SDG4
NCKU and NUTN Partner to Promote Internationalization and Global Talent Development
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and National University of Tainan (NUTN) officially signed an “Academic Exchange and Talent Development Cooperation” agreement on January 15, 2026. NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (沈孟儒) and NUTN President Hui-Ping Chen (陳惠萍) signed on behalf of their respective universities, marking the establishment of a cross-university alliance to jointly promote higher education internationalization and the development of globally competitive talent. This collaboration focuses on the learning and development needs of international students in Taiwan, integrating teaching and research resources, and planning advanced talent training mechanisms and related support measures. The goal is to cultivate internationally competitive and influential talent, providing concrete momentum for the internationalization of higher education in Taiwan.
Under the agreement, NUTN’s international students will be able to take courses at NCKU through exchange programs, experiencing NCKU’s rich research environment and distinctive teaching approaches. Those seeking further studies can also apply for related degree programs at NCKU, gradually realizing their goals of pursuing graduate education in Taiwan while gaining more diverse opportunities for professional and academic development.
President Shen emphasized that talent cultivation in higher education is crucial to national development, particularly in light of Taiwan’s declining birthrate, which poses challenges for talent supply and training. International students will be an important driving force in this context. NCKU’s cross-university alliance aims to leverage complementary strengths, providing more comprehensive and flexible learning pathways and smooth transitions from undergraduate to graduate studies. This approach deepens professional training, enhances students’ willingness to study and develop in Taiwan, and creates a win-win situation for both universities and students. The agreement with NUTN represents an important starting point for deepening academic exchange and talent development, building a platform to cultivate more outstanding talent for Taiwan’s higher education and national development.
President Chen of NUTN noted that internationalization is a shared goal of contemporary higher education. While some departments at NUTN and NCKU overlap, they are also highly complementary, particularly regarding student exchanges and pathways to advanced study. For example, NUTN has strong faculty and performance capabilities in music and has led students on international performances, providing opportunities for collaboration with NCKU. Departments such as Drama and Music at NUTN can also develop complementary programs with NCKU. Although the universities initially had different goals for student development, their shared objective is to cultivate talent capable of contributing to Taiwan and the global community. President Chen expressed hope that NCKU will lead efforts to advance international talent development collaboratively.
Following the signing, NCKU Vice President for International Affairs, Sun-Yuan Hsieh (謝孫源), briefed President Chen and her delegation on the overall planning of domestic university alliances, including international high school cooperation, scholarship programs for graduate students within the alliance, and recognition of NCKU academic credits.
To deepen international higher education exchanges and strengthen the cultivation of international research talent, NCKU began promoting a domestic university alliance in July 2025, with I-Shou University (ISU) and Cheng Shiu University (CSU) joining in 2025. National Tainan University formally became a partner in 2026, marking the first national university to join the alliance. This milestone extends cross-university collaboration from private to public institutions, further strengthening the alliance’s overall academic exchange and talent development capacity.
The NCKU Office of International Affairs prioritizes cross-university cooperation, leveraging the strengths and resources of multiple universities to enhance Taiwan’s overall capacity in international academic and professional training. This approach provides students with more complete, diverse, and connected pathways for education, strengthens Taiwan’s international education profile, and attracts outstanding international students to study and pursue advanced education in Taiwan.
The signing ceremony was held at the Innovation Teaching Workshop, East Wing of the Yun-Ping Administration Building, NCKU Kuang-Fu Campus. Attendees witnessing the agreement included NUTN Vice President Chi-Cheng Hou (侯志正), Provost Su-Wei Lin (林素微), Vice President for International Affairs Ying-Chi Lyu (呂英治), College of Humanities Dean Ling-Wan Tsai (蔡玲婉), College of Environment and Ecology Dean Yao-Hsian Fu (傅耀賢), College of Management Dean Tzu-Hsin Liu (劉子歆), Secretary-General Che-Jia Tsao (曹哲嘉), and NCKU International Affairs Division Chief Che-Wei Chen (陳澤瑋), as well as NCKU Vice President Shi-Wei Chang (張始偉), Provost Sheng-Chi Shen (沈聖智), Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice Dean of Student Affairs Yu-Ting Wu (吳毓庭), Associate Vice President for International Affairs Shu-Rong Hu (胡書榕), and Executive Director of International Affairs Hsing-Fen Su (蘇杏芬). All attendees expressed strong anticipation and optimism regarding the cross-university cooperation in international talent development.
