While meeting with a delegation from the Association of Private Universities and Colleges, President Ma Ying-jeou says the government will help increase enrollment rates at private universities. He also emphasizes that a cautious start for cross-strait educational cooperation is needed and therefore, current restrictions on Chinese students studying in Taiwan are necessary at this point.

Earlier this week, lawmakers revised three acts to allow Chinese students to pursue their studies at universities and colleges in Taiwan.

The Ministry of Education will be implementing the new measure next month, and schools can begin submitting their recruitment plans by the end of the year.

Institutions can begin recruiting Chinese students once their plans are approved.

President Ma Ying-jeou, meanwhile, received a delegation from the Association of Private Universities and Colleges on Friday.

In response to the delegates' opposition to three restrictions that will be written into the new act, Ma urged caution in the early stages and said that Chinese graduate students could begin arriving in Taiwan as early as next March.

The influx of Chinese university students next September will likely help universities that have difficulty recruiting students.

Education Minister Wu Ching-ji has also been touring Southeast Asian nations to recruit students from around the region.

According to Ma, the government will ensure the continued existence of private universities through a combination of flexible wages, the "teaching excellence" plan, and other programs.