The Expo gave registered attendees an opportunity to chat directly with representatives of eight major universities in Taiwan, either in person or online, to gain a better understanding of the range of study opportunities and scholarships that are available, and see how Taiwan could be a part of their future study plans.

The eight universities in Taiwan that took part in the Expo already have collaborations with local Australian universities: Feng Chia University, Fu Jen Catholic University, National Cheng Kung University, National Chung Hsing University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. Each university holds particular discipline strengths and they each set up a stall area where the attendees could chat with university representatives and alumni who are currently studying or working in Australia.

The Taiwan Education Expo attracted a wide range of people interested in Taiwan’s culture, industry, and study opportunities. Among the dignitaries were Louise Kinnaird, Executive Director of the Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Association of International Education (APAIE), and Lucinda Malgas, the Secretariat’s Global Engagement Manager for the Asia Pacific Region; Dr. Guei-Sheung (Rick) Liu 劉貴玄, Head of Genetic Engineering Research at the Centre of Eye Research Australia (CERA); and Brent Moore, former Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner at the Australian Office in Taipei, and an active member of the Australia-Taiwan Business Council.

Ray Ming-Tse Lu 呂明澤, the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office branch in Melbourne, Rowan Callick, vice-chair of the Australia-Taiwan Business Council,  and Dr. Craig Smith, an associate professor at the Asia Institute at the University of Melbourne welcomed everyone and gave opening remarks about the advantages of studying in Taiwan.

The attendees included staff and students from the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, and Monash University, high school students, and some of this year’s New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarship holders who selected Taiwan as their study destination, and recipients of Huayu Enrichment Scholarships who’ll be travelling to Taiwan to study Mandarin Chinese later in 2026 intake also came along to meet representatives from TECO and their future study institutions. The high school students were generally interested in future opportunities in Taiwan’s leading technology sectors, while many university students asked about exchange programs and PhD programs.

The Education Division also invited two students to talk about Taiwan and what it's like to study and live there: Bukut Qalavangan from Taiwan, a member of Taiwan’s indigenous Bunun people who’s currently undertaking a Master of Public Health program at the University of Melbourne, and Davidson Yue, a former New Colombo Plan scholar who studied at National Taiwan University.

Dr. Yang Yu-Huei 楊玉惠, Director-General of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Technological and Vocational Education, who officially launched the Wind Rider in October, 2023; Prof. Yu Ke-Wei 俞克維, one of the vice presidents of National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology; and Ms. Lee Kuan-Ying 李冠穎, Education Secretary of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Osaka, all traveled to Matsuyama Port, where they joined staff from the Ehime Prefectural Government and the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education to welcome the training ship’s arrival. Speaking on board, Director-General Yang said that as well as an important platform for maritime navigation and marine engineering training, Wind Rider also serves as a bridge for international educational cooperation.

During the training ship’s visit, approximately 75 teachers and students from two colleges that are member institutions of Japan’s National Institute of Technology (KOSEN)—Oshima National College of Maritime Technology, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Yuge National College of Maritime Technology, located in Ehime Prefecture—were invited to go on board and participate in academic and cultural exchange activities. The program included guided tours of the bridge, engine room, and simulation facilities, presentations and interactive exchange sessions.

The teachers and students were also joined by administrators, making this one of the largest Taiwan–Japan maritime education exchange activities held in recent years. Kenya Nakai 中井賢哉, Director of the High School Education Division of the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education, praised the valuable educational role of the Wind Rider and its advanced facilities, describing her as a “mobile classroom at sea”. Wind Rider is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation, marine engineering, and simulation systems that meet the international training standards set out in the STCW Convention.

The Ministry of Education will continue to use Wind Rider to train world-class maritime professionals, and enhance international maritime education exchanges and cooperation.

The theme of this year’s conference was Taiwan and Its Neighbours: Indo-Pacific States in a Changing World Order. The conference was organised into three panel sessions: Panel 1 was on US–China competition and Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific; Panel 2 was on Northeast Asia Theatre: Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea; and Panel 3 was on Other Indo-Pacific States: India, Vietnam, and New Zealand.

The speakers included Professor Tsai Chung-min 蔡中民, from the Department of Political Science at National Chengchi University; Associate Professor Lee Chun-yi 李淳怡, from the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham, where she is director of the Taiwan Research Hub; and Professor Lu Yeh-chung 盧業中, Dean of the College of International Affairs at National Chengchi University, where he is a professor in the Department of Diplomacy, and vice president of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

It began with welcoming remarks given by Dr. Jing Bo-jiun 荊柏鈞, a senior research fellow and programme manager of the Oxford Taiwan Studies Programme in the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, and by Cheu-an Andy Bi, Director of the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK. Dr. Jing stated that a principal objective of the conference was to situate Taiwan within a broader Indo-Pacific context beyond cross-strait relations, and to examine how regional actors are responding to rapid geopolitical change. The conference’s timing—amid heightened international attention on US–China relations and the visit to the UK by Han Kuo-yu 韓國瑜, president of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, and a cross-party delegation—underscored the urgency and significance of discussions on Taiwan and regional resilience.

Director Bi described Taiwan studies as a long-term investment in mutual understanding, as well as an academic initiative. Taiwan-related research enables scholars and students to engage with Taiwan, examining its democracy, society, history, culture, economics, and international relations, and this contributes to more balanced and nuanced perspectives. He pointed out that issues affecting Taiwan are closely connected to the future of the Indo-Pacific region, including regional security, democratic resilience, supply chains, technological development, and the international order. He said that the Ministry of Education remains committed to supporting the Oxford Taiwan Studies Programme, and to strengthening the academic foundations of Taiwan studies in the UK and globally, through international collaboration and training of people with expertise in the Taiwan studies field.

Each of the three panel presentations was followed by a Q&A and discussion. Professor Rachel Murphy from the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies gave the closing remarks.

Among the competitors was a group of 18 students from seven secondary schools in Taiwan: the Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University, National Hualien Senior High School, Taipei First Girls’ High School, Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School, Taipei Municipal Jingmei Girls High School, Taipei Municipal Long Men Junior High School, and Taipei Fuhsing Private School. They were led by Dr. Liu Huoo-Chin 劉火欽, Director General of the National Taiwan Science Education Center.

The 18 students presented 12 projects in 11 of the 21 competition categories: Animal Sciences, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Embedded Systems, Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design, Environmental Engineering, Mathematics,jo and Robotics and Intelligent Machines.

Despite the tough global competition, the solid research and creative thinking of four of the students from Taiwan led to their five awards. The number of awards distributed in each category is proportional to the number of projects entered in that category. 

Two students from Taiwan won Grand Awards: 

* Anita Huang from Taipei Fuhsing Private School received one of the four Third Awards in the Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design category for a project on A New Class of Thermoelectric Material – Electrical Power From Coconut-Fibers and Carbon Nanoparticles. 

* Lu Pin-Chun from Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School received one of the four Fourth Awards in the Mathematics category for a project on Projective Generalization of Foci and Isogonal Cubics Loci of Complete Quadrilaterals.

Two students from Taiwan won a total of three Special Awards:

* Lee Meng-Hsuan from Taipei First Girls High School received the American Chemical Society First Award for her project in the Chemistry category on Dual-Functional Vaccine Adjuvant for Amplifying Immunity.

* Lin Jia-Ying from Taipei First Girls High School received two special awards for her project in the Mathematics category on Digraphs From a New Josephus Transformation. This was one of five projects to receive a Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye TUBITAK First Award. 

* Lin Jia-Ying’s project also received an American Mathematical Society (AMS) Honorable Mention and a One-Year Membership to AMS.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles immediately offered their congratulations and forwarded messages from President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim 蕭美琴, who both praised the students for their hard work and great results. Taiwan’s Minister of Education Dr. Cheng Ying-Yao 鄭英耀 also congratulated the students, saying that their exemplary achievements brought honor to Taiwan and reflected the quality of Taiwan’s education, and the strong focus it places on well-rounded STEM education.

A list of all the research project entries from each of the 67 countries, regions, and territories that took part in Regeneron ISEF 2026 can be found in the online Finalist Directory, and you can click on the link at the end of each project listing to see full details.  

One team competed in the FIRST LEGO League division – for ages 6 to 10; two teams competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge division – for ages 12 to 18; and twelve elite teams competed in the FIRST Robotics Competition division—the championship’s most demanding category, for ages 14 to 18. This is the highest number of teams from Taiwan that has ever qualified for the world finals, where they competed against more than a thousand teams from more than 50 countries. Yvonne Hsiao 蕭伊芳, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Rebecca Lan 藍先茜, Director of the Education Division, and Dr. Chen Pin-Chuan 陳品銓, Director of the Science and Technology Division visited the competition venues on the opening day of the competition to cheer the teams on.

