, Administrative Deputy Minister of Education Chu Chun-Chang 朱俊彰, led a high-level delegation, including Dr. Liao Kao-Hsien 廖高賢, Director General of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry officials, personnel from the National Development Council and the National Science and Technology Council, and representatives of leading national universities to Houston for a Meet Talent, Meet Taiwan session. It began with officials giving presentations about the professional work and research environment in Taiwan, and related government policies.

Deputy Minister Chu said in his opening remarks that Taiwan is at a critical stage of research innovation, and the government is committed to providing the long-term resources necessary to expand Taiwan’s global academic presence.

Dr. Liao Kao-Hsien said that the Ministry is allocating approximately NT$700 million each year to the Yushan Scholar Program and flexible salary programs. And beginning this year, an additional NT$6 billion is being allocated to enable universities in Taiwan to help them attract and retain outstanding teaching and research personnel: by enhancing salary structures for both junior and senior scholars; providing competitive incentive packages for newly appointed academic staff; and supporting long-term research development, within a high-tech ecosystem.

Yvonne Hsiao 蕭伊芳, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, spoke about the strategic alignment between Taiwan and the Houston region. Houston’s expertise in the energy, aerospace, and medicine fields perfectly complements Taiwan’s leading role in the semiconductor and smart healthcare fields. She added that collaborations in these fields support the second goal of President Lai Ching-tea’s National Project of Hope, which is to Transform Taiwan into a Smart Technology Island.

She described Taiwan as a premier destination for long-term career growth where world-class researchers and scholars can pursue ambitious research goals with a high degree of academic freedom. At the same time, Taiwan provides a welcoming environment and world-class healthcare where they can enjoy a high-quality life and set up a permanent home.

After the officials’ presentations, the people attending were able to speak directly with members of the visiting delegation, one-on-one and in small groups, and discuss academic collaboration, research and teaching positions at these leading Taiwanese universities, and long-term career pathways in Taiwan.

BeSt is always an excellent opportunity for the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Austria to encourage Austrian students—and students from neighboring countries too—to study in Taiwan; to provide a lot of related practical information, especially regarding Taiwan’s higher education system, and Mandarin Chinese language learning; and to answer any questions people raise.

This year BeSt had 309 exhibitors and more than 55,000 visitors, and the TECO staff at the Study in Taiwan booth welcomed and interacted with approximately 500 visitors. Students considering studying abroad who were interested in Taiwan as a study destination asked many questions about the universities there, exchange programs, traditional Chinese medicine programs, short-term and summer courses, and scholarships they can apply for. Some people asked about the possibility of starting to learn more about Taiwan’s language and culture at the Taiwan Chinese School in Vienna. Other people who were walking past the booth stopped to try some Taiwanese snacks being offered. They were surprised to hear about the wide range of programs available in Taiwan, including degree programs taught in English.

It was encouraging to see how different booths that complemented each other worked in a mutually supportive way to provide the best possible advice. The Study in Taiwan booth and the booth of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Vienna often referred people to each other to obtain details of Mandarin Chinese language programs and resources, and opportunities for studying abroad.

Among the distinguished guests enjoying the evening were Alexander Tah-ray Yui 俞大㵢, Taiwan’s Representative in the U.S. with his wife Madame Karen Lo 羅美珍, and Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Liu Kuo-wei 劉國偉. Dr. Liu was in Washington, D.C. with a higher education recruitment delegation of presidents and vice presidents of eleven universities in Taiwan as part of the Meet Talent, Meet Taiwan initiative.

Representative Yui addressed the gathering and commended the Federation for its hard work in organizing the gala. The Lunar New Year is traditionally a time for family reunions so bringing overseas Taiwanese students together at the gala enabled them to feel the warmth of the Lunar New Year although they’re studying abroad, far from home. He mentioned to everyone that EVA Air will launch direct flights between Taipei and Washington, D.C. in June, which will further facilitate the strengthening of education and other exchanges between Taiwan and the US. 

In his address to the gathering, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Liu Kuo-wei spoke about the government’s commitment to supporting and engaging with young people overseas. In recent years, the government has continued to provide special budgets to increase investment in higher education by supporting universities’ international recruitment of outstanding people. Its promotion of the Higher Education Talent Sustainability Development Program demonstrates the government’s commitment to deepening the internationalization of higher education, and strengthening its connections with young people overseas.

