UH sets up exchange with school in Taiwan

The two universities will collaborate on research and training

The University of Hawaii at Manoa and Taiwan's National Pingtung University of Science and Technology have agreed to cooperate on training exchange and research programs over the next five years, according to UH officials.

UH-Manoa interim Chancellor Denise Konan and NPUST President Chang-Hung Chou signed a memorandum of understanding this week.

"Our goal at UH-Manoa is to be a real international institution and to establish these types of relationships with institutional partners all over the world," Konan said in a news release.

The agreement between UH-Manoa and NPUST proposes the development of academic and training programs; faculty and staff exchanges; reciprocal assistance for visiting faculty, staff and students; joint research and transfer of technology; and the exchange of documentation and research materials.

"We have many similarities with UH-Manoa, and this collaboration will enhance our academic activities," Chou added.

The two institutions already have a history of scholarly exchanges. UH-Manoa researchers have visited the NPUST campus to discuss post-harvest treatments of fruits and vegetables, fruit fly suppression, plant pathology and animal waste treatment. NPUST researchers have visited UH-Manoa to share their knowledge in termite research, ornamentals and flowers, and plant pathology.

UH-Manoa's relationship with NPUST has been aided by NPUST's Vice President Po-Yung Lai, an alumnus of UH-Manoa and the former assistant dean for cooperative extension at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. He is being honored by CTAHR this year with its Outstanding Alumnus award.