Under the agreement, NUTN’s international students will be able to take courses at NCKU through exchange programs, experiencing NCKU’s rich research environment and distinctive teaching approaches. Those seeking further studies can also apply for related degree programs at NCKU, gradually realizing their goals of pursuing graduate education in Taiwan while gaining more diverse opportunities for professional and academic development.
President Shen emphasized that talent cultivation in higher education is crucial to national development, particularly in light of Taiwan’s declining birthrate, which poses challenges for talent supply and training. International students will be an important driving force in this context. NCKU’s cross-university alliance aims to leverage complementary strengths, providing more comprehensive and flexible learning pathways and smooth transitions from undergraduate to graduate studies. This approach deepens professional training, enhances students’ willingness to study and develop in Taiwan, and creates a win-win situation for both universities and students. The agreement with NUTN represents an important starting point for deepening academic exchange and talent development, building a platform to cultivate more outstanding talent for Taiwan’s higher education and national development.
President Chen of NUTN noted that internationalization is a shared goal of contemporary higher education. While some departments at NUTN and NCKU overlap, they are also highly complementary, particularly regarding student exchanges and pathways to advanced study. For example, NUTN has strong faculty and performance capabilities in music and has led students on international performances, providing opportunities for collaboration with NCKU. Departments such as Drama and Music at NUTN can also develop complementary programs with NCKU. Although the universities initially had different goals for student development, their shared objective is to cultivate talent capable of contributing to Taiwan and the global community. President Chen expressed hope that NCKU will lead efforts to advance international talent development collaboratively.
Following the signing, NCKU Vice President for International Affairs, Sun-Yuan Hsieh (謝孫源), briefed President Chen and her delegation on the overall planning of domestic university alliances, including international high school cooperation, scholarship programs for graduate students within the alliance, and recognition of NCKU academic credits.
To deepen international higher education exchanges and strengthen the cultivation of international research talent, NCKU began promoting a domestic university alliance in July 2025, with I-Shou University (ISU) and Cheng Shiu University (CSU) joining in 2025. National Tainan University formally became a partner in 2026, marking the first national university to join the alliance. This milestone extends cross-university collaboration from private to public institutions, further strengthening the alliance’s overall academic exchange and talent development capacity.
The NCKU Office of International Affairs prioritizes cross-university cooperation, leveraging the strengths and resources of multiple universities to enhance Taiwan’s overall capacity in international academic and professional training. This approach provides students with more complete, diverse, and connected pathways for education, strengthens Taiwan’s international education profile, and attracts outstanding international students to study and pursue advanced education in Taiwan.
The signing ceremony was held at the Innovation Teaching Workshop, East Wing of the Yun-Ping Administration Building, NCKU Kuang-Fu Campus. Attendees witnessing the agreement included NUTN Vice President Chi-Cheng Hou (侯志正), Provost Su-Wei Lin (林素微), Vice President for International Affairs Ying-Chi Lyu (呂英治), College of Humanities Dean Ling-Wan Tsai (蔡玲婉), College of Environment and Ecology Dean Yao-Hsian Fu (傅耀賢), College of Management Dean Tzu-Hsin Liu (劉子歆), Secretary-General Che-Jia Tsao (曹哲嘉), and NCKU International Affairs Division Chief Che-Wei Chen (陳澤瑋), as well as NCKU Vice President Shi-Wei Chang (張始偉), Provost Sheng-Chi Shen (沈聖智), Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice Dean of Student Affairs Yu-Ting Wu (吳毓庭), Associate Vice President for International Affairs Shu-Rong Hu (胡書榕), and Executive Director of International Affairs Hsing-Fen Su (蘇杏芬). All attendees expressed strong anticipation and optimism regarding the cross-university cooperation in international talent development.
NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (right) and NUTN President Hui-Ping Chen (left) sign the “Academic Exchange and Talent Development Cooperation” agreement.
Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh (left) explained the overall planning of the domestic university alliance.
Group photo.