Everyone at the Lunar New Year Gala spent a delightful, heartwarming night enjoying wonderful food, and good company. A highlight of the evening for the overseas students was the raffle prize-drawing. Among the many excellent prizes were return air tickets to Taiwan provided by EVA Air and by China Airlines

The Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada worked with Algonquin College to arrange their participation as interns in the TASTE project at the College’s Human-Centred Design Lab. This two-year project is a community-based research initiative to support at-risk youth—in this case young people not in employment, education or training (NEET)—by identifying the challenges they face, and practical pathways toward further study and employment. It’s part of a NEET program led by Prof Jed Looker. The project involves working directly with local NEET youth to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and perspectives and then developing suitable programs. 

Tsai Te-Jung has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in industrial design and has had several years’ experience in outreach and educational projects involving indigenous youth in Taiwan. Lin Tzu-Ming, a licensed social worker with professional experience in mental health counselling for post-secondary students, was able to contribute his expertise supporting young people navigating educational transitions, and their emotional well-being and resilience.

Lin and Tsai worked on the second phase of the TASTE project with the project team from September to December 2025. This included assisting research design, data collection, workshop planning, and hiring twelve NEET youth who would be paid to co-design six workshops scheduled to be held in Winter 2026. Bringing the first-hand experiences and perspectives of the young NEET partners into designing the workshops for their peers will help ensure that the workshops make post-secondary education a realistic and accessible option and they will be paid for their participation, giving them professional work experience.  

Their time as interns working with the TASTE project team gave Lin and Tsai practical experience with this Canadian project’s user-centered and human-centered design approaches, including the application of user experience (UX) principles in research and program development. This will be able to inform their future work with disadvantaged and high-risk youth in Taiwan and contribute to incorporating more inclusive and participatory design into approaches to education and employment support. 

You can read more about their time at Algonquin College and the TASTE project here.

The workshop attracted a wide range of students. Many were students of Asian studies, linguistics, and international relations; others were students who were simply curious about Chinese characters and East Asian culture. 

The Education Division invited two Mandarin teachers to guide the students through the very hands-on workshop. They began by explaining the basic structure and stroke order of Chinese characters and then demonstrated how to hold and control the brush and apply the ink to the paper. They also explained the meanings and significance of the characters that the students then enjoyed practicing writing, and could later take home: for example, auspicious characters such as “吉” (good fortune) and short phrases commonly seen displayed during the Lunar New Year. 

As well as the calligraphy, the workshop featured a hands-on introduction to traditional paper-cutting. The teachers explained the symbolism behind common motifs—such as flowers, animals, and geometric patterns—and guided the students through each step of cutting them out to make their own designs. This was the first time that many of the students had ever tried this traditional art form. 

During the workshop, Dr. Nicole Yen-Yi Lee, the Director of the Education Division, gave the students details about possibilities for studying in Taiwan, including programs taught in English, and scholarships such as the Taiwan Scholarships for degree courses, and the Huayu Enrichment Scholarships to study Mandarin in Taiwan, and living conditions there. The students asked many questions about Taiwan-related matters, such as student life there, safety, and opportunities for academic exchanges. 

The workshop was a great success with its interactive nature and friendly atmosphere. The students expressed delight as they wrote Chinese characters with a brush and made traditional paper-cuts, at the same time as being able to appreciate the cultural meanings behind them. More students might now consider learning Mandarin and consider Taiwan as a further study destination.

Most people in Taiwan are unfamiliar with the beauty of Paraguay, and most people in Paraguay are unfamiliar with the beauty of Taiwan, and Huang felt it was his mission to use his camera as a bridge to foster deeper cultural understanding between Taiwan and Paraguay.

Huang traveled across the country taking photographs to capture the essence of local life, and some of the work of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF). This is dedicated to boosting socio-economic development, enhancing human resources and promoting economic relations in a range of developing partner countries, and he documented orchid cultivation and freshwater fish farming projects. 

With the support of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Paraguay, Huang also held three photography exhibitions to showcase Taiwan’s vibrant spirit to people in Paraguay—from its lush natural landscapes to its athletic passion and colorful festivals. The first two were held in Ciudad del Este and Pilar. The final exhibition of his photography was held from February 11 to March 10 in Asunción. It was set up in the public service counter area of the Embassy, allowing local people to appreciate images of Taiwan while visiting the Embassy for official business. 

"I am deeply grateful to the MOE and the Embassy for helping me realize my dream of promoting cultural diplomacy," Huang said with a smile. After he returns to Taiwan, he plans to hold an exhibition to show people how Taiwan’s government is supporting the people of Paraguay, and to showcase the Heart of South America.