During the four fiercely competitive days, the students demonstrated their knowledge, skills, strategic and creative thinking, and their ability to tackle complex engineering challenges. Their outstanding performances resulted in their earning the following seven awards, the highest number of awards teams from Taiwan have ever won at this world championship.

In the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC):

• Team 8595 – This Is How We Play from Ger Jyh Senior High School was awarded a Finalists Award in the FIRST Robotics Competition Curie Division;
• Team 8020 – CyberpunK from Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School was awarded the Excellence in Engineering Award;
• Team 7632 – An Kang Robotics Maker from New Taipei Municipal An Kang High School was awarded the Team Sustainability Award;
• Team 9427 – iDEER, a coalition team of students from New Taipei Municipal Shulin High School and from Yuteh Private International School in New Taipei was awarded a Rising All-Star Award; and
• Team 10034 – GammaLand, a coalition team of students from two schools in Yilan County—Ci-Xin Waldorf School, an experimental senior high school—and from National Lotung Industrial Vocational High School was awarded a Rising All-Star Award.

In the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC):

• Team 17257 – GoBuilder.GC, a coalition team of students from Sacred Hearts High School, National Tou-Liu Senior High School, Fu Jen Catholic High School, and Kang Ming Senior High School—all in the Yun-Chia region of southwestern Taiwan—was awarded the Control Award 2nd Place;

In the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge:

• Team 75225 – The Potter by the Stream from Taichung Municipal Shi Nan Junior High School received the Robot Performance Award – 5th Place

After the competition, Director General Hsiao presented messages to the following award-winning teams from behalf of President Lai Ching-te 賴清德 and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim 蕭美琴 congratulating them for their outstanding accomplishments on the global stage. She said afterwards “These students have demonstrated far more than technical excellence; they have shown the courage to innovate and an inspiring spirit of teamwork and collaboration. These opportunities for international connection and cross-cultural dialogue are among the most valuable lessons students can gain beyond the classroom.”

These young innovators have proven their ability to compete and collaborate at the highest international level, serving as outstanding ambassadors for Taiwan’s education sector, and Taiwan’s government remains committed to providing advanced, interdisciplinary STEM education and nurturing Taiwan’s next generation to be globally minded and competitive.

During the forum, a letter of intent (LOI) establishing the U.S. –Taiwan Semiconductor Education Alliance was signed by Dr. Li Tsai-Yen 李蔡彥, Chairperson of FICHET—the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan—and Dr. Charles L. Welch, President and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. 

Dr. Cheng Ying-Yao, the Minister of Education, Alexander Tah-ray Yui 俞大㵢, Taiwan’s Representative in the U.S. Ms. Ingrid D. Larson, Managing Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Washington Office (AIT/W), and officials from the U.S. Department of State were among the dignitaries who attended the signing ceremony.

In his remarks before the signing, Minister Cheng explained that the U.S. and Taiwan reaffirmed our shared commitment to extending education cooperation to support workforce development, and strengthen language capacity, and people-to-people ties, during the fifth U.S.–Taiwan Education Initiative high-level dialogue held in Taipei in January. The officials taking part in the high-level dialogue agreed on a three-year strategic plan that includes expanding cooperation between universities to train skilled professionals for the semiconductor industry.

The newly established U.S.–Taiwan Semiconductor Education Alliance will serve as a platform connecting universities, industry, and government stakeholders to expand academic exchanges, joint research, internships, and workforce training opportunities. It will facilitate Taiwan and the United States working together to train highly-skilled, globally competitive professionals, and strengthen the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain.

This exchange was centered on Japan’s ongoing implementation of “ESD for 2030.” Through site visits to schools, civil society organizations, and environmental learning facilities, the delegation gained in-depth insights into the mechanisms for advancing ESD policies, the distinctive features of course development, and cross-sector collaboration models. The delegation also learned how global issues such as climate change, net-zero transition, and resource circulation can be integrated into educational settings and translated into concrete actions by students. 

