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Taoyuan Attends NAFSA 2022 and Discusses Educational Cooperation with Long Beach and San Bernardino

  • 發布單位:國際事務科
  • 資料提供單位:桃園市政府

On May 31 (US time), Taoyuan's delegation led by Deputy Mayor Kao An-Pang attended the NAFSA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo in Denver, Colorado. The global educational extravaganza resumed its physical meetings this year, gathering participants from more than 100 countries across the world. The theme for NAFSA 2022 is Building our Sustainable Future, which highlights interpersonal connections, cultural integration, intergenerational legacy, and cross-national efforts to build long-term educational visions.

The Ministry of Education organized the Study in Taiwan booth at the NAFSA 2022 to promote the merits of Chinese language education and cultural literacy in Taiwan. The unveiling ceremony for the booth was held right after the NAFSA 2022 opening ceremony. As the only Taiwanese city delegation attending the event, Deputy Mayor Kao was invited to give remarks on the educational strengths offered by Taiwan.

"From east to west, to study in Taiwan is the best," Deputy Mayor Kao stated, "Taiwan boasts quality education and welcomes international students to pursue their education here." The deputy mayor unveiled the booth offering 4 days of educational promotion events together with Deputy Assistant Secretary Camille Dawson of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State, Ambassador Hsiao Bi-khim, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, Dr. Lio Mon-Chi, Political Deputy Minister of Education, and presidents from universities in Taiwan.

During her lively interaction with Deputy Mayor Kao at the unveiling ceremony, Ambassador Hsiao thanked the Taoyuan City Government for organizing a delegation to attend the NAFSA 2022 in the US and acknowledged the city's various efforts in promoting international education. Ambassador Hsiao also pointed out the growing demand for Chinese language education in the US has ushered many states to reach out to her to express their intent for Chinese language education cooperation. She encouraged the City of Taoyuan to play an important role in facilitating Taiwan-US educational exchanges by mobilizing its talents and resources.

With 200 booths set up by more than 100 countries that attracted nearly 10,000 participants, the NAFSA 2022 offered a great opportunity for the city to quench its thirst for international education. Deputy Mayor Kao seized the opportunity and visited other booths to ascertain the possibilities of overseas study and educational cooperation offered by other countries.

On June 3 (US time), Deputy Mayor Kao led the city's delegation and made a courtesy visit to Mayor Robert Garcia of the City of Long Beach.

As Deputy Mayor Kao and Mayor Garcia were both full-time professors in higher education in the past, they exchanged their somewhat similar experiences during their talk. While the deputy mayor of Taoyuan looks forward to more educational and cultural cooperation opportunities between Taiwan and the US, the mayor of Long Beach also aspires to a sister-city tie with Taoyuan as the two cities share similar industrial highlights.

Having visited Taiwan twice, Mayor Garcia touched upon the friendship and trading relations between the US and Taiwan. As a candidate seeking a congressional seat this year, he will certainly continue his focus on Taiwan.

On the same day, Deputy Mayor Kao also visited Taoyuan's sister city, San Bernardino County, and met with County Supervisor Curt Hagman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe and the county's educational authorities. Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan and Director-general Jay Yen also took part in the meeting virtually.

Mayor Cheng stated that Taoyuan's promotion of international education in recent years has given birth to the city's high-school dual degree programs with Maine Central Institute in the US and British Columbia and Saskatchewan in Canada. Students enrolled in these programs will be able to obtain two diplomas from both countries upon graduation. These programs will not only help improve Taiwanese students' English competency but also help delineate their potential educational paths overseas.

The mayor added, "With the highest industrial output in Taiwan and its excellent talent pool, Taoyuan has attracted the International School Altdorf in Switzerland and Baker School District’s Oregon International School in the US to co-offer dual degree programs with the city of Taoyuan." He also looks forward to initiating vocational education exchanges with San Bernardino County.

"Since the sister-city agreement between Taoyuan City and San Bernardino County took effect in 2017 and the inaugural direct flight between Taoyuan International Airport and Ontario International Airport launched in 2018, the two sides have been enjoying frequent exchanges so far," Mayor Cheng said. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taoyuan City donated anti-epidemic supplies to San Bernardino County. The close bond between Taoyuan and its sister city was epitomized in online talks to discuss respective pandemic prevention and control measures.

According to County Supervisor Curt Hagman, San Bernardino County and Taoyuan City both boast strong suits in aviation repair and maintenance services, an area where opportunities for internship and exchanges of vocational students from both sides stay aloft. "We look forward to the end of the pandemic and the relaunch of the daily flight route," he then added.