To enhance academic exchange and bilateral cooperation in higher education and research, the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium (TRO), in collaboration with the Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (ARES), the General Education Administration of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB) and the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) co-hosted the Taiwan–Belgium (FR) Roundtable on Higher Education and Research on June 19, 2025, in Brussels.
The event opened with remarks from Prof. Laurence Ris, Vice-Rector for International Relations at the University of Mons and Chair of the ARES International Relations Committee, Ambassador Roy Chun Lee of the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, Prof. Cheng-Chih Wu, Chairperson of FICHET, and Mr. Dominique Denis, Director of International Relations at the Wallonia-Brussels General Education Administration. Ambassador Lee highlighted the strong foundation and complementarity between Taiwan and Belgium in the fields of higher education and research, and expressed a shared commitment to expanding meaningful academic partnerships.
The roundtable featured a presentation of the higher education and research landscapes in both Taiwan and the FWB, followed by two interactive sessions. The first round of discussions focused on strengthening institutional collaboration through student and faculty mobility, joint research initiatives, dual degree programs, international internships, and short-term academic exchanges. The second round included parallel thematic breakout sessions in two key areas: Humanities, Social Sciences, Management and Arts, and Biotechnology and Nanotechnology. Moderated by senior leaders from both sides, these sessions aimed to identify practical cooperation models such as co-publication, co-teaching, joint research centers, and the sharing of research infrastructure and resources.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Charline Cauwe, Director for International Relations at ARES, and Joyce Yu-Jiuan Lee, Director General of the Department of International and Cross-strait Education at Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. Both reaffirmed the importance of sustained dialogue and policy alignment to support long-term academic engagement and institutional collaboration between Taiwan and the FWB.
During the visit, the delegation also engaged in discussions with officials from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture to gain insights into the latest developments in the Erasmus+ Programme, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and Taiwan’s current participation in these initiatives.
They also visited KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), where they met with three vice rectors and the university’s newly elected rector, Professor Severine Vermeire, who will officially assume office on August 1 this year. A talent recruitment session was held on campus, where around 30 Taiwanese students and young scholars were introduced to the Ministry of Education’s “Yushan Scholar Program” and the recruitment needs of Taiwan’s higher education institutions. The session aimed to attract outstanding overseas talent to return to Taiwan for teaching and research positions.
The delegation concluded the trip with a visit to imec (Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre) in Belgium, where discussions focused on bilateral research collaboration, academic exchange opportunities, and the application of emerging technologies.
All of these demonstrate Taiwan’s continued efforts to link globally, foster inclusive academic partnerships, and enhance the international visibility and competitiveness of its higher education sector. The TRO will continue working closely with partner institutions in the EU and Belgium to build enduring and mutually beneficial academic alliances.
