Reports out of Taiwan say the island's education authority will allow universities to enroll mainland students for full-time study next year.

The initial plan says universities in Taiwan can enroll a total of 2,000 mainland students next year. Public universities are only being allowed to accept students for postgraduate and doctoral degrees, while private universities can enroll applicants at all levels of study.

Taiwan's education authority is also planning to officially recognize higher education degrees issued by the mainland's top 36 universities.

(CCTV December 18, 2008)