The 2026 Taiwan Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program concluded on 7 August with a closing ceremony at RMIT University in Melbourne. A total of 52 teachers from Taiwan completed the program, including 45 primary school teachers and seven junior secondary school teachers. Tony Tai, Director at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Melbourne, attended the ceremony on behalf of the Office, congratulating the participants and expressing appreciation to RMIT for its longstanding support for educational exchange and cooperation between Taiwan and Australia.
The program was supported by Professor Simone White, Dean of the School of Education; Amanda Barry, Deputy Dean; Jake Heinrich, CEO of RMIT UP; Serene Lin-Stephens, Career Education Program Manager; as well as participating RMIT faculty and staff. Through sustained cooperation, teachers from Taiwan have been able to undertake professional development and engage directly with Australian educators, further strengthening educational and people-to-people links between Taiwan and Australia.
During the program, participants gained first-hand insights into Australia’s education system, bilingual education approaches and teaching practices through professional sessions, school visits and cultural exchange activities. They also observed approaches that encourage independent learning, respect for diversity and innovative thinking. The program provided valuable opportunities for professional development while broadening participants’ international perspectives and intercultural understanding.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Melbourne welcomes the continued growth of Taiwan–Australia educational exchange and looks forward to seeing participating teachers bring their experiences and insights back to classrooms in Taiwan. Such exchanges contribute not only to the development of bilingual education in Taiwan, but also to a stronger and more enduring educational partnership between Taiwan and Australia.
