In recent years, Taiwan’s Ministry of Education has continued to promote the “Program to Encourage International Students to Study and Stay in Taiwan,” and Kun Shan University has actively responded to this initiative. In addition to serving as the deputy convener school for the Philippine overseas base of the New Special Program, the University hosted the “Chinese Language Promotion and Cultural Experience Workshop for Philippine Universities” on campus from the 9th to the 12th of this month. The workshop covered basic Chinese language courses, an introduction to the Yushan Chinese teaching materials, Taiwanese cultural experiences, and a Taiwan–Philippines bilateral exchange forum. It attracted 15 university-level and international affairs representatives from 14 universities in the Philippines to participate in Taiwan.
The four-day workshop officially opened on December 9, with representatives from several well-known Philippine higher education institutions, including the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and the City University of Manila, traveling to Taiwan to attend. Through a systematic program of Chinese language courses and cultural experiences, representatives from Philippine universities gained a more comprehensive understanding of the Chinese language learning process and living environment of students enrolled in the New Special Program in Taiwan. Their experiences were further translated into concrete feedback and suggestions for promoting the New Special Program overseas in the future. The workshop not only deepened higher education exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines but also further advanced cooperation under the International Industrial Talent Education Special Program (New Special Program).
The opening ceremony also featured presentations by students who enrolled in the New Special Program this year, showcasing their Chinese language learning outcomes and their process of cultural adaptation after arriving in Taiwan. Students performed Chinese songs, shared their study experiences in the New Special Program bilingually, and presented a theatrical performance recreating the real-life situation of ordering food in Chinese when they first arrived in Taiwan. Through humor, the performance portrayed the challenges and efforts involved in learning Chinese and conveyed a positive attitude: “Learning is not easy, but continued effort makes a difference.” The presentations received unanimous recognition and high praise from the Philippine university representatives in attendance.
The workshop also featured the “Taiwan–Philippines University Exchange Forum,” jointly attended by the Project Office of the International Industry–Academia Education Cooperation Alliance, Kun Shan University, Cheng Shiu University, and representatives from 14 Philippine universities. Participants held in-depth discussions on three major topics: future strategies for promoting the New Special Program, the overseas development of Chinese language courses, and the feasibility of dual-degree cooperation between universities in Taiwan and the Philippines. The participating universities generally supported the policy direction of the New Special Program and put forward several constructive suggestions covering curriculum design, learning support, admissions and administrative mechanisms, and ways to deepen two-way exchanges and cooperation. The participants also reached a consensus to jointly expand the implementation of the New Special Program next year, continuing to strengthen higher education links and Chinese language education cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines.
President Li Tianxiang stated that the New Special Program is a key international talent development policy supported and promoted by the Ministry of Education. Kun Shan University has long aligned its efforts with the policy direction. In addition to actively assisting with student recruitment, the University places particular importance on implementing the “Implementation Program to Encourage International Students to Study and Stay in Taiwan.” Through substantive cooperation among universities, the University connects educational resources in Taiwan and the Philippines, attracts outstanding international students to study in Taiwan, and further promotes international talent development, academic exchange, and industry–academia collaboration. He expressed his hope that this workshop would allow Philippine university representatives to experience Chinese language teaching and cultural activities in Taiwan firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s educational environment, laying a stronger foundation for future cooperation with Taiwanese alliance universities.
The bilateral exchange concluded successfully with lively and practical discussions. All participating universities expressed their shared expectation of continuing to work together to promote the New Special Program and open a new chapter in Taiwan–Philippines educational cooperation. Dean of International Affairs Zhuang Yuefeng noted that the University will continue to deepen substantive cooperation in promoting the New Special Program, Chinese language education, and dual-degree programs. These efforts aim to create more opportunities for Philippine students to study and develop in Taiwan while enhancing the international visibility and influence of Taiwan’s higher education.
