TAIWAN

TAIWAN: New plan to boost foreign student numbers
Taiwan's Cabinet approved a four-year NT$5.68 billion (US$196 million) plan on 26 May that will boost education sector competitiveness and promote the country as a hub of advanced learning in East Asia, writes Kwangyin Liu for Taiwan Today."The scheme focuses on creating a friendlier environment for international students while marketing Taiwan's higher education credentials," Ministry of Education official Tony Lin said during a news conference in Taipei. "Taiwan aims to more than double its number of international students to 95,000 by 2014," Lin said. "We expect foreign nationals to make up 7.48% of the country's student population, a rate comparable with Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea."
According to sources, the ministry initiative should see Taiwan move to the front of the pack in the regional education market and help shore up falling enrolment numbers in many institutions nationwide. Under the plan, Lin said, more degree programmes in English will be offered, a support system for international students initiated and one- or two-year internships extended to talented overseas university graduates seeking local employment.
Full report on the Taiwan Today site