UND set to begin faculty, student exchanges with Taiwan university Chia-nan Tai, president of the National Kaohsiung Normal University (NKNU) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Republic of China) visited UND and signed a Memorandum Of Understanding that will allow students from both schools to study abroad and complete degrees. Provisions would make faculty exchanges available, as well. There also could be options for students to matriculate for a semester or an academic year on a nondegree status, or to take advantage of department-to-department agreements between the two schools. UND President Robert Kelley represented the University at the signing, along with Victoria Beard, associate provost; Dennis Elbert, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration; Steve Moser, associate dean of the business college; Ray Lagasse, UND International Centre director; Ray Diez, David Yearwood, Department of Technology chair; and others. Diez said both schools will benefit from the exchange of ideas and culture via the interaction of students, faculty members and members of the communities of Kaohsiung and Grand Forks. Participants also be able to experience the life, history and cultural opportunities available in another country, he said. Diez said the MOU with NKNU is a revival of a program that was initiated in 1984 at UND. The program continued for about 10 years until it was discontinued, as a result of budget concerns. In 2003, officials within the Department of Technology contacted NKNU to determine if the program could be re-instated, he said. Negotiations began with a visit by Diez in March 2003 and culminated with the MOU signing Sept. 22. "In the interim, UND has entertained two visiting professors from NKNU and one exchange student in the master of science program in industrial technology," Diez said. NKNU played host to one visiting professor in the spring semester of 2006.