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Title: Operation Directions for Subsidies to Overseas Schools, Groups, Taiwan Centers for Mandarin Learning and Taiwanese Teachers Teaching in Mainstream Schools Visiting Taiwan for Mandarin Language Study or Taiwanese Cultural Activities by Overseas Community Affairs Council Ch
Date: 2025.03.03
Legislative: 1.Promulgated by Order of OCAC Chiao Chiao Yuan Tze No. 10202003431
on February 4, 2013; effective on the same day.
2.The amended Direction 14 was promulgated by Order of OCAC Chiao
Chiao Yuan Tze No. 10202012161 on April 26, 2013; effective on
the same day.
3.The amended Directions 8 and 14 and Appendix 1 to Direction 12
were promulgated by Order of OCAC Chiao Chiao Yuan Tze
No. 10302004961 on February 21, 2014; effective on the same day.
4.The amended Directions were promulgated by Order of OCAC Chiao
Chiao Yuan Tze No. 10302024071 on August 14, 2014; effective on
the same day.
5.The amended Direction 3, Appendix 1 to Direction 12, and Appendix 2
to Direction 14 were promulgated by Order of OCAC Chiao Shen Yen
Tze No. 10705010891 on May 11, 2018; effective on the same day.
6.The amended Directions were promulgated by Order of OCAC Chiao
Shen Yen Tze No. 1080500919 on May 9, 2019; the title was also
amended to “Operation Directions for Subsidies to Overseas
Schools and Groups Visiting Taiwan for Mandarin Language Study
or Taiwanese Cultural Activities by Overseas Community Affairs
Council”; effective on the same day.
7.The amended Directions were promulgated by Order of OCAC Chiao
Shen Yen Tze No. 1110501491 on July 4, 2022; the title was also
amended to “Operation Directions for Subsidies to Overseas Schools,
Groups, Taiwan Centers for Mandarin Learning and Taiwanese Teachers
Teaching in Mainstream Schools Visiting Taiwan for Mandarin
Language Study or Taiwanese Cultural Activities by Overseas
Community Affairs Council”; effective on the same day.
8.The amended Directions 5 and 7 were promulgated by Order of OCAC
Chiao Shen Yen Tze No. 1120500896 on May 5, 2023; effective on the
same day.
9.The amended Directions 4, 5, and 7 were promulgated by Order of
OCAC Chiao Shen Yen Tze No. 1130500323 on February 16, 2024;
effective on the same day.
10.The amended Appendix 1 to Direction 4 was promulgated by Order
of OCAC Chiao Shen Jiou Tze No. 1140500419 on March 3, 2025;
effective on the same day.
Content: 1.The Overseas Community Affairs Council (hereinafter referred to
  as the “OCAC”) hereby establishes these Directions to expand
  opportunities for overseas ethnic Chinese youth to visit Taiwan
  to study Mandarin and experience Taiwan’s diverse cultures,
  and to encourage overseas compatriot schools (groups), Chinese
  language classes, associations of Chinese schools, Taiwan Centers
  for Mandarin Learning, and current Taiwanese teachers teaching
  in mainstream schools to organize groups to visit Taiwan for
  Mandarin language study or Taiwanese cultural activities.

2.Guidance units: Embassies and Missions abroad and the OCAC’s
   Culture Centers of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

3.Organizing entities:
 (1)Overseas compatriot schools (groups), Chinese language classes,
    associations of Chinese schools, and Taiwan Centers for Mandarin
    Learning that maintain regular contact with the OCAC, Embassies
    and Missions abroad, and Culture Centers of Taipei Economic and
    Cultural Office, have sound organizational structures, and have 
    demonstrated outstanding performance in supporting the OCAC’s 
    overseas compatriot education policies and programs over the
    past five years shall be given priority.
 (2)Current teachers of Taiwanese descent teaching in mainstream
    schools who hold Taiwan passports and provide proof of current
    employment, including a faculty/staff identification card or
    other sufficient supporting documentation.