This visit was led by Professor Emeritus Osamu Abe of Rikkyo University, Japan, and jointly organized by the Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF), the Japan Council on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD-J), and the Japanese Society for Environmental Education (JSFEE). The arrangements enabled the delegation to gain a deeper understanding of ESD implementation models and the outcomes of ESD promotion in schools and communities. During a keynote lecture, Professor Emeritus Osamu Abe shared the development of ESD in Japan and its latest trends. He noted that environmental education in Japan has transitioned from an early focus on the transmission of environmental knowledge to an educational model that uses systems thinking to guide social transformation. The core philosophy focuses not only on improving the relationship between people and nature, but also on fostering connections and the common good among people and between individuals and society. Through education, students develop the ability to think proactively, anticipate the future, collaborate to solve problems, and take action. 

Regarding local educational governance and school-based practice, Tama City has adopted “Cultivating Adults for 2050” as its educational vision. The city integrates the principles of sustainable development into school culture, learning environments, and course planning. From campus design to everyday teaching and learning activities, students encounter and learn about the concepts embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the integration of ESD into formal courses and the development of locally rooted school-based courses, students are guided to draw on their own life experiences to understand the connections between global sustainability issues and local environmental and social development, thereby building a comprehensive and continuous sustainability learning journey. 

The MOE stated that the exchange not only enabled Taiwan’s environmental education personnel to gain a better understanding of international ESD trends and practical experiences, but also offered valuable lessons for strengthening environmental education, promoting interdisciplinary course integration, and cultivating students’ sustainability literacy. The MOE will continue to implement its “New-generation Environmental Education Development” policy. It will further advance environmental education guided by sustainable development, integrating the core concepts of ESD into environmental education issue learning and campus practices, with the goal of building green schools for net-zero and partnering with schools to advance a sustainable future.

Following NCSSFL’s inaugural delegationed visit to Taiwan in 2025, Dr. Skinner who visited Taiwan last year as President-Elect is returning this year as President. This return demonstrates the continued deepening of exchanges between the two sides. During the visit, the delegation exchanged views with Taiwan counterparts on language education policy, the promotion of Mandarin Chinese education, and bilingual talent cultivation, further deepening the Taiwan-U.S. educational partnership.

NCSSFL is a key organization in shaping language education policy across the United States. It has long been instrumental in the development of language proficiency standards and the promotion of the Seal of Biliteracy, and plays an influential role in the development of K-12 language education in the United States.

To continue promoting Taiwan-U.S. exchanges in language education, the Ministry of Education has commissioned the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) to facilitate ongoing collaboration. In 2023, FICHET signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NCSSFL and the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NADSFL), establishing an institutional cooperation mechanism to promote teacher professional development, teacher recruitment, and educational exchanges.

During their stay in Taiwan, the delegation visited K-12 schools, Mandarin Chinese education institutions, and the Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency-Huayu (SC-TOP). These visits allowed them to gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s achievements in bilingual education, Mandarin Chinese teaching, and language proficiency assessment. The two sides will also hold in-depth discussions on Mandarin Chinese teacher training, educational exchanges, and future cooperation.

The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) has earned growing recognition from the U.S. education community in recent years. To date, education departments in 28 U.S. states have officially recognized TOCFL as an approved assessment for students applying for the Seal of Biliteracy.

Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Kuo-Wei Liu received the delegation on June 8. He stated that under the framework of the U.S.–Taiwan Education Initiative, Taiwan and the United States have continued to deepen cooperation in language education, teacher professional development, and educational exchanges.

Deputy Minister Liu highlighted that the adoption of TOCFL by 28 U.S. states for the Seal of Biliteracy marks a significant milestone in bilateral language education cooperation. Looking ahead, the two sides will continue to promote cooperation in Mandarin Chinese education, teacher professional exchanges, and language proficiency certification, further strengthening the foundation of Taiwan-U.S. educational cooperation.

The Ministry of Education will continue to work through cooperation platforms such as FICHET and NCSSFL to deepen Taiwan-U.S. collaboration in language education, teacher training, and talent exchanges. Jointly cultivate international talent with intercultural communication skills and global perspectives, bringing deeper and more sustainable momentum to the Taiwan-U.S. educational partnership.

They were warmly received by Mr. Nguyen Van Tao 阮文早, Secretary of the university’s Communist Party Committee and staff from several university departments. 

The information session was held in the university's auditorium and approximately 160 teachers and students attended. Mr. Nguyen Van Tao warmly welcomed the delegation in his opening remarks and then provided an overview of TNU’s founding, development, and current international partnerships. Representative Liu thanked Committee Secretary Nguyen for the warm reception from the university and then told the attendees that there are nearly 53,000 Vietnamese students currently studying at universities in Taiwan. He gave details of the generous scholarships offered by Taiwan’s government, such as the Taiwan Scholarships, and Huayu Enrichment Scholarships, and the International Industrial Talents Education Special Program (the INTENSE Program) which is tailored for international students. 

He said that he hoped the university would encourage its outstanding academic staff members and students to undertake further education in Taiwan. The students showed great interest in studying in Taiwan and asked many related questions. Representative Liu advised the students to start preparing early if they’re considering studying in Taiwan.

In addition to the information session, Representative Liu, Acting Education Division Director Tina Ou, and the personnel from the Economic Division and the Political Division held a round table discussion with Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Tao and university officials and staff about joint training of professionals to meet industry needs, and faculty-student exchanges to bring more prosperity and progress to Thai Nguyen Province.

Among the distinguished guests at the education fairs were the mayor of Padang, a special advisor to Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, and the rectors of the host universities. They spoke in their remarks about the importance of international collaboration for preparing students to meet the challenges of an increasingly interconnected global environment and the important role that the INTENSE program plays linking academia, industry, and skills training.

Taiwan’s Administrative Deputy Minister of Education Chu Chun-Chang 朱俊彰  addressed each education fair by video, speaking about the support measures that are available to Indonesian students as part of the Ministry of Education’s International Industrial Talents Education Special Program—the INTENSE program. These include scholarships of up to NT$100,000 a year for two years, airfare subsidies, and administrative assistance to undertake higher education in Taiwan. He outlined Taiwan’s integrated pathway of study, internship, and employment, that allows international students to work in Taiwan after they graduate, offering further opportunities for career development. 

Ms. Shih Mei-Chi 施眉綺, the Director of the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia (TETO), confirmed that Indonesian students are an important component of Taiwan’s international higher education landscape. There are more than 19,300 students from Indonesia among the more than 140,400 international students that Taiwan is hosting in the 2025 academic year, reflecting the close and growing educational ties between the two sides.

Taiwan is continuing its efforts to expand opportunities for collaboration among government, universities, and industry partners, to provide training internships, combined with Mandarin Chinese language training to equip students with both practical skills and language proficiency for further study and career development in Taiwan.

A key outcome of the education fairs was 16 Indonesian universities signing memoranda of collaboration with Indonesian INTACT Hub; a demonstration of the growing momentum in higher education related cooperation between Taiwan and Indonesia. These signings are expected to enhance institutional partnerships, expand opportunities for student mobility and joint research, and support long-term international skilled workforce development collaboration.

The education fairs in Padang and Semarang and the INTENSE program have further expanded higher education related opportunities for bilateral cooperation, that strengthen long-term academic and industrial partnerships, and provide more opportunities for students that will equip them with global skills and competencies.

In March and April 2026, Lin Wei-Chih 林韋至, Educational Counsellor at the Education Division of Taiwan’s Ministry of Education in Ho Chi Minh City, visited key provinces in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam and gave a series of lectures on Emerging Technologies and Study Opportunities in Taiwan. The lectures attracted more than 1,200 students and members of academic staff at five universities: Can Tho University, Tra Vinh University, Dong Thap University, An Giang University, and Vinh Long University of Technology Education.

Counsellor Lin’s lectures focused on the fundamentals of chip manufacturing and how Taiwan’s higher education system is closely connected with industry practice. He gave students at each university a clearer understanding of Taiwan’s role in the global technology supply chain, together with practical information about studying in Taiwan, including Mandarin language preparation.

The students were very interested in Taiwan’s advanced semiconductor processes and AI applications, and asked questions about admission pathways, and scholarships to study in Taiwan, and related career prospects. Academic staff members expressed interest in future cooperation, including interdisciplinary programs in computer science and semiconductors, and expanded staff and student exchanges.

