SDG8
NCKU Partners with KSU, CJCU, and FYU to Jointly Advance International Talent Development Cooperation
To attract outstanding young talent from around the world to study and develop careers in Taiwan and to build a strong international talent pool in Southern Taiwan, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) signed an Academic Exchange and Talent Cultivation Cooperation Agreement (學術交流暨人才培育合作協議) on February 3 with Kun Shan University (KSU), Chang Jung Christian University (CJCU), and Fooyin University (FYU). The agreement formally establishes a university alliance. In the future, international students from the three partner universities will be able to take courses at NCKU through an exchange mechanism and pursue master’s and doctoral degrees there. The partnership not only expands learning and development opportunities for students but also lays a solid foundation for cultivating and retaining high-level international research and development talent in Taiwan. The signing ceremony was witnessed by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (沈孟儒校長), KSU President Tien-Hsiang Lee (李天祥校長), CJCU President Huey-Min Sun (孫惠民校長), and FYU President Chueh-Shih Lin (林爵士校長), along with senior administrators and faculty representatives from all four universities.
In his remarks, President Shen thanked the partner institutions for attending and marking this important milestone. He emphasized that the event represents not only a formal agreement but also a shared commitment by higher education institutions to public responsibility and social accountability. Students, he noted, are at the core of higher education, and only a student-centered system can continue to deepen and evolve. Although NCKU has relatively abundant resources, it cannot stand alone in the face of declining birth rates. By promoting a “University Alliance” and working collaboratively with universities and technological institutions across Southern Taiwan, NCKU aims to cultivate international student talent jointly. After completing their studies at partner schools, students can connect to NCKU’s internship and research resources and benefit from Taiwan’s friendly policies for international professionals, helping retain outstanding talent in the region. He expressed hope that cross-university collaboration and resource integration would create a mutually beneficial future for Taiwan’s higher education sector and industries.
President Lee of KSU described the partnership as “large hands joining small hands,” demonstrating complementarity and cooperation among different types of higher education institutions. He stressed that alliance collaboration can generate a multiplier effect—1+1+1+1 > 4—by integrating cross-campus resources. This approach enables students to align with industry needs during their studies and transition smoothly into Southern Taiwan’s industries upon graduation.
President Sun of CJCU noted that NCKU’s strong academic capacity and resources have long served as a benchmark for other institutions. He praised President Shen’s leadership and highlighted the importance of inter-university teamwork. Expressing confidence in the collaboration, he said that under NCKU’s leadership, the alliance will open a new chapter in talent cultivation in Southern Taiwan.
President Lin of FYU remarked that NCKU’s willingness to share resources and support partner institutions reflects the generosity and vision that define the spirit of a university alliance. FYU has long focused on healthcare and lifelong aging industries and values the opportunity to collaborate with NCKU, CJCU, and KSU to cultivate international talent together.
NCKU Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh (謝孫源國際長) then outlined the alliance’s plans. Due to demographic decline, Taiwan is projected to face a shortage of up to 480,000 high-level professionals by 2030. In response, the alliance will work with domestic universities to build a comprehensive talent development system, leveraging each institution’s strengths. By incorporating partnerships with overseas high schools to recruit excellent students and distributing training pathways among alliance members, the program will cultivate international talent more effectively. The alliance will also promote scholarships for master’s and doctoral students and expand industry collaborations to encourage students to remain in Taiwan for further study and career development, enabling seamless integration into Taiwan’s industries after graduation.
Amid intensifying global competition in higher education, NCKU began piloting the University Alliance in July 2025. The initiative integrates the strengths and resources of participating institutions to create a more complete talent cultivation system, enhance Taiwan’s attractiveness to international students, and gradually build a robust international talent pool in Southern Taiwan. To date, cooperation agreements have already been signed with National University of Tainan, I-Shou University, and Cheng Shiu University. The addition of KSU, CJCU, and FYU not only expands the alliance’s scale but also optimizes its ecosystem. By integrating each university’s distinctive resources and educational strengths, the alliance aims to elevate Taiwan’s global education profile and better respond to the diverse academic aspirations and development needs of international students.
A key highlight of the cooperation plan is the establishment of a smooth “academic progression pathway.” In the future, international students from KSU, CJCU, and FYU will be able to take courses at NCKU through exchange programs, experience NCKU’s academic environment firsthand, and apply for graduate programs if they wish to pursue advanced degrees. This collaboration broadens students’ development pathways while also strengthening Taiwan’s ability to retain high-level international professionals.
