Photo: Rick Bailey; president at SOU, Kelly Ryan; president at EOU, Sheila Clough; chair of the SOU Board of Trustees, Jesse Peters; president at WOU, Nagi Naganathan; president at OIT.
Photo credit: Wenzao University

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — The Presidents of Oregon’s public polytechnic and regional universities (TRUs)–Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, Eastern Oregon University, and Oregon Institute of Technology–signed a memorandum of understanding on Aug. 15 with Wenzao University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The MOU aims to foster teacher-student exchanges, student mobility programs, joint research initiatives, and Chinese language programs, all with the goal of cultivating international and cross-disciplinary talent.

The delegation was led by Oregon State Representative Paul Evans (District 20) and was made up of key leaders from Oregon’s universities, including Jesse Peters, president of Western Oregon University; Kelly Ryan, president of Eastern Oregon University; Rick Bailey, president of Southern Oregon University; and Nagi Naganathan, president of Oregon Institute of Technology; along with Sheila Clough, chair of the SOU Board of Trustees. 

The signing ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, Oregon State Representative Paul Evans, former state Representative Brian Clem, and Director of the Kaohsiung Branch of the American Institute in Taiwan Neil H. Gibson, Wen Hongguo, leader of the cultural newsgroup of the Kaohsiung Branch of the American Institute in Taiwan, and additional cultural and educational stakeholders. This partnership marks a new chapter in global academic cooperation as Wenzao University continues to establish itself as a hub of international education.

“Wenzao’s alliance with a well-known higher education institution in the United States has great symbolic significance,” Wenzao University President Zhuang Huiling said.

Huiling added that Wenzao University was founded in 1966 by a group of nuns from the Saint Ursuline religious order in Rome and has always adhered to the spirit of “internationalization” when running the school. Presently, Wenzao University has more than 320 sister schools around the world, where their students have the opportunity to study abroad. At the same time, Wenzao hosts students from 19 countries to integrate multiple cultures into the campus.

This is an important milestone between Wenzao University and the public technical and regional universities in Oregon. It not only strengthens each institution’s connection with the world but also opens up a new era for academic exchanges and development.

The presidents from Oregon’s TRU institutions value the importance of international educational exchanges.

“International educational exchanges are essential for fostering global understanding and collaboration,” the presidents said in a joint statement. “They provide students and faculty invaluable opportunities to learn from diverse perspectives, enriching both their academic and personal growth. We are deeply grateful for the warm hospitality extended during our visit and look forward to nurturing and growing this partnership.”

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.