On behalf of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) and the National Secretariat of Taiwan, it is a profound honor to greet our esteemed partner institutions across the Asia-Pacific region. I am deeply privileged to assume the role of Chairperson of UMAP and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the members for your trust and support.

We are currently at a pivotal moment in the evolution of international education. As Chairperson, my primary focus will be on consolidating the foundations laid by my predecessors while strengthening our core academic mobility programs to ensure they remain resilient, accessible and high-quality.

Looking toward the future, UMAP must embrace the digital and social transformations of our era. Our vision for this term includes:

• • Expanding Digital Integration: Enhancing e-learning experiences and hybrid mobility models to reach a broader and more diverse student population.
  • Scaling Student and Faculty Mobility: We are committed to significantly increasing participation by diversifying our exchange frameworks. This includes expanding traditional semester exchanges, developing short-term immersive programs and launching dedicated faculty research tracks to foster a more robust academic ecosystem.
  • Deepening Regional Synergy: We are excited to work closely with our new International Secretariat at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). This partnership symbolizes our commitment to regional diversity and will be instrumental in diversifying connections across Southeast Asia and beyond.
  • Fostering Inclusive Innovation: We will strive to motivate more institutions to join our network, recognizing that working within a diverse community is the only way to cultivate truly inclusive global citizens.

To further incentivize participation and support our commitment to accessibility, Taiwan is pleased to announce the provision of 20 dedicated scholarships. These scholarships are designed to empower students to overcome financial barriers and experience the transformative power of international exchange within the UMAP network.

I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Dr. Christian Jorge Torres Ortiz Zermeño and the University of Colima for their outstanding leadership and dedication during the previous term. Their work has provided a strong platform upon which we will continue to build.

I am eager to collaborate with the International Secretariat in Malaysia and with all of you to enhance the intercultural understanding of our populations and contribute to the sustainable development of our global society. Together, we will ensure that UMAP remains a beacon of international cooperation and academic excellence.