NTU Opens the Taiwan Education Center in Malaysia

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the official opening of the Taiwan Education Center, Malaysia (TECM) was held on October 7. Jointly established by NTU and the Alumni Association of National Taiwan University in Malaysia (AANTUM), the center aims to promote the study of Chinese language and culture and Taiwan's higher education system, as well as pursue exchanges and cooperation between universities in Taiwan and Malaysia.

Many honored guests attended the ceremony to celebrate the new milestone in the promotion of Taiwan's higher education system. Among them were: Representative James Chi-Ping Chang (章計平) of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia; NTU Vice President for Academic Affairs and TECM Director Hung-Chi Kuo (郭鴻基); TECM Deputy Director Wen-Chang Chen (陳文章); TECM Chief Executive Officer Tai-Hsiung Horng (洪泰雄); TECM Chief Operating Officer Ching-Chih Liou (劉景志); and AANTUM President Chien-Cheng Hou (侯建成).

Speaking during the ceremony, NTU Vice President for Academic Affairs and TECM Director Kuo said that NTU has always valued international students, especially outstanding students from Southeast Asia. Moreover, he stressed that the university has reaped significant results due to the promotion of the option of submitting high school recommendation letters as part of the application process for entrance to NTU in recent years.

Representative Chang indicated that there are currently 16,051 Malaysian students enrolled in Taiwanese universities, which marks a record high. Chang expressed his hope that NTU would continue to play a leadership role and support the TECM in its comprehensive promotion of Taiwan's outstanding education system.

In his address, TECM Deputy Director Chen revealed that NTU and the University of Malaya have already initiated a student exchange program; moreover, NTU looks forward to cooperating with other universities across a variety of areas, including talent cultivation, faculty exchanges, and industry-academia cooperation.

TECM Chief Executive Officer Horng said that the TECM's immediate task was to prepare for a series of education fairs and coordinate with the Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia so that the two parties could avoid scheduling education fairs at the same venues. Horng also noted that Taiwan is delighted to welcome non-overseas Chinese students who wish to continue their educations in Taiwan, and that this would promote bilateral cultural exchanges.

The TECM is located near the offices of the AANTUM at 9, Jalan SS2/10, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Among the services it offers are Mandarin language classes, information and consultation regarding Mandarin language programs, study abroad information and consultation, and education fairs.

This article was originally featured in NTU Highlights (December, 2017).