Chinese college students who are studying on exchange programs praised Taiwan’s higher education yesterday, saying they have benefited from its openness.
Yuan Tao said she has been impressed by the openness and liberalization of the education environment, adding that she also likes the democratic atmosphere on Yuan Ze University’s campus.
A chemistry major from Nanjing University, Yuan told a press conference held by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) that the education system here promotes individual thought and provides an advanced way of learning.
The KMT has been pushing for the passage of amendments to allow Chinese students to enroll in local universities and colleges.
The Democratic Progressive Party is opposed to the move, saying Chinese students could hurt Taiwanese students’ job prospects.
Taiwanese schools place heavy emphasis on students’ work experience by offering a wide variety of part-time jobs, Yuan said, adding that this helps reduce the financial burden on students.
She said she felt safe in Taiwan with the support of her teachers and classmates, adding: “I will feel sad when I leave Taiwan.”
Liao Minmin, another Chinese chemistry major at Yuan Ze University, said the university had good facilities, including a library and a great swimming pool.
“I could not swim until I came to Taiwan,” Liao said.
Yuan and Liao are among 45 Chinese graduate students studying at the university.
Yu Nein-i, head of the school’s International Student Office, said the presence of Chinese students has enhanced mutual understanding in the academic sectors on either side of the Taiwan Strait, while their participation in discussions has raised Taiwan’s research ability.
Minister of Education Wu Ching-chi (吳清基) said the enrollment of Chinese university students into local schools would help them feel closer to Taiwan.
Many could become the next generation of leaders in China, which would help improve cross-strait ties, Wu said.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it is fully aware of the situation following reports that the son of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai (薄熙來) has arrived in Taiwan and is to marry a Taiwanese. Local media reported that Bo Guagua (薄瓜瓜), son of the former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is to marry the granddaughter of Luodong Poh-Ai Hospital founder Hsu Wen-cheng (許文政). The pair met when studying abroad and arranged to get married this year, with the wedding breakfast to be held at The One holiday resort in Hsinchu
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon this morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan between Friday and Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The storm, which as of 8am was still 1,100km southeast of southern Taiwan, is currently expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, the CWA said. Because of its rapid speed — 28kph as of 8am — a sea warning for the storm could be issued tonight, rather than tomorrow, as previously forecast, the CWA said. In terms of its impact, Usagi is to bring scattered or
An orange gas cloud that leaked from a waste management plant yesterday morning in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) was likely caused by acidic waste, authorities said, adding that it posed no immediate harm. The leak occurred at a plant in the district’s Environmental Science and Technology Park at about 7am, the Taoyuan Fire Department said. Firefighters discovered a cloud of unidentified orange gas leaking from a waste tank when they arrived on the site, it said, adding that they put on Level A chemical protection before entering the building. After finding there was no continuous leak, the department worked with the city’s Department