This past month, the Education Ministry welcomed a delegation of 38 European officials to take part in the 2024 “Taiwan Study Seminar for EU Officials.” The program was designed to give participants the opportunity to learn about political, economic, social and educational developments in Taiwan. Some officials also attended a two-week intensive Chinese language course.
This year’s Taiwan Study Seminar was coorganized by National Chengchi University. They invited scholars and experts from various fields to deliver lectures, lead group discussions, and conduct field trips to various institutions, in addition to sightseeing and cultural activities. The Mandarin Training Programme was co-organized by Fu Jen Catholic University.
According to the Education Ministry, government agency employees from 13 countries participated in this year’s program, including those with expertise in education, environmental protection, and agriculture. Many delegation members also visited the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the European Union Centre in Taiwan in an effort to further cement Taiwan-EU relations.
The ministry’s Department of International and Cross-strait Education said that this year’s group of 38 students is one of the largest in the last few years, which demonstrates an increased interest among EU officials in coming to and learning about Taiwan. The program is part of a larger effort to deepen international cooperation through the University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT), which recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Czech University Alliance and actively seeks similar exchanges with other well-known European academic institutions.