New Zealand universities ink pact with Taiwan

•Publication Date：06/05/2012•Source： Taiwan TodayUniversities New Zealand–Te Pokai Tara has signed a cooperative memorandum of understanding with the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan, the ROC Ministry of Education said June 4.The deal, to boost academic collaboration and exchanges across a number of fields including English and Chinese learning, biotechnology, medicine, information, law, business management and aboriginal studies, was inked May 25 by Pat Walsh, Universities NZ chairman, and Flora Chia-i Chiang, chairwoman of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan, according to the MOE.Walsh, whose organization represents the country’s eight tertiary education institutions, headed the highest-level New Zealand university delegation ever to visit Taiwan on a tour of academic and research establishments May 20-27.The group, which included senior staff from six schools, including three vice chancellors or presidents, also met with ranking education officials and leading scientists.“Through our visit and the Academic Cooperation Arrangement between Universities NZ and FICHET, we hope to increase the depth and breadth of our universities’ international activities with Taiwan,” Walsh said.“This includes the exchange of students, academics and researchers, as well as research and commercialization partnerships, agreements and collaborations,” he added.At a dinner for the New Zealanders May 26, ROC Education Minister Chiang Wei-ling said he hopes to have the opportunity to lead a Taiwan delegation of academic experts on a similar visit to learn more about New Zealand’s education system.Six of New Zealand’s universities rank among the top 500 in the world, for a higher ratio than in Australia, Germany, the U.K., U.S. and other advanced nations, the MOE said.In 2011, 274 students from Taiwan were studying at schools in New Zealand, according to Universities NZ. (SB-THN)