In response to the students’ questions, Counsellor Lin gave details of two major Ministry of Education scholarship programs: Taiwan Scholarships—to undertake a degree at any level, and the Huayu Enrichment Scholarships—to study Mandarin Chinese for up to a year. He then spoke about the International Industrial Talents Education Special Program (the INTENSE Program). The INTENSE Program is designed to recruit international students and develop a pool of skilled STEM, semiconductor, and finance professionals to meet the demands of Taiwan’s growing high-tech industries. It combines resources from the government, industries, and educational institutions and has a comprehensive support system. It integrates academic study with opportunities for hands-on learning with industry partners and offers participating students scholarships and living expenses, and guaranteed employment opportunities in Taiwan after graduation.

Counsellor Lin pointed out that Taiwan’s semiconductor ecosystem is globally competitive and plays a key role in technological development. Studying in Taiwan offers academic training combined with close exposure to international industry trends, and opportunities to build long-term career competitiveness. 

The lectures were all well-received and are helping to bridge information gaps between Vietnamese students and Taiwan’s higher education system, attract more international students, and expand technology development related cooperation between Taiwan and Vietnam.

As well as Malaysia, the exhibitors represented countries and regions, including, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Germany, Hungary, the Ivory Coast, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, reflecting the fair’s important role as students look beyond Malaysia to find study destinations.

The exhibitors included the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia which took this valuable opportunity to engage directly with many Malaysian students and parents and enhance people’s awareness of Taiwan as a competitive and accessible study destination. Closer Taiwan–Malaysia educational ties are supporting long-term academic and professional exchanges in the region, and Taiwan has growing appeal to Malaysian students.

Education Division staff at the Fair answered questions about admission procedures and other aspects of studying and living in Taiwan in one-on-one consultations with prospective applicants. People had strong interest in scholarships, Mandarin programs, and internship opportunities and were provided with information about a range of scholarships available for different academic programs: the Taiwan Scholarships to undertake degree programs at any level, Huayu Enrichment Scholarships to undertake Mandarin language studies for up to a year, and the TEEP program which includes scholarship support.

In addition, the Education Division staff gave details of Taiwan’s 18 Academic Clusters, helping students better understand available disciplines and align their academic choices with future career pathways, and gave students currently studying in Malaysia, guidance on applying for internship opportunities in Taiwan—a study path that enhances employability.

As well as honoring excellence in teaching, the Excellent Teacher Awards are also intended to encourage continued professional learning and educational leadership. The Ministry hopes that giving awardees opportunities to observe international best practices and engage with teachers at overseas institutions will broaden these teachers’ global vision, and that their exchanges with leading education institutions abroad will inspire further innovation in teaching and contribute to the advancement of Taiwan’s education system. Each group visited government agencies, universities, schools, and cultural institutions to gain first-hand knowledge of their educational policies, professional development for teachers, and innovative classroom practices.

The study tours were designed with a focus on professional growth for teachers, and exchanges about international education. Each group began its tour with a visit to the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, where they were briefed about regional affairs and educational cooperation with Taiwan. They next visited the Department of Education and Training of the Flemish Community of Belgium, where they discussed key topics such as digital education, teacher training policies, education-related international relations, and current educational development trends, with local officials and education experts.

In Brussels, the groups also visited VUB –Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where they learned about the university’s educational development strategies and innovation initiatives, including its AI learning center, and KU Leuven. They spoke with faculty members and administrators about how institutions of higher education are integrating technology into teaching and learning, and fostering international collaboration and pedagogical innovation.

In Belgium, the groups also visited educational institutions in Ghent, where they observed teacher training and classroom practices at the HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Flanders, and Mozaiek School, a public primary school. This gave them a deeper understanding of how teacher education, school governance, and classroom implementation are connected, and how local schools support inclusive learning environments, early childhood education, and the professional development of educators.

In the Netherlands, the groups visited Delft University of Technology and International Schools Delft to learn about the university’s teacher training, the relationship between school operations and its teacher training, and its campus-based learning resources. The teachers observed classroom teaching, and facilities at the university and schools, and engaged in discussions with local educators. These visits highlighted the importance of school-university partnerships, practical teacher training, and the effective use of learning environments to support student learning.

The very full itinerary for the study tours for each group was arranged with the assistance of the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium and included visits to cultural sites, local observations, and activities to give the teachers a more comprehensive understanding of the social contexts affecting education in Belgium and the Netherlands. This all contributed to enabling them to bring fresh perspectives and ideas about practical aspects of teaching, and teachers’ continuing professional development, that could contribute to advancing education in Taiwan.

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.