4.Applications and related requirements:
(1)Scope of application: An organizing entity shall organize a group
   to visit Taiwan to jointly conduct with, or participate in Mandarin
   language or Taiwanese cultural study programs, visits, educational
   tours, or exchange activities organized by, schools at all levels
   in Taiwan, university-affiliated Mandarin language centers approved
   and registered by the Ministry of Education, or government-registered
   private cultural and educational organizations.
(2)Application period: Applications shall be submitted no later 
   than two months before the first day of the activity.
(3)Application procedure: An organizing entity shall submit the
   following documents to the guidance unit no later than two months
   before the first day of the activity. Following an initial review
   and assessment, the guidance unit shall forward the application
   to the OCAC for further review:
  A.Group application form (as shown in Appendix 1).
  B.Project proposal, which shall include a study program schedule,
    budget plan, and list of participants visiting Taiwan, with 
    each participant’s age and whether the participant is of ethnic
    Chinese or non-ethnic Chinese descent clearly indicated.
  C.If the group leader is a current teachers of Taiwanese descent
    employed by a Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning or a 
    mainstream school, a Taiwan passport and proof of current 
    employment shall also be submitted.
 (4)Implementation:
  A.Itinerary planning: The itinerary shall be arranged by the 
    organizing entity. It shall include a one-hour exchange activity
    at the OCAC, and at least one-half of the group’s time in Taiwan
    shall be devoted to Mandarin language study or cultural courses
    or activities, such as diabolo, calligraphy, paper arts, or visits
    with cultural and educational learning components.
  B.Duration: The group shall stay in Taiwan for at least ten days.
  C.Number and age of participants: Each group shall consist of at
    least 15 persons. In principle, group members shall be under 30
    years of age. No age restriction shall apply to the group leader.
  D.Eligibility of group leaders and members:
   a.For groups organized by overseas compatriot schools (groups),
     Chinese language classes, or associations of Chinese schools,
     the group leader shall be of ethnic Chinese descent. Up to 20%
     of the members of each group, with any fraction disregarded, may
     consist of non-ethnic Chinese youth who are friendly toward Taiwan.
     However, if the organizing entity has, within the preceding 
     three years, cooperated with a mainstream school (school district)
     in its place of overseas residence to conduct Mandarin language
     courses, Mandarin language promotion programs, or competitions, 
     and jointly applies with that mainstream school (school district)
     to organize a group to visit Taiwan for study, relevant supporting
     documents may be submitted.Following an initial review and assessment 
     by the guidance unit and further review and approval by the OCAC,
     the limit on non-ethnic Chinese youth participating in each group 
     may, depending on past performance, be relaxed to a maximum of
     35% (with any fraction disregarded).
   b.To advance the OCAC’s “Overseas Mandarin Language Learning Program,”
     where a group is organized by a Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning
     or by a current Taiwanese teacher teaching in a mainstream school, 
     the group leader of a group organized by a Taiwanese teacher shall
     be of Taiwanese descent;no restrictions shall apply to the age or
     ethnicity of group members.
   c.For purposes of these Directions, the ethnic Chinese status of group 
     leaders and members does not include persons from mainland China, 
     residents of Hong Kong or Macao, or holders of passports issued by
     mainland China.
  E.Activity locations: Activities may be conducted throughout Taiwan.

5.Subsidy principles:
(1)Group organization expenses: In reviewing subsidies for group
   organization expenses, the OCAC may, in addition to considering
   whether the requirements set forth in the preceding point have
   been met, take into account the opinions of the guidance unit 
   and the OCAC’s budget for the applicable fiscal year, and determine
   the amount of subsidy as appropriate based on the items for which
   funding is requested.
(2)Approximately 500 participants are expected to take part in the 
   program each year. Each organizing entity may receive a subsidy
   for no more than one group per year. The maximum subsidy for 
   group organization expenses shall be US$10,000 (or the equivalent 
   in another currency) per group.
(3)At the request of an organizing entity, the OCAC may assist in
   coordinating with domestic colleges, universities, or other
   institutions to jointly conduct the activities.
(4)Except for necessary administrative expenses (such as expenses 
   related to recruitment brochures, information sessions, communications,
   and documentation), subsidies provided by the OCAC for group 
   organization expenses shall be used solely for expenses related
   to the participation of group leaders and members in study activities
   in Taiwan and shall not be diverted to any other purpose.
(5)The subsidy for group organization expenses shall be converted
   into the equivalent amount in the applicable currency based on
   the exchange rate on the day preceding the first day of the activity.

6.Review procedures: The OCAC shall take into consideration the
   guidance unit’s preliminary review comments and conduct a 
   comprehensive assessment based on the thoroughness of the
   organizing entity’s study curriculum and study-visit arrangements,
   its cooperation with domestic schools or cultural and educational
   organizations, and its performance in supporting the OCAC’s 
   overseas compatriot education policies and programs over the
   preceding five years. Applications shall be approved within
   the limits of the OCAC’s annual budget.

7.Performance evaluation and disbursement of subsidies:
 (1)The organizing entity shall identify the OCAC as a sponsoring 
    organization (under the full name “Overseas Community Affairs
    Council, ROC (TAIWAN)”) and shall clearly state in 
    recruitment brochures, promotional materials, and participant
    handbooks that the study activities have been organized under
    this Program. Relevant materials shall be compiled and
    submitted to the OCAC for reference after completion of the
    activity.
 (2)Within one month after completion of the activity, the
    organizing entity shall complete the following procedures: 
    submit a complete list of group members, an activity results
    report (as shown in Appendix 2), and supporting materials
    (such as activity photographs or press clippings) together
    with the original “Income and Expenditure List For OCAC 
    Public Funds Grants to Group and Individuals” (as shown 
    in Appendix 3) completed by the organizing entity and the
    original supporting documents for expenditures in the
    amount subsidized (where airfare is claimed for reimbursement,
    an electronic ticket or ticket stub and the original proof
    of purchase shall be attached). The documents shall be
    submitted through the guidance unit, which shall review
    and forward them to the OCAC for examination as the basis
    for disbursement of the subsidy.
 (3)If any subsidized funds remain upon closure of the subsidy 
    case, the corresponding portion of the remaining balance
    shall be returned based on the proportion funded by the OCAC.
 (4)If an organizing entity fails to implement the program in 
    accordance with the approved application and project proposal,
    achieves unsatisfactory results, falsely reports or inflates
    expenditures, cancels the activity after the subsidy has been
    approved, or engages in any similar conduct, the OCAC may 
    revoke the subsidy and, depending on the severity of the 
    circumstances, suspend the organizing entity’s eligibility
    for subsidies for a period of one to five years.

8.Results-sharing activities: The guidance unit shall invite
  organizing entities to share the outcomes of their study
  programs in Taiwan in order to assess the effectiveness of 
  the programs and gather their recommendations regarding this
  Program.

9.Matters not provided for in these Directions shall be handled
  in accordance with other applicable laws and regulations.
Attachments: