TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College) signed an MOU with National Formosa University on Saturday.

This is the first academic cooperation agreement Penn College has established with a Taiwanese higher education institution, according to an NFU press release. Li Yu-juan (李毓娟), director-general of NFU’s Department of International and Cross-Strait Education, said Penn College is known for its applied education and strong industry connections.

The institution has collaborated with the US Department of Labor and industry partners to promote advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, training more than 3,200 apprentices to date, Li said. Its innovative, hands-on educational approach aligns closely with Taiwan’s technical and vocational education system, she added.

Penn College Vice President Anthony Pace and International Director Patrick Marty led a delegation in Taiwan from Nov. 17 to 22 for an exchange program arranged by the Ministry of Education. The group visited several universities to study Taiwan’s development in sustainable architecture, smart manufacturing, AIoT, aerospace maintenance, nursing, and hospitality management.

The delegation also toured Lunghwa University of Science and Technology’s High-Speed Electronic Transmission Interface Packaging Design and Testing Talent Training and Technology Center and NFU’s Drone Industry Talent and Technology Cultivation Center, where members held in-depth discussions with faculty and students.

The MOE said the Penn College delegation praised Taiwan’s technological innovation and professional training model.