On November 21, Javier Pereira, Governor of the Itapúa Department, Paraguay, and his wife, Nancy Berndt, visited Taiwan Tech to hold a discussion with students from the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University. During the session, students shared their experiences of studying and living in Taiwan, providing valuable reference for the Itapúa Department as it plans to establish a new technology university. The forum was chaired by Professor Shanq-Chang Juan, Director of the Taiwan–Paraguay Project Office. Also in attendance were Da-Yao Fu, Ambassador of Paraguay to Taiwan; Joseph Su, First Secretary; and Professor Meng-Kun Liu, Director of Student Affairs at the Taiwan–Paraguay Project Office. The discussion featured lively and in-depth exchanges.

On November 21, Javier Pereira, Governor of the Itapúa Department, Paraguay (front row, center), and his wife, Nancy Berndt (front row, first from the right), visited Taiwan Tech to hold a discussion with students from the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University. During the session, students shared their experiences of studying and living in Taiwan, providing important reference for the Itapúa Department as it moves forward with plans to establish a new technology university.

In his opening remarks, Shanq-Chang Juan noted that the cooperative education model promoted by the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University with the support of Taiwan Tech, has consistently focused on improving the quality of higher education in Paraguay. At this stage, Paraguayan students studying in Taiwan are directly experiencing Taiwan’s technical and vocational education system, industry–academia collaboration, as well as campus life and cultural values. Their observations of institutional operations and talent development models, therefore, provide a highly valuable reference for the Itapúa Department as it plans to establish a new technology university.

A total of 37 Paraguayan students from the Departments of Industrial Engineering, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, and Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering participated in the forum. The students actively raised questions and engaged in in-depth discussion. Governor Javier Pereira responded to each of the students’ inquiries, addressing topics ranging from education policy and local industrial development to infrastructure and talent cultivation.

A total of 37 Paraguayan students from the Department of Industrial Engineering, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, and Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering took part in the forum.

Javier Pereira stated that the newly planned university will focus on technology-related fields, with an initial institutional vision and development blueprint already outlined. Site selection, campus construction, and equipment planning are currently under evaluation by the provincial government and professional teams. He noted that many large enterprises in the Itapúa Department face a shortage of technical talent, and that establishing a technology university would help cultivate local professionals, enhance regional competitiveness, and attract further investment. He also emphasized that there remains significant potential for collaboration between the Itapúa Department and Taiwanese enterprises, and expressed hopes for deeper exchanges in the future.

The forum not only demonstrated the Paraguayan local government’s strong commitment to advancing technology education, but also highlighted the important roles of Taiwan Tech and the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University in international higher education collaboration. From left to right: Joseph Su, First Secretary; Nancy Berndt, wife of the Governor of Itapúa Department; Da-Yao Fu, Ambassador of Paraguay to Taiwan; Javier Pereira, Governor of Itapúa Department; Shanq-Chang Juan, Director of the Taiwan–Paraguay Project Office; and Meng-Kun Liu, Director of Student Affairs.

In discussing urban and provincial development planning, Javier Pereira shared that the local government is actively advancing a range of medical and educational infrastructure projects to meet the needs arising from population growth and industrial development. He noted that the government encourages diverse forms of collaboration between enterprises and universities, including internship opportunities, scholarship programs, and technical cooperation, to strengthen industry–academia linkages, bridge the gap between learning and practice, and jointly build a more resilient industry–academia ecosystem.

When students asked how they could apply what they had learned in Taiwan back in Paraguay, Javier Pereira highlighted values such as punctuality, safety, and respect as particularly worthy of emulation. He emphasized that beyond cultivating professional expertise, these principles should be central to the educational philosophy of the new university. He also introduced Itapúa Department’s industrial landscape in agriculture, tourism, technology, and trade, analyzed local employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, and encouraged students to return home after completing their studies to contribute to regional development and become a driving force for local innovation.

Students from the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University actively raised questions and engaged in lively discussions.

Da-Yao Fu, Ambassador of Paraguay to Taiwan, stated that since the launch of the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University education cooperation program, he has been closely involved throughout the process and has witnessed the system grow increasingly mature, with expanding outcomes. He expressed great satisfaction with the program’s steady progress. He voiced his hope that, through a dual-track strategy integrating education and industry, more Taiwanese enterprises will be encouraged to invest in Paraguay, thereby helping to drive local economic development.

The forum not only demonstrated the Paraguayan local government’s determination to advance technology education, but also underscored the influence of Taiwan Tech and the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University in international higher education collaboration. Through in-depth exchanges with students, the Itapúa Department government gained valuable insights into the operation of Taiwan’s technical and vocational education and industry–academia collaboration models, providing essential references for planning a new technology university. Looking ahead, both sides will continue to deepen talent cultivation and academic linkages, working together to advance technical workforce development and regional growth in Paraguay.

Students from the Taiwan–Paraguay Polytechnic University listened attentively during the forum, gaining deeper insight into Itapúthe a Department’s education policies, local industrial development, infrastructure, and talent cultivation across multiple dimensions.