▎GLOBAL OUTLOOK

Following the “NTUS International High School Alliance” Signing Ceremony in Malaysia in May, the National Taiwan University System (NTUS) signed agreements with eight more Indonesian high schools, namely SMA Kristen 1 PENABUR Jakarta, SMA Kristen 5 PENABUR Jakarta, Sekolah Terpadu Pahoa, SMA Katolik St. Louis 1, SMA Darma Yudha, SMA Sutomo 1 Medan, Jakarta Taipei School, and Surabaya Taipei School this past August in Jakarta, Indonesia. President Wen-Chang Chen, Executive Vice President Shih-Torng Ding, and Vice President for International Affairs Hsiao-Wei Yuan attended the signing ceremony on behalf of NTU.

Representative John C. Chen of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta called Indonesia an important education partner for Taiwan. Currently, more than 16,000 Indonesian students are studying in Taiwan, representing the second-largest group of overseas students. Mr. Chen further remarked that the Taiwanese government had loosened relevant regulations, making it easier for overseas students to remain in Taiwan after graduation. He hoped this would encourage more Indonesian students to study in Taiwan.

Also serving as the Chairman of NTUS, President Chen affirmed that the goal of the International High School Alliance was to encourage local students to apply for and attend NTUS schools. Notably, NTU has made additional scholarship spots available for outstanding Indonesian students. Students who qualify and are recommended by their principals will have access to prioritized admission and full tuition scholarships, in addition to NTD$8,000 of stipend each month.

Other honorable guests at the signing ceremony included Overseas Community Affairs Council’s Deputy Minister Joshua J.S. Ruan, Indonesia Federation of Taiwan Alumni Associations’ Honorary Chairwoman Rini Lestari and Chairman Ijoh Du Long, National Taiwan University Indonesian Alumni Association’s Chairman Agus Soesanto, as well as prominent members of the Taiwan-Indonesia education sphere. They all expressed enthusiasm about the partnership between NTUS and local Indonesian high schools.