One of the young people from Taiwan has been placed as an intern in Vienna, at the headquarters of the National Network of Youth Information Centres in Austria (Bundesnetzwerk Österreichische Jugendinfos, BÖJI). Another is currently completing a placement in a youth center in Graz, and the third is splitting their time evenly between youth centers in Eisenstadt and in Mattersburg. BÖJI, founded in 2004, is the national umbrella organization for youth information services and centers throughout Austria. The youth centers prepare and disseminate youth-friendly, non-commercial information. They offer free, up-to-date, relevant, and accessible guidance to support young people’s personal development and transition to adulthood, and a wide range of activities and services to foster youth empowerment.

Personnel from the Education Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Austria visited the headquarters of BÖJI on January 30, 2026. They met with the intern from Taiwan, together with Mr. Aleksandar Prvulovic, the CEO of BÖJI, Ms. Alena Brunner—a project coordinator at BÖJI and the intern’s mentor, two other BÖJI mentors, and Birgit Klausser, Deputy Head of Department at the Austrian Federal Chancellery. Ms. Klausser is the designated contact person at the section of the Austrian Federal Chancellery in charge of international family and youth policy affairs.

Their discussions focused on the intern’s experiences in Austria and future cooperation within the framework of the Global Pathfinder Initiative. The intern described his experience acquiring new professional skills at BÖJI headquarters, and having opportunities to work creatively, as particularly rewarding aspects of being abroad and becoming familiar with life in a new country. A second group of Taiwanese participants is expected to arrive in the autumn of this year to take part in the program and gain professional experience at Austrian youth centers.

The Education Division looks forward to continuing to facilitate collaborative projects supported by Taiwan’s Global Pathfinder Initiative and local partner organizations, to further expand youth exchanges and international cooperation between Taiwan and Austria, and strengthen people-to-people ties.

Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Liu Kuo-Wei 劉國偉, said in his opening remarks that the young generation is a driving force which can initiate change and shape the future as the world tackles challenges such as climate change, industry transition, and social inequality.

Taiwan’s government has supported youth participation in public affairs and global issues for a long time, and he said that the forum provides a platform for Taiwan’s young people to engage with their global counterparts, cultivate cross-disciplinary skills, and advocate and help bring about sustainable development and a green economy.

Among the officials who took part in the forum was Paraguay’s youngest cabinet member, Salma Agüero Caballero, Minister of the National Youth Secretariat of Paraguay. She visited Taiwan from January 2 to 4 to take part following a formal invitation issued by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Paraguay.

More than 50% of Paraguay’s population is under the age of 30, and the country is often described as currently in a "demographic dividend" phase. The Minister praised Taiwan for providing essential education and training that empowers young people to exert greater influence on policies.

In addition to participating in the forum, Minister Agüero spent time at Liberty Square to film a video to promote the Taiwan Scholarship program to encourage young Paraguayans to study for degrees at universities in Taiwan.

She expressed her enthusiasm about promoting these opportunities to gain academic qualifications, saying that the knowledge that Paraguayan students gain in Taiwan will empower them. After they finish their studies and return home, they will be able to make significant contributions to Paraguayan society.

In the video, Minister Agüero tells them: "Taiwan offers generous scholarships for students to pursue their dreams. If you want to experience this beautiful culture and change your future, you cannot miss this opportunity." She shared the video on her personal Instagram, where it attracted more than 60,000 views in the first 24 hours—an excellent beginning.

Under the program, foreign English teaching talents work alongside local elementary and junior high school teachers through co-teaching and collaborative lesson planning. Together, they create natural, real-life English-use environments on campus, where students can practice speaking and communication skills in a supportive atmosphere that boosts their confidence. The program also contributes to the professional development of local teachers. A total of 980 foreign English teachers and full-time foreign English teaching assistants are expected to be recruited. Applicants who meet the required qualifications and hold passports from countries where English is an official or commonly used language, as recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), may apply starting now via the official website (https://tfetp.k12ea.gov.tw/). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews conducted selectively, until positions are filled.

