USC and Taiwan To Partner on Ph.D. Fellowships

Los Angeles and Taipei — October 6, 2011 — The University of Southern California and the Taiwan Ministry of Education are delighted to announce the creation of “Taiwan-USC Scholarships,” a joint partnership that will provide Ph.D. students from Taiwan with full tuition and living stipends as they pursue advanced degrees at USC.

The partnership was formally commenced at a signing ceremony in Taipei today, attended by representatives from the Taiwan Ministry of Education and USC.

USC, a major research university located in the heart of Los Angeles, enrolls more international students than any other university in the United States, and is among the top higher education destinations for students from Taiwan studying abroad.

“The Taiwan-USC fellowships represent a joint effort to cultivate outstanding Taiwanese students and scholars to pursue Ph.D. in USC.” said Tony W.T. Lin, Director-General of the Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations, Taiwan Ministry of Education. “We are excited to partner with the University of Southern California, one of the world’s top universities, to support students from Taiwan as they continue to pursue their ideas and research.”

USC and the Taiwan Ministry of Education will both contribute to the “Taiwan-USC Scholarships,” which be available beginning Fall 2012 for up to five Taiwanese doctoral students accepted to USC in a wide range of disciplines.

“The University of Southern California benefits from the rich diversity of its students, scholars and faculty who come from around the world to become members of the Trojan Family,” said Randy Hall, Vice President of Research at USC, who was in Taipei for the signing ceremony. “This fellowship program will help support our outstanding doctorate students from Taiwan as we work together to meet the world’s most pressing challenges.”

USC is the third university to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Taiwan Ministry of Education for joint fellowships supporting the studies of top Taiwanese Ph.D. students abroad.

The University of Cambridge (UK) and Washington University in St. Louis are the two universities already partnering with the Taiwan Ministry of Education under this program on international academic scholarships for Taiwanese students.

“USC has a long history of academic partnerships in the Pacific Rim, and we are honored that the Taiwan Ministry of Education has invited USC to participate in this joint fellowship that will provide significant support for students from Taiwan,” said Anthony Bailey, Associate Provost for Global Initiatives at USC.

The USC Office of Global Initiatives maintains seven permanent international offices, including an office in Taipei, Taiwan.

About the University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international trade, USC enrolls more international students than any other U.S. university and offers extensive opportunities for internships and study abroad. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge.

About the Taiwan Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (MOE) is a cabinet-level governmental body of Taiwan, responsible for formulating educational policies and managing public schools throughout Taiwan. Headed by Minister Ching-ji Wu, who is supported by one Political Deputy Minister and two Administrative Deputy Ministers, the MOE organization includes the departments of Higher Education, Technological and Vocational Education, Secondary Education, Elementary Education, Social Education, Physical Education, Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations, and several other agencies. They are in charge of the promotion and implementation of school education at all levels, as well as adult education, physical education and other educational affairs. MOE established the Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations in 1947 to promote international academic and educational exchanges and to provide both domestic and foreign students with services relating to government scholarship applications and reference information for study abroad or in Taiwan.