At the beginning of 2010, in March, the foundation for the International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) and India’s Association of Indian Universities (AIU) signed an agreement that would bring about academic interaction and exchange. Ever since, the two institutions have together chiseled a path for enhanced Indian / Taiwanese collaboration. In November, the Secretary General of the AIU, Dr. Beena Shah, invited members from both the R.O.C. Ministry of Education as well as FICHET to attend the 85th AIU Annual Meeting.

The topic of this year’s meeting focused on “the Governance of Higher Education”. Among the attendees was the Chairperson of FICHET and President of Tamkang University, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, who was invited to present a brief report. In the past, academic exchange between Indian and Taiwanese universities was constrained, as neither country recognized the other’s educational qualifications. But this has changed. And as a result, the academic relationship has burgeoned.

President Chang expressed her hope that Taiwan may attract even more talented Indian students to come to Taiwan and study, and that in the future, Indian / Taiwanese academic relations may continue to grow and flourish.