Taiwanese delegation visits Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê
8 December 2008
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![Taiwan Taiwan](/news/sites/news/files/styles/large_image/public/taiwan.jpg?itok=PFt0L368)
On Tuesday 2 December 2008, Professor Derek A Tocher (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Pro-Provost for East and South East Asia) hosted a visit to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê by the Presidents of Taiwan's 12 leading universities, a delegation that was led by Dr Ovid Tzeng (Minister without Portfolio in the Taiwanese Government).
The purpose of the visit was to explore ways to strengthen collaborative ties between Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and centres of excellence in Taiwanese universities.
For Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê, Professor Michael Worton (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Vice-Provost, Academic & International) welcomed the delegation and introduced them to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's International Strategy; Professor Tocher introduced the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Research Strategy 'Four Grand Challenges', and Ms Penny Zorbas (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê International Office) gave an overview of student recruitment and the role of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Alumni Association in actively maintaining links between Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and its students from Taiwan after they graduate. For the visiting delegation Dr Si-Chen Lee, President of the National Taiwan University gave the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê delegation a detailed overview of the Taiwanese government's current plan for university expansion: 5 Years, 50 Billion Taiwanese Dollars - Promoting Academic Excellence of Universities & Developing World Class Research Centres.
Following the formal presentations, staff from across Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê were able to meet the delegation informally, not only to discuss their own particular ideas for collaboration, but also to renew old friendships. Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê has longstanding links with Taiwan, and currently has particularly strong research ties in the following areas: Biology; Chemical Engineering; Cognitive Neuroscience, Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology; Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences; Statistical Science. It is hoped that this visit will initiate new research collaborations with Taiwan across all faculties at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê.
The following Taiwanese universities were represented: National Taiwan University; National Cheng Kung University; National Tsing Hua University; National Chiao Tung University; National Central University; National Chung Hsing University; National Sun Yat-Sen University; National Yang Ming University; National Cheng Chi University; National Taiwan University of Science and Technology; Yuan Ze University; Chang Gung University.
Professor Worton and Professor Tocher were guests of the delegation at a private dinner hosted by the British Council the same evening.
Image: Professor Worton welcomes Taiwanese university leaders to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê