Florida Tech Hosts Taiwanese Delegates in Higher Education Conference
MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology, with Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF), hosted the 3rd Annual Taiwan-Florida Higher Education Conference (TFHEC) on Aug. 31-Sept. 2. Sponsored by ICUF and Florida Tech, the event was attended by representatives from Florida colleges and universities, 11 major Taiwan universities and the Taiwan Ministry of Education. The conference attracted over 100 attendees. The Taiwan delegation of 31 was organized by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan and led by Education Minister Ching-Ji Wu.
The annual event held this year at Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla., focused on enhancing academic research cooperation and collaboration between higher education in Florida and Taiwan. It also provided an opportunity to share experiences regarding student and university exchanges, and recent developments in higher education.
Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese delivered the conference’s opening remarks and exchanged gifts with the Taiwanese delegation. U.S. Congressman Dan Webster and Florida Senator Thad Altman gave welcome remarks. Florida Tech Executive Vice President T. Dwayne McCay co-moderated a session on university exchanges; Florida Tech Humanities and Communication Head Robert Taylor was a panelist on a session about student exchanges. Pei-feng Hsu, Florida Tech professor and head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, helped organize the event.
The Taiwan delegation also toured the Florida Tech campus and met with university executives. The day ended with dinner at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club in Indian Harbor Beach, Fla., which was hosted by President Catanese.
Florida Tech has a longstanding history with Taiwan. During the 1970s and 1980s, the university was one of the leaders in granting graduate fellowships to Taiwanese students. Florida Tech Founding President Jerome Keuper was a published author on the Chinese language and had been decorated by the government of Taiwan for his service in the U.S. military during World War II. Taiwanese officials presented the Chao Tsu-Yu Clock to Florida Tech in 1981, which stands in front of the Keuper Administration Building today.
CUTLINE: From left, Education Ministry U.S. Representative Chin-sheng Chang, ICUF President Ed Moore, Education Minister Ching-ji Wu, Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese and Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami Ray Muo.
