Ten years ago, under the leadership of then Chair Academician Ching-Wu Chu, the Taiwan Comprehensive University System (TCUS) pioneered a system-to-system collaboration by establishing a partnership with TU9 – German Universities of Technology, an alliance of Germany's nine leading technical universities. This initiative marked a significant milestone in higher education cooperation between Taiwan and Germany.

A decade later, on July 24, 2026, the two organizations officially renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reaffirming their long-standing partnership and shared commitment to further strengthening academic exchange and collaboration between Taiwan and Germany.

According to statistics from the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education under the Ministry of Education, the number of Taiwanese students studying in Germany increased from 1,433 in 2016 to 2,980 in 2026, more than doubling over the past decade. Meanwhile, data from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) indicated that the number of German students studying in Taiwan grew from approximately 1,119 in 2016 to 1,421 in the 2023–2024 academic year, reflecting the steady expansion of bilateral higher education exchanges. As the partnership entered its tenth year, the renewal of the MOU underscored both parties' enduring commitment to advancing international academic cooperation.

In accordance with the agreed signing procedure, the MOU was renewed through an exchange of signed copies. On July 16, 2026, a signing ceremony was held in Germany, witnessed by Ambassador Jhy-Wey Shieh, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany. Representing TU9, its two Co-Presidents, Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Middendorf, signed the agreement first. On the Taiwanese side, Academician Fan-Sen Wang, Chair of TCUS, together with representatives from National Cheng Kung University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Hsing University, and National Chung Cheng University, attended the ceremony online. Following the ceremony, Academician Fan-Sen Wang completed the reciprocal signing on behalf of TCUS, and the renewed MOU officially took effect on July 24, 2026.

TCUS also expressed its sincere appreciation to Ms. Chin-Ying Weng, Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Representative Office in Germany, and her colleagues for their invaluable assistance in coordinating communications and arranging the signing process, which ensured the successful completion of the renewal.

TCUS and TU9 first signed an MOU in 2016, establishing the foundation for cooperation between the two higher education alliances under the leadership of Academician Ching-Wu Chu. The partnership also pioneered an innovative model for promoting international collaboration through university systems in Taiwan. Over the past decade, the two organizations worked closely through this platform to promote student exchanges, joint research, and academic collaboration, building a strong and enduring partnership.

Academician Fan-Sen Wang, Chair of TCUS, remarked that the collaboration mechanism established ten years ago under Academician Ching-Wu Chu's vision marked an important milestone in Taiwan–Germany higher education cooperation. The renewal of the MOU not only continued the long-standing partnership between TCUS and TU9 but also signified a new phase of bilateral academic collaboration. Looking ahead, both parties will continue to deepen academic exchange and research cooperation through this platform, expand substantive partnership opportunities, and further enhance higher education cooperation between Taiwan and Germany.

Established in 2011, the Taiwan Comprehensive University System (TCUS) is a consortium comprising National Cheng Kung University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Hsing University, and National Chung Cheng University. TCUS is dedicated to integrating inter-university resources in teaching, research, and international collaboration to promote innovation in higher education and strengthen Taiwan's global competitiveness.

Founded in 2006, the TU9 – German Universities of Technology is an alliance of Germany's nine leading technical universities: RWTH Aachen University, Technische Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Technical University of Darmstadt, Technische Universität Dresden, Leibniz University Hannover, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Technical University of Munich (TUM), and the University of Stuttgart. As Germany's foremost alliance of technical universities, TU9 has long played a leading role in engineering, science, higher education, and innovation. Its member universities enjoy outstanding international reputations in engineering, natural sciences, and technological research, while working closely with academia, industry, and government to advance research innovation and cultivate future talent.

Looking ahead, TCUS and TU9 will continue to integrate their educational and research resources, leverage the combined academic strengths of both higher education alliances, deepen Taiwan–Germany higher education cooperation, and inject new momentum into international academic exchange and research innovation.