German center introduces updated exchange programs

2010/5/28 下午 10:50:00

Taipei May 28 (CNA) German Information Center Taipei Director Stefan Rummel outlined plans to expand academic exchanges at a speech marking the 10th anniversary of the center on Friday.

Germany is currently offering more flexible programs, Rummel said, including a doctoral program in which students can complete a course of study from undergraduate to doctoral degree in only eight years.

Rummel has attempted to interest more Taiwanese students in German schools since he was assigned to lead the office in 2004.

"About 400 people applied for scholarships six years ago, but this year, more than 550 students applied for the scholarships, " he said.

The mission of the information center, established by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst, DAAD) in 2002, is to inform Taiwanese students and academics about study and research opportunities in Germany, handle and promote DAAD scholarships, and help organize the annual European Education Fair Taiwan.

It is one of five German representative offices in Taiwan --the others being the German Institute, the German Trade Office, the German Section of the Taipei European School, and the Goethe Institute, where the Information Center office is located.

(by Sunnie Chen) enditem/bc