Three universities in central and southern Taiwan forge alliance

Author:Central News Agency
Article Source:Central News Agency 2008/03/21
Publish Date:2008/3/26

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Three leading universities in central and southern Taiwan have established a "T3 alliance" designed to integrate educational resources and enhance cooperation between universities and industry in the region to boost economic development.

The "T3 alliance" incorporates National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Tainan, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) in Kaohsiung -- both in southern Taiwan -- and National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taichung, central Taiwan.

Under the T3 alliance, the three universities will share educational resources, establish joint research centers and offer mutual recognition of credit hours, their presidents said.

"Compared to universities in northern Taiwan, those in central and southern parts of the island enjoy relatively fewer resources," said NCKU President Michael M.C. Lai, adding that the T3 alliance is a necessary measure to reduce the disparity between universities in the north and south of the country.

In addition to integrating educational resources in central and southern Taiwan, T3 has the goal of enhancing cooperation between the universities and industry.

All three universities are near science parks, which means that "the academic sector can have closer ties with industry, which will boost the economy in central and southern Taiwan," said Deputy Education Minister Lu Mu-lin.

Each of the three universities has its own specialty. NCKU is strong in research on a photonics and optoelectronics, aerospace science, and bio-technology and -medicine, while NSYSU is highly regarded for its studies in marine sciences and NCHU is strong in life sciences.

The T3 is the second university alliance in Taiwan, after the University System of Taiwan was founded in 2002 in northern Taiwan, which includes National Central University, National Tsing Hua University, National Chiao Tung University and National Yang Ming University.