Kumamoto: A total of 24 universities from Taiwan and the Taiwan Mandarin Educational Resources Center participated in an exhibition in Kumamoto, Japan, aiming to attract foreign students. This event marked the first exhibition held alongside a biennial forum co-organized by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) and the Japan Committee of Universities for International Exchange.
According to Focus Taiwan, Japan ranks among the top four countries sending international students to Taiwan. Lee Yu-jiuan, head of the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education of Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, highlighted this in her opening speech at the 2025 Taiwan-Japan University Presidents’ Forum, hosted by Kumamoto University. She noted that as of 2025, there are 8,779 Japanese students studying in Taiwan, with over 3,200 enrolled in Mandarin programs, illustrating robust educational and cultural exchanges.
FICHET Chairperson Li Tsai-yen, who also serves as president of National Chengchi University in Taipei, emphasized the significance of choosing Kumamoto as the host city, citing growing connections in the semiconductor sector. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) operates a fab through its majority-owned Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing in Kumamoto and plans to begin construction of a second facility this year. However, TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei mentioned at a shareholders’ meeting in Hsinchu City that local residents’ complaints about increased traffic have delayed the construction.
During the forum, universities such as National Taiwan Normal University, National Chengchi University, Shih Chien University, and Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology showcased Taiwan’s talent development in fields like education, business management, design, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.
According to FICHET, the display by these 24 universities and the Mandarin center garnered significant interest from young visitors and parents, eager to explore the diverse subjects available for Japanese students in Taiwan. The foundation, established in late 2005 with funds from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and various universities, continues to foster international educational cooperation.