Czechia and Taiwan join forces in higher education and research
The Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) actively promotes cooperation between Czechia and Taiwan in the field of higher education and research. During the NAFSA fair in the USA, DZS together with the Taiwanese national agency FICHET organized a networking meeting connecting 9 Czech and 12 Taiwanese universities. This initiative is a continuation of two previous successful events.
"The Czech-Taiwanese partnership is one of the key priorities of Czech foreign policy. That is why DZS is committed to promoting cooperation between the two countries in the field of education, research, and science," presents Soňa Lippmann, Head of Communication and Analytical Division at DZS. "The networking meeting at NAFSA, one of the largest global international education conferences and fairs taking place in the USA, was a follow-up to the successful online meetings in January and March of this year, which we held as part of the activities of the CZELO office and the Study in Czechia initiative," explains Aneta Sargeant, Head of the Study in Czechia. Representatives of universities from both countries had the opportunity to continue discussions on a wide range of topics from artificial intelligence to semiconductor technologies to cyber security.
Nine Czech universities discussed with representatives of twelve Taiwanese universities, including prestigious institutions such as the National Taiwan University, Taipei Medical University, and National Chengchi University. These and future meetings open the door to further research and academic projects and the expansion of joint activities. "In today's global society, it is essential to create opportunities for students, academics, faculty, and university staff to gain international experience. Czechia is a particularly promising partner for us. The strategic location of Czechia and the interest of Taiwanese companies to establish branches here underline the potential for successful cooperation. Thanks to this meeting, the already established relations between Taiwan and Czechia can be developed even more," says Yun-Hua Yang, Executive Director of the Taiwanese national agency FICHET.
"There is a lot of interest among students in East Asia, including Taiwan, and it is perceived more positively than some other destinations in the region, which are considered riskier. This motivates us to continue our cooperation," says Pavel Matějka, Vice Rector at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. Czech universities can participate in student exchanges or scholarship programs focused on semiconductors, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, or AI. At the same time, the Czech language is taught in Taipei as well. Taiwanese students, on the other hand, can receive scholarships in Czechia through an intergovernmental agreement or inter-university cooperation.
