To foster deeper exchange and collaboration in higher education between Taiwan and Czechia, the inaugural Taiwan-Czech Higher Education Forum was grandly held on July 21, 2025, at the Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei. The event was jointly organized by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS), and the Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei.

The forum brought together nearly 100 representatives from 51 Taiwanese institutions and 36 representatives from 17 Czech universities. Participants discussed the current landscape of higher education, emerging development opportunities, industry-academia collaboration, and talent cultivation.

Director-General Yu-Jiuan Lee of the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education at the Ministry of Education noted that Taiwan and the Czech Republic have long enjoyed strong ties in research and education. Despite language barriers, more than 340 Taiwanese students are currently studying in the Czech Republic, while 240 Czech students are pursuing studies in Taiwan. In January 2024, 14 Czech universities and the University Academic Alliance, composed of 12 Taiwanese universities, signed an MOU, underscoring both sides’ commitment to deepening cooperation in education and research. 

Tsai-Yen Li, Chairperson of FICHET, noted that since 2024, FICHET has worked closely with DZS to organize both online and in-person networking events. This year’s forum marks the first large-scale conference co-hosted by both sides, with the hope of enhancing mutual understanding among academic institutions and further strengthening Taiwan-Czech higher education partnerships.

Michal Uhl, Director of DZS, remarked that cooperation between Czechia and Taiwan has been successfully growing across many areas over the years. “Together with our partner FICHET, we are focusing on strengthening collaboration in education and research. It is encouraging that last year, Taiwan ranked among the top ten countries sending the most students to Czechia for exchange programs.”

The morning session opened with a keynote speech by Vice President Yung-Chun Lee of National Cheng Kung University, who shared how Taiwan’s higher education integrates with emerging industries to promote international industry-academia cooperation, strengthen students’ career development and innovation capabilities, and broaden their global outlook.

This was followed by Director Michal Uhl’s presentation on the long-standing partnership between Czechia and Taiwan, built upon shared values and a forward-looking vision, illustrating how both sides have worked hand in hand to advance educational collaboration.

Executive Director Tzu-Bin Lin of FICHET and Deputy Director Roman Klepetko of DZS then jointly shared insights into the current bilateral higher education landscape and the diverse possibilities for future cooperation.

In addition to the keynote speeches, the forum featured one-on-one meetings between Taiwanese and Czech institutions. These sessions provided participants with the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration projects face-to-face, with the aim of achieving more concrete outcomes.

On the second day of the program, FICHET led the Czech delegation on site visits to National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. These visits showcased Taiwan’s diverse strengths and significant achievements in academic research, industry-academia collaboration, and talent development. 

Through this forum and the academic visits, both sides hope to continue expanding cooperation, fostering more exchange and development in academic and research fields between Taiwan and Czechia, and jointly promoting a long-term, robust partnership.