FICHET-Led Taiwan Delegation Strengthens International Educational Ties at NAFSA 2024
NTNU President, Dr. Cheng-Chih Wu, serving as chairperson of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), led a delegation of 40 representatives from 20 Taiwanese universities and institutions to promote collaboration with American higher education institutions at the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in New Orleans held from May 29 to 31, 2024.
The 2024 NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference, themed "Resilience. Renewal. Community," attracted nearly 10,000 delegates from over 100 countries. The annual conference held in North America is the world’s largest international education event. This year, the Study in Taiwan Pavilion highlighted Taiwan's advancements in technology, showcasing areas such as semiconductors, AI, and space satellites.
Dr. Wu emphasized the strong educational ties between Taiwan and the U.S., particularly through the U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative launched in 2020. He noted the 26 cooperation agreements signed with 24 U.S. states and the support from the U.S. Department of State for Taiwan's Bilingual 2030 Program. Currently, 3,000 American students study Mandarin in Taiwan, and 66 Taiwan Centers for Mandarin Learning have been established in the U.S.
The 2024 Taiwan-U.S. Higher Education Symposium, held at the Loews New Orleans Hotel, facilitated discussions on Mandarin language education and recent higher education collaborations, aiming to foster further cooperation. The event included 60 participants, including Dr. Wu, TECO Houston officials, and university representatives.
The symposium was followed by the Taiwan Night networking event, which included 150 attendees from various universities and organizations, strengthening bilateral relationships. Additionally, FICHET arranged the Taiwan-Czech Networking Event, promoting collaboration between Taiwanese and Czech universities.