Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages continues to deepen its international education partnerships and has recently achieved another milestone. Led by Vice President Lin Yao-Tang, a delegation from Wenzao visited the Kaohsiung City Government and formally delivered a commemorative plaque for “House Bill 2649 (HB 2649),” a newly passed legislation promoted by Oregon State Representative Paul Evans.
The bill stipulates that Taiwanese students enrolling in four universities in Oregon will be eligible for in-state tuition rates, significantly reducing the financial burden of studying abroad. This policy represents a major benefit for Taiwanese students aspiring to pursue higher education in the United States.
The visit was warmly received by Kaohsiung City Government Secretary-General Kuo Tien-Kuei on behalf of Mayor Chen Chi-Mai. Also in attendance were Deputy Director-General Chang En-Cheng of the Administration and International Affairs Bureau, Chief Secretary Ou Su-Wen of the Education Bureau, and Senior Specialist Kuo Pao-Sheng of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, demonstrating the city government’s strong commitment to advancing international education.
The Wenzao delegation included Chief Secretary Chen Jin-Pei, Dean of International Affairs Weng I-Jane, and Section Chief Chen Chin-Pin from the Office of International and Cross-Strait Cooperation, jointly witnessing this important moment in cross-border educational collaboration.
Wenzao and the State of Oregon have a long-standing partnership. Last year, under the witness of Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-Mai, Wenzao signed memorandums of understanding with four Oregon universities: Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon University, and Western Oregon University. In August this year, President Chuang Hwei-lin led a delegation to visit Oregon, where she engaged in exchanges with senior administrators from the four universities and received the HB 2649 commemorative plaque from State Representative Evans.
Under the new policy, Taiwanese students will be able to pay tuition equivalent to local students, symbolizing strong U.S. support for expanding educational opportunities for Taiwanese youth and encouraging more students to study in the United States.
In addition to advancing international collaboration, Wenzao also maintains close cooperation with the Kaohsiung City Government. Since 2021, both parties have jointly implemented the “Foreign Student Cooperation Exchange Program,” through which international students are placed in primary and secondary schools in Kaohsiung to conduct English teaching and cultural exchange activities.
They have also promoted the “Bilingual Buddy Program for Rural Areas,” helping students in rural schools improve language proficiency and broaden their global perspectives. These initiatives have received widespread positive feedback.
During the meeting, both sides also discussed potential future areas of cooperation and expressed their commitment to further strengthening educational internationalization in Kaohsiung. Secretary-General Kuo praised Wenzao for its expertise and contributions in language education and international exchange, expressing hope that the university’s global network will create more educational exchange opportunities for the city and further enhance Kaohsiung’s international development, achieving mutual benefits for all parties involved.
