Taipei, Taiwan – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) jointly hosted a farewell reception for the graduating recipients of the 2024 Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship on May 9th in Taipei. The event was a resounding success, attended by over 300 scholarship recipients from 55 countries and representatives from 16 foreign diplomatic missions stationed in Taiwan.

In his welcoming remarks, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung stated that since its inception in 2004, the two scholarship programs have benefited over 3,000 students from Taiwan’s allied nations. Notably, among the 912 graduating scholars from 82 countries this year, 20 students from Belize, Guatemala, Paraguay, Somaliland, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were specially recognized for their outstanding academic achievements.

MOFA announced plans to increase the number of Taiwan Scholarship recipients from 400 to 500 starting next year as part of its “integrated diplomacy approach” and the “Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project.” This expansion demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to further strengthening its relationships with allied nations and broadening cooperation in the field of education.

Furthermore, MOFA and the MOE are collaborating to extend the “Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative,” launched by President Lai Ching-te in January, to include young people from Taiwan’s allied countries. The first phase of this initiative, focusing on projects related to sustainable tourism and smart agriculture, is scheduled to commence in July, with the second phase addressing different themes two months later. This initiative reflects Taiwan’s dedication to contributing to the shared prosperity of the international community and fostering exchanges between future generations.

Vice Minister Wu congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to utilize the knowledge they acquired in Taiwan to further expand exchanges between their home countries and Taiwan. He also expressed his hope that they would leverage their valuable connections with Taiwan to excel in their respective fields and grow into global leaders who will shape the future.

Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng encouraged the international students to actively utilize the MOE’s career counseling project, which supports international students in pursuing careers in Taiwan. He expressed his hope that all scholarship recipients would eventually become ambassadors for Taiwan in their home countries, emphasizing that Taiwan is proud of the achievements of its international students. The MOE plans to continue developing various support policies to ensure the successful integration of international students into Taiwanese society and to promote friendly relations between Taiwan and other nations.

The farewell reception highlighted the Taiwan government’s commitment to viewing international students not merely as participants in academic exchange but as crucial future global human resources whom they actively support. The Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship programs go beyond providing financial aid, offering students diverse opportunities to deeply understand Taiwanese culture and society and to cultivate an international perspective.

Taiwan Government’s Active Policies and Expected Benefits of Attracting International Students

Several factors contribute to the Taiwan government’s proactive approach in attracting and supporting international students. Firstly, with the advent of an aging society, concerns about labor force reduction and demographic shifts are growing, and international students are seen as a potential solution to these issues. In particular, there is an expectation that attracting outstanding foreign talent will strengthen domestic industrial competitiveness and contribute to economic growth.

Secondly, this is part of a strategy to enhance Taiwan’s international standing and expand its soft power. The multitude of international students who study in Taiwan each year and return to their home countries spreading a positive image of Taiwan can play a crucial role in expanding Taiwan’s international influence in the long term. Furthermore, these graduates can serve as intermediaries in promoting cooperation in various fields even after their studies.

Thirdly, it is an effort to internationalize education and strengthen the competitiveness of universities. Attracting international students enhances the international diversity of Taiwanese universities and enriches the educational and research environment, ultimately contributing to the strengthening of universities’ international competitiveness. Exchanges with students from diverse cultural backgrounds also positively impact Taiwanese students by broadening their international perspectives and strengthening their global competencies.

Features of the Taiwan Scholarship Program and Enhanced Support for Scholarship Recipients

The Taiwan Scholarship Program is characterized by its provision of comprehensive support beyond mere tuition fees, ensuring that students can focus on their studies in Taiwan with stability. The scholarship includes tuition, living expenses, and medical insurance, and some programs even provide airfare. In addition, universities offer various settlement support services for international students, such as customized orientation programs, cultural experience programs, and language learning assistance, helping them adapt quickly to an unfamiliar environment.

In particular, the MOE’s career counseling project mentioned at the farewell reception is significant in that it provides practical assistance to international students seeking to successfully enter Taiwanese society after graduation. This can be interpreted as the Taiwan government’s intention to embrace international students not simply as “visitors” but as long-term members of Taiwanese society with whom they aim to grow together.

Potential Impact of the ‘Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative’

The newly expanded “Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative” is expected to further 활성화 exchanges between Taiwanese and allied nations’ youth and play a crucial role in building future-oriented cooperative relationships. Through projects focused on specific areas such as sustainable tourism and smart agriculture, participants will be able to develop practical problem-solving skills and experience the importance of international collaboration.

These experiences will not only lay the groundwork for participants to grow into innovative leaders in their respective fields after graduation but will also contribute to the formation of lasting networks between Taiwan and its allied nations. In particular, fostering close ties between future generations is expected to positively impact the long-term development of bilateral relations.

Taiwan’s Efforts Towards Becoming a Global Talent Hub

The farewell reception for foreign scholarship students hosted by Taiwan’s MOFA and MOE was a significant event demonstrating the Taiwan government’s proactive commitment to strengthening international cooperation through education and building a global talent network. Taiwan’s student support policies, which aim beyond mere academic exchange to promote cultural understanding, human resource development, and the establishment of long-term friendly relations, are expected to expand and develop further.

Taiwan’s efforts are projected to contribute to its establishment as an attractive education hub amidst increasingly fierce global competition for talent and to play a more significant role in the international community. Taiwan’s strategy of education as an investment in the future and the strengthening of international cooperation through it will likely remain a commendable example for the international community.