To develop outstanding international athletes, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages (WZU), Osaka Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School, and Kaohsiung Attackers FC have signed a memorandum of cooperation. In the future, the three parties will collaborate to develop outstanding female soccer players and talented individuals in the soccer industry, and promote international student exchanges, creating opportunities for exchanges between young Taiwanese and Japanese athletes and opening a new era of sports and educational exchanges.
Tetsuji Yamasaki, the principal of Osaka Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School, stated that this was the school’s first international sports and education collaboration with Taiwan, allowing Japanese high school students to not only interact with Taiwanese universities through soccer but also create future opportunities to study at WZU. He further noted that through sports, students can improve their English and Chinese proficiency as well as academic abilities. Additionally, if students from his school become trainees or players of Kaohsiung Attackers FC, the school will provide them scholarships as support, easing their financial burden. This model of cooperation presents an invaluable opportunity for students who love soccer.
Hwei-Lin Chuang, the president of WZU, indicated that the alliance between Kaohsiung Attackers FC, Osaka Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School, and WZU to develop international soccer players not only opens up international exchange opportunities for youths from both Taiwan and Japan but also integrates local cultural characteristics into international educational exchanges. She emphasized that WZU aims to develop global talents with a focus on foreign languages and professional skills. The university offers 13 language courses and boasts over 300 partner schools across five continents, providing students with extensive opportunities for exchanges, internships, and international interactions. These efforts enrich their abilities to move and excel around the globe.
Kaohsiung Attackers FC is a competitive sports team based in Kaohsiung. After the alliance, it will extend its player age range to include also university and high school players, thereby strengthening Kaohsiung’s sports foundation. Wei-Sung Ho, the owner of Kaohsiung Attackers FC and the chief operating officer of Power Wind Health, expressed the hope to expand students’ international educational exchange experiences and to drive close interactions between Kaohsiung and Osaka through sports and soccer competitions.
