Tuesday, November 14, 2006

AIT TO SPONSOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK

Taipei, Nov. 13 (CNA) To promote international education and exchanges, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is hosting an International Education Week Nov. 13-17 involving current U.S. Fulbright scholars and recent graduates of U.S. universities.

"AIT and EducationUSA Taiwan team are celebrating International Education Week with activities across Taiwan. Taiwan students clearly appreciate the importance of U.S. education to their careers," said AIT American Cultural Center director Nicholas Papp.

The number of Taiwanese students studying in the U.S. has increased in recent years after a down period in 2001. According to Ministry of Education statistics, 15,525 Taiwanese students received U.S. student visas in 2005 -- the highest number since 2000, and a 36 percent increase from the previous year.

Highlights of the event include a videoconference featuring Taiwan's deputy minister of Education Lu Mu-ling and U.S. Department of State Academic Specialist for East Asia Dorothy Mora, and student-centered programs focused on studying abroad in the U.S., said Papp.

In 2004-2005, Taiwan ranked sixth in the number of foreign students studying in the U.S., behind India, China, Japan, South Korea and Canada, statistics from the American International Education Foundation showed.