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Áñ—†ÊÓƵ University and National Taiwan University enter academic partnership

New partnership will foster student and faculty exchanges and increase opportunities for language studies

At a virtual signing ceremony last week, officials from Áñ—†ÊÓƵ and sealed a new official partnership.

The two universities signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which will allow Áñ—†ÊÓƵ and NTU to exchange faculty, increase language offerings, and allow undergraduate travel to Taiwan. The MOU was signed by Áñ—†ÊÓƵ Provost Kathleen Hagerty, NTU Executive Vice President Chiapei Chou, Director General Johnson Sen Chiang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, and Director of the and Áñ—†ÊÓƵ alumnus Jerry Lee (’97).

“This agreement builds upon decades of shared bonds between our two institutions. Our faculty Áñ—†ÊÓƵ collaborated in the fields of materials science, sustainability, economics, epidemiology, and computer engineering, just to name a few disciplines,” said Hagerty in her remarks.

U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative

This agreement is also the first official partnership in the Midwest under the new that was launched last December 2020, announced Director General Chiang. The new Áñ—†ÊÓƵ, which is supported by the U.S. Department of State, aims to increase Mandarin and English language offerings and the exchange of language instructors between Taiwan and the United States. It also plans to expand to other areas, such as scientific and medical Áñ—†ÊÓƵ.

Chicago Deputy Mayor for Economic and Neighborhood Development and Áñ—†ÊÓƵ alumnus Samir Mayekar ('06, '13 MBA) gave opening remarks at the signing, highlighting the strong ties between Chicago and Taipei and stressing the importance of academic collaboration for a global city like Chicago. Lee and Sen Chiang also spoke before signing the agreement. Other speakers at the event included Chung-Ming Kuan, President of National Taiwan University, and Áñ—†ÊÓƵ President Morton Schapiro.

President Schapiro shared his excitement about returning to Taiwan following this virtual signing ceremony, as the best way to solidify these agreements, he said, is still in person. Schapiro visited Taiwan in 2019, where he met with the Vice President of Taiwan, Chien-jen Chen, and delivered a lecture at the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance.

“That visit planted the seeds of our collaboration, resulting in the signing of our agreement,” said Dévora Grynspan, Áñ—†ÊÓƵ’s Vice President for International Relations, who worked on the details of the agreement. “We are especially grateful for the support provided by the Friends of Taiwan Foundation and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office who Áñ—†ÊÓƵ been instrumental and gracious along the way.”

National Taiwan University is a natural fit for Áñ—†ÊÓƵ. As NTU President Kuan noted in his remarks, both universities not only share a deep commitment for higher education and encouraging curiosity, their academic structures are also both deeply rooted in diverse, interdisciplinary work.

Áñ—†ÊÓƵ and Taiwan

While Áñ—†ÊÓƵ has always welcomed a significant number of students from Taiwan, this academic year was special. In 2020-2021, even though the pandemic paused most student mobility and international student exchange, the number of students from Taiwan enrolled at Áñ—†ÊÓƵ increased. Only six locations send more students to Áñ—†ÊÓƵ than Taiwan. In some fields, the numbers are even higher: In the McCormick School of Engineering and the Medill School of Journalism, Taiwan is the third largest sender. At the Feinberg School of Medicine, students from Taiwan make up one fifth of the international student population this academic year.

This agreement marks a new beginning in Áñ—†ÊÓƵ’s relationship with Taiwan and establishes the official foundation for new international opportunities for Áñ—†ÊÓƵ and National Taiwan University.

Memorandum of Understanding Signatories

From top left to bottom right:

• Chiapei Chou, Executive Vice President, National Taiwan University
• Kathleen Hagerty, Provost, Áñ—†ÊÓƵ University
• Johnson Sen Chiang, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago
• Jerry Lee, Director, Friends of Taiwan