Taiwan and the Philippines are bolstering their academic linkages with Shu-Te University and University of the Philippines (UP), recently signing a memorandum of academic cooperation (MAC).
The MAC is seen as the first step toward linking the UP system and the Southern Taiwan universities.
Signed by Shu-Te University President Dr. Yuan Hsiang Chu and UP President Dr. Alfredo E. Pascual, the agreement will have an exchange program for faculty members, researchers, administrative staff and students to develop collaborative activities. It will also have university, city-town, entrepreneurship and networking programs to uplift human-resource capital on both sides.
During the signing ceremony held in UP Diliman, Taiwan Ambassador Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin emphasized the importance of the MAC as a platform for universities in the two countries to further their academic partnerships and people-to-people relationship.
Lin also mentioned that the two countries are not only geographically close to each other and share similar history and common values, but also complement each other in many areas, including education, information communication technology, agriculture and human resources.
Under the MAC, the two universities will be able to share facilities, resources and staff to complement their strengths.
The Philippines is believed to be the ideal destination for Taiwanese students who want to learn English, while Taiwan has the agricultural facilities equipped with the latest technology that can be used by Filipinos for research and advanced studies.
Shu-Te University is the first university-member of the Southern Taiwan Universities Alliance, which has signed an agreement with the UP system.
Outside of Shu-Te University, the academic-organization members include National Sun Yat-Sen University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, and National Kaohsiung Normal University.
The academic organization aims to develop regional higher education, quality human resource, and better academic partnership between Taiwan and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
The Shu-Te University delegation also visited De La Salle University and Technological University of the Philippines.