The British Council and the Ministry of Education in Taiwan have established the first ever Taiwan-UK University Consortium.
With a vision of transcending academic disciplines and cultures, the Taiwan-UK University Consortium brings together eight leading higher education institutions from Taiwan and the UK to develop academic collaboration and address key global challenges.
The consortium is committed to advancing ‘Green Energy and Net Zero solutions’ through collaborative efforts with various partners and stakeholders in pursuit of a sustainable, net zero future.
Simultaneously, the consortium is dedicated to pioneering innovative approaches in English language teaching and learning in support of Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 Policy.
The inaugural members are:
- The University of Edinburgh
- Newcastle University
- University of Liverpool
- University of the West of Scotland
- National Taiwan University
- National Tsinghua University
- National Taiwan Normal University
- National Sun Yat-sen University
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the eight inaugural university members, witnessed by the British Council, and the Ministry of Education in Taiwan, at Edinburgh University on 20 November 2023. This signing marked the official launch of the Taiwan-UK University Consortium.
Members of the consortium will meet quarterly to facilitate academic collaboration between Taiwan and the UK, bring together researchers through networking workshops, and host an annual conference to showcase bilateral research and create opportunities for future research collaboration.
Ralph Rogers, Director Taiwan, British Council said: ‘Taiwan and the UK are both innovative island chains, and our universities are the driving force behind that innovation. With the shared purpose of fostering collaboration across languages and cultures the Taiwan-UK University Consortium brings together leading universities from Taiwan and the UK to support key government initiatives such as Net Zero and Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 Policy.’
Dr. Yen-yi Lee, Director General, Department of Cross-Strait and International Cooperation, Ministry of Education, Taiwan added, ‘Taiwan and the UK have enjoyed close economic, cultural, and educational ties for many years. The UK is one of the most important destinations for Taiwanese students and scholars to seek advanced degrees and conduct their research and the range of their fields of study is quite wide and diverse. The Taiwan-UK University Consortium is dedicated to two major themes “Green Energy and Net Zero Solutions” and “English as the Language of Teaching and Learning.” These two themes both play an important role in Taiwan’s development. Taiwan and the UK share many values, and I believe that the Taiwan-UK University Consortium will facilitate more cooperation, deepen our mutual understanding, and further strengthen the long-lasting friendship between UK and Taiwan.’