On the morning of October 3, President Ma Ying-jeou made a trip to Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan to attend ceremonies marking the inauguration of the I-Shou University School of Medicine for International Students. The president urged the students attending the ceremonies to do their best in their studies and contribute to national development and the wellbeing of their countrymen when they complete their coursework here and return home.
After arriving at the university, President Ma received a briefing on the School of Medicine for International Students from I-Shou University President Jei-Fu Shaw (蕭介夫). After the conclusion of the briefing, President Ma, along with Secretary-General to the President Timothy Chin-Tien Yang (楊進添), Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin (林永樂), National Security Council Advisor Francis Yi-Hua Kan (甘逸驊), Minister without Portfolio Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興, the director of the Executive Yuan's Southern Taiwan Joint Services Center), and I-Shou University founder I-Shou Lin (林義守) jointly took part in an unveiling ceremony.
In remarks, the president first congratulated the 33 students whose outstanding academic work gained them admittance to the program. The members of this first class come from 12 allied nations, namely, Swaziland, The Gambia, Kiribati, Palau, the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guatemala, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and El Salvador.
President Ma stated that the origin of the founding of the I-Shou University School of Medicine for International Students can be traced to his visit to allied nations in Africa in April of last year. He said that during his trip he came to understand that while the ROC has long provided medical services and donated medical equipment to these nations, many of its allies still lack medical talent and resources, which prevents these countries from satisfying the health care needs of their citizens. The president noted that many experts in international affairs believe that one problem with foreign aid is that, rather than "give a man fish," it is better to "teach him to fish." Consequently, after he returned to Taiwan, he immediately directed government agencies to look into how to better provide assistance. The Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare then worked with I-Shou University for over a year, and the president said he is delighted to report that this led to the successful establishment of this medical school.
The president said that since taking office in 2008, he has sought for the ROC to act in the international community as a peacemaker, a provider of humanitarian aid, a promoter of cultural ties, a creator of new technologies and business opportunities, and a standard-bearer of Chinese culture. The establishment of the I-Shou University School of Medicine for International Students conforms with this principle, he remarked, adding that this is an important realization of the nation's "viable diplomacy" policy. President Ma said that the ROC's medical education, quality of medical care, and national health insurance system are recognized throughout the world. He noted he is sure that further promoting this to allied nations will create a win-win situation for all involved.
In discussing Taiwan's higher education, President Ma stated that Taiwan is presently home to a total of 162 universities and colleges. According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013 compiled by the World Economic Forum, Taiwan is ranked ninth in the world in "higher education and training." In addition, Taiwan ranked 13th in the World Bank's 2012 Knowledge Economy Index and was the first in Asia, he said, which demonstrates that Taiwan's higher education system is among the best in the world. The president commented that prior to his taking office, there were over 30,000 foreign students studying in Taiwan, but as of last year that number had risen to 67,000. He mentioned that some 100,000 foreign students are expected to be studying here in 2016. Furthermore, he said, the number of students from mainland China studying here has risen to 20,000 now, from just 800 over five years ago. President Ma noted that the ROC government is actively promoting Taiwan as a place for foreign students to study. In addition to expanding the international perspective of Taiwanese students, the president said, Taiwan hopes that foreign students studying here will have an opportunity to experience the abundant and high-quality educational resources that Taiwan has to offer.
President Ma further explained that the ROC and the United States are presently cooperating in carrying out the Pacific Islands Leadership Program. This initiative is aimed at cultivating leadership talent in the ROC's six Pacific island nation allies, he said. Furthermore, he noted, two years ago Taiwan forged a cooperation mechanism with Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India via which about 4,000 teachers from those nations are to come to Taiwan over the next 10 years to attend graduate school and do research in the areas of vocational and technical education. This highlights the recognition of the quality of Taiwan's educational system by the international community, he remarked.
The president stated that Thomas Friedman, a renowned columnist for The New York Times, has praised Taiwan, saying that while Taiwan does not have a large population and is lacking in natural resources, it has relied on brain power to establish itself as a force in the world community. President Ma encouraged the students to cherish this opportunity to study here and to make good use of the resources available to them. He said he hopes that they will use what they learn to make contributions to their respective nations' development and wellbeing among their fellow citizens after their return home.