The 2026 National Meeting for University Mandarin Education Directors was held on May 19 at the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation International Convention Center. Organized by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), the meeting brought together more than 120 participants, including Mandarin education directors from universities across Taiwan, representatives from Mandarin centers, and related educational institutions. Participants jointly discussed key issues such as Mandarin education policy, international student recruitment, digital teaching, and intercollegiate collaboration. Director General Lee Yu-Chuan of the Department of International and Cross-strait Education, Ministry of Education, and Section Chief Eunice Chuang of the Overseas Chinese Students and International Students Service Section also attended the meeting, demonstrating the government’s strong commitment to the development of Mandarin education.

Director General Lee Yu-Chuan stated that, as global demand for Mandarin learning continues to grow, Taiwan has gradually established a distinctive international brand for Mandarin education. The Ministry of Education will continue to promote the Mandarin Education 2030 policy by integrating resources in higher education, digital technology, and international talent cultivation. Through these efforts, the Ministry aims to support university Mandarin centers in strengthening their teaching capacity, expanding overseas recruitment, and developing distinctive courses. FICHET Chairperson Li Tsai-Yen noted that Mandarin education is not merely language teaching, but also an important bridge for the internationalization of Taiwan’s higher education. He expressed hope that this meeting would deepen intercollegiate collaboration and resource sharing, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of Taiwan’s Mandarin education.

Centered on the themes of policy guidance, resource integration, digital empowerment, and professional applications, the meeting featured a series of keynote speeches and practical sharing sessions. In the morning, the Mandarin Education Section of the Ministry of Education delivered a keynote speech titled “Policy Guidance: Mandarin Education 2030,” outlining future directions and key strategies. Representatives from the Steering Committee for the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language, the National Academy for Educational Research, and the Taiwan Mandarin Educational Resources Center were then invited to share updates on the promotion of Mandarin proficiency testing, vocabulary list integration, and teaching resource services, fostering cross-institutional collaboration and exchange.

In response to the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the meeting also featured a session titled “AI Mandarin Learning Partner.” Professor Chyu Shih-Wen from National Taiwan Normal University introduced practical experiences in applying generative AI to Mandarin material design, lesson preparation collaboration, and classroom teaching, helping Mandarin teachers better understand emerging trends in teaching innovation. In addition, National Tsing Hua University and National Chung Cheng University shared their experiences in promoting Mandarin for the Semiconductor Industry courses, demonstrating the diverse development of Taiwan’s Mandarin education in connection with key industries.

The meeting also included exchanges on topics such as the operation of Mandarin centers, outcomes of enhancement programs, Mandarin teacher employment systems, and labor rights, providing important references for universities. FICHET stated that it will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Education and universities to promote the steady development of Taiwan’s Mandarin education, further strengthening Taiwan’s brand image and global influence as a major international hub for Mandarin learning.