In light of the impact of globalization on the quality of Taiwan’s higher education, Ministry of Education (MOE) had asked all the 107 higher educational institutions in Taiwan to raise funds to set up a foundation dedicating to the promotion of a better higher education. As a result, apart from the subsidy of NT$ 15,000,000 given by the MOE, each institution chipped in NT$ 150,000 to establish a Higher Education Foundation for International Cooperation, which had its first general meeting last Friday, Dec. 23, to address the issue of international exchanges.

In this general meeting, the board of directors also elected TKU President, Dr. Flora Chang, as the Chair of the Foundation. It was also decided that 20 more MOE officials and university presidents will be invited to be the board of directors as well as members of the supervisory board. Other practical issues such as the implementation of projects, their timetables, drafts of budget and its logo were also discussed. There will also be an executive director of a steering committee, a secretary and treasurer as administrative staff to oversee the day to day running of business.

The main tasks of the foundation are 1) assisting and carrying out international liaison, 2) organizing conferences, 3) organizing overseas university expositions, 4) recruiting international students, and finally 5) participating in events that fulfill the foundation’s social role and public interest.