To help foreign English teaching talents teach in Taiwan with peace of mind and focus fully on teaching, the K12EA provides comprehensive support measures, including salaries, airfare reimbursement, insurance coverage, housing reimbursement, and professional development programs. Additional benefits are offered based on position: foreign English teachers may receive airfare reimbursement for spouses or lineal relatives, as well as performance-based bonuses; full-time foreign English teaching assistants may receive reimbursement for professional certification programs such as TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA, along with transportation allowances. Through these comprehensive welfare and support mechanisms, foreign English teaching talents are able to focus on teaching and grow alongside their students, supported by stable living and working conditions.

Foreign teachers currently teaching in Taiwan have also shared their experiences. Yusuf, a foreign teaching adviser at Chiao Yu Elementary School in Miaoli County, noted that TFETP provides strong support and training, enabling foreign teachers to collaborate with local teachers and help students practice English in a fun and natural way. Spencer, a foreign English teacher at Zhongxing Elementary School in Penghu County, shared that, having participated in the program for many years, he believes it not only offers students more opportunities to learn everyday English, but also allows foreign teachers to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture. He encourages those interested in teaching English overseas to come to Taiwan, saying, “If you are interested in teaching English abroad and experiencing a different culture, then Taiwan is the right place for you.”

The K12EA noted that through close collaboration with local teachers, foreign English teaching talents bring English into students’ daily learning and school life—from classroom interactions and campus activities to everyday communication. In a supportive environment where students are encouraged to speak and feel confident to try, they naturally build practical English-use experience. By continuously introducing diverse cultural perspectives and teaching approaches, the program helps make English part of students’ everyday lives and nurtures the next generation with global awareness and communication skills. The K12EA sincerely invites more foreign professionals who are passionate about education to join Taiwan’s schools and contribute to meaningful and engaging teaching experiences on campus.

According to the organizers, within just one week of opening registration, related social media posts accumulated over 47,000 views. In addition to registrations from domestic teacher education professors within the field of early childhood education and frontline preschool educators, this event also attracted strong interest from overseas teacher education professors in related fields, primary and junior high school teachers, art education professionals, and many parents. This workshop brought opportunities for profound exchanges across disciplines, languages, and cultures to the domestic and international early childhood education community.

The event especially invited Dr. Joe Winston, an internationally renowned authority in drama education and Emeritus Professor of Drama and Theatre Education at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. Before joining Warwick University, Professor Winston taught in primary and junior high schools in the United Kingdom and served as a school principal, possessing extensive frontline teaching and educational leadership experience. During his tenure as a professor at the University of Warwick, he coordinated drama and theatre education-related courses for many years and was deeply engaged in the fields of drama and second language learning. His courses enjoy high international recognition and he possesses extensive cross-national research and practical teaching experience.

During the workshops held on January 25 and 26, Professor Winston used Hans Christian Andersen’s well-known story “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to guide participants in experiencing performative language teaching activities, which utilized games, songs, chants, and drama strategies.

Additionally, in his master lecture on January 26 titled “The Aesthetics of Performative Language Teaching for Preschool Learners”, Professor Winston emphasized that language learning is not merely about memorizing vocabulary and grammar, but is an integrated learning experience that engages the body, emotions, and imagination. Through drama and play, children can naturally encounter pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence structures in a stress-free and emotionally safe environment, which also encourages them to express themselves more confidently. Using several examples understandable to practicing teachers, Professor Winston explained the concept of performative language teaching, and introduced the metaphors of “maps” and “stories” to illustrate the significance of this pedagogy within the learning journey.

Guided by the philosophy that “Aesthetic Education Begins in Early Childhood, Lifelong Aesthetic Learning,” this event aims to challenge conventional perceptions of dramatic plays and highlights drama as one of the tools for young children’s language learning in order to enrich the diversity of early childhood classrooms. By integrating drama strategies into teaching, early childhood learners are able to use language naturally in meaningful and contextualized situations, strengthening their native language ability, while also engaging more comfortably with second languages. At the same time, this relaxed and enjoyable learning process fosters early childhood learners’ abilities in cooperation, expression, and empathy, thereby promoting Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and ultimately showcasing the fruitful outcomes of aesthetics as cross-disciplinary pathways for learning.

The MOE stated that it has long been committed to promoting aesthetic education from early childhood onwards. The MOE looks forward to extending the outcomes of this international and cross-disciplinary exchange into early childhood classrooms, and to continuing the cultivation of the next generation with aesthetic literacy, language competence, and international perspectives. For more information, ple  ase visit the Aesthetics Education Resource Integration Platform (https://aew.moe.edu.tw/)

Taiwan and Poland are two societies shaped by resilience and shared democratic values with growing ties between them. This is reflected in Taiwan’s YDA and Poland’s Centre for Youth Cooperation and Mobility signing a cooperation agreement to promote educational and cultural exchanges grounded in mutual understanding. The YDA recently expanded its Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative with a new international volunteer project in Gdynia in northern Poland, providing the Taiwanese participants with further opportunities to engage in cultural exchanges.

Three Taiwanese volunteers—Lisa Tseng, Yvonne Liu, and Yvette Yang—took part in a European Solidarity Corps project in Gdynia, from November 9 to December 12, 2025. They were welcomed to Poland by Jeff Liu 劉永健, Taiwan's Representative in Poland, and Suzen Tseng, the Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Representative Office in Poland. In Gdynia, the volunteers all worked with the St. Nicolaus Bishop Association, supporting educators working with children and young people. The volunteers collaborated closely with other European volunteers throughout the program, gaining meaningful experience in international service and cultural diplomacy, and showcasing Taiwan’s spirit of openness.

One of the highlights for Lisa, Yvonne, and Yvette was their holding lively Taiwan Workshops in local schools that created a vibrant “Taiwan wind” in the community. They introduced Taiwan’s culture and history and played traditional night-market games such as Asian dart kick with the Polish students. They also shared some authentic Taiwanese bubble tea.

YDA continues to be committed to empowering young people to engage globally, promote mutual understanding, and contribute to Taiwan’s international presence through volunteering.

The keynote presentations were given by the two scholars: Professor Hong Jia-Fei 洪嘉馡, Associate Dean of the College of International Studies and Social Sciences and Chair of the Department of Chinese as a Second Language at National Taiwan Normal University, and Assistant Professor Chang Yu-Hsin 張于忻, Director of the ASEAN and Overseas Chinese Affairs Research Center at the University of Taipei. Professor Hong spoke about bringing a wide range of approaches to curriculum design, and how AI and digital technologies can be integrated into teaching Mandarin, sharing her practical innovative ideas.

Mandarin educators play a vital role in cultural exchange and language education across the region. This event celebrated their passion and commitment, and the keynote presentations on innovative approaches to Mandarin curriculum design inspired the participants and fostered more collaboration and networking.

The test was organized by the Ministry and National Taiwan Normal University, and implemented by the Washington D.C. Taiwanese School, with coordination assistance from the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. It was held at the Universities at Shady Grove in Maryland at 9 a.m. local time. 

Twenty-five people, primarily teachers and students from the Washington D.C. Taiwanese School, registered to sit for the computer-based Version A test, which encompassed the Foundation and Basic levels. This was the first time that this certification test has been held outside Taiwan but all the test procedures, including the system checks, room setup, and invigilation, were conducted using the standardized protocols used in Taiwan. 

The testing proceeded very smoothly, with all the equipment working well, and an enthusiastic response from the test takers. The successful candidates will receive an official certificate issued by the Ministry, which will be sent to the Washington D.C. Taiwanese School for onward delivery.

The introduction of the Taiwanese Taigi Language Proficiency Test to the United States represents a significant step in supporting heritage language learning and multicultural education in overseas communities, and strengthening cultural connections with the younger generation. The Ministry is working to enable more people interested in Taiwan’s languages and culture to engage with, learn, and use Taiwanese Taigi Language. Feedback and the results from this first test held outside Taiwan will serve as a valuable reference for the Ministry when assessing the feasibility of expanding Taiwanese Taigi language proficiency certification testing to additional overseas locations in the future.

The goals of the expo were to support individuals who want to “apply Chinese language skills in the workplace” and “pursue international career paths” and to raise awareness of the TOCFL certificates. Dr. Chen Po-Hsi 陳柏熹, Executive Director of SC-TOP, traveled to Japan to attend the expo. In his opening remarks, he expressed hope that the expo would help Mandarin speakers unlock new professional opportunities. Awareness of the importance of having employees with Chinese proficiency is continuing to grow in Japan, and many of the company representatives said that the demand of companies in Japan for people is rapidly increasing. Huang Guan-Chao, Director of the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, pointed out that in recent years people in Taiwan have made more than six and a half million visits to Japan.   

The expo venue was very lively to help further promote interest in learning Mandarin. As well as providing information about TOCFL and opportunities for job-seekers to speak with company representatives, there were hands-on DIY activities with distinctive Taiwanese characteristics, popular Taiwanese snacks to try, and some night-market-style ring toss games that created a cheerful atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.