As the university alliance initiated by NCKU continues to expand, member institutions are leveraging collective strengths and integrating teaching and research resources to better support the development of international students in Taiwan. By enhancing advanced talent training and support systems, this collaborative model injects substantial momentum into Taiwan’s higher education internationalization goals and contributes positively to building a high-level talent pool in Southern Taiwan.
In his remarks, President Shen thanked the partner institutions for attending and marking this important milestone. He emphasized that the event represents not only a formal agreement but also a shared commitment by higher education institutions to public responsibility and social accountability. Students, he noted, are at the core of higher education, and only a student-centered system can continue to deepen and evolve. Although NCKU has relatively abundant resources, it cannot stand alone in the face of declining birth rates. By promoting a “University Alliance” and working collaboratively with universities and technological institutions across Southern Taiwan, NCKU aims to cultivate international student talent jointly. After completing their studies at partner schools, students can connect to NCKU’s internship and research resources and benefit from Taiwan’s friendly policies for international professionals, helping retain outstanding talent in the region. He expressed hope that cross-university collaboration and resource integration would create a mutually beneficial future for Taiwan’s higher education sector and industries.
President Lee of KSU described the partnership as “large hands joining small hands,” demonstrating complementarity and cooperation among different types of higher education institutions. He stressed that alliance collaboration can generate a multiplier effect—1+1+1+1 > 4—by integrating cross-campus resources. This approach enables students to align with industry needs during their studies and transition smoothly into Southern Taiwan’s industries upon graduation.
President Sun of CJCU noted that NCKU’s strong academic capacity and resources have long served as a benchmark for other institutions. He praised President Shen’s leadership and highlighted the importance of inter-university teamwork. Expressing confidence in the collaboration, he said that under NCKU’s leadership, the alliance will open a new chapter in talent cultivation in Southern Taiwan.
President Lin of FYU remarked that NCKU’s willingness to share resources and support partner institutions reflects the generosity and vision that define the spirit of a university alliance. FYU has long focused on healthcare and lifelong aging industries and values the opportunity to collaborate with NCKU, CJCU, and KSU to cultivate international talent together.
NCKU Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh (謝孫源國際長) then outlined the alliance’s plans. Due to demographic decline, Taiwan is projected to face a shortage of up to 480,000 high-level professionals by 2030. In response, the alliance will work with domestic universities to build a comprehensive talent development system, leveraging each institution’s strengths. By incorporating partnerships with overseas high schools to recruit excellent students and distributing training pathways among alliance members, the program will cultivate international talent more effectively. The alliance will also promote scholarships for master’s and doctoral students and expand industry collaborations to encourage students to remain in Taiwan for further study and career development, enabling seamless integration into Taiwan’s industries after graduation.
Amid intensifying global competition in higher education, NCKU began piloting the University Alliance in July 2025. The initiative integrates the strengths and resources of participating institutions to create a more complete talent cultivation system, enhance Taiwan’s attractiveness to international students, and gradually build a robust international talent pool in Southern Taiwan. To date, cooperation agreements have already been signed with National University of Tainan, I-Shou University, and Cheng Shiu University. The addition of KSU, CJCU, and FYU not only expands the alliance’s scale but also optimizes its ecosystem. By integrating each university’s distinctive resources and educational strengths, the alliance aims to elevate Taiwan’s global education profile and better respond to the diverse academic aspirations and development needs of international students.
A key highlight of the cooperation plan is the establishment of a smooth “academic progression pathway.” In the future, international students from KSU, CJCU, and FYU will be able to take courses at NCKU through exchange programs, experience NCKU’s academic environment firsthand, and apply for graduate programs if they wish to pursue advanced degrees. This collaboration broadens students’ development pathways while also strengthening Taiwan’s ability to retain high-level international professionals.
As the university alliance initiated by NCKU continues to expand, member institutions are leveraging collective strengths and integrating teaching and research resources to better support the development of international students in Taiwan. By enhancing advanced talent training and support systems, this collaborative model injects substantial momentum into Taiwan’s higher education internationalization goals and contributes positively to building a high-level talent pool in Southern Taiwan.
NCKU, KSU, CJCU, and FYU have joined forces to establish a partnership for international talent cultivation. The agreement was signed by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (second from right), KSU President Tien-Hsiang Lee (far right), CJCU President Huey-Min Sun (far left), and FYU President Chueh-Shih Lin (second from left), with senior administrators and faculty members from all four universities in attendance to witness the ceremony.
President Shen stated that the signing ceremony was not merely an event, but a shared commitment by higher education institutions to the principles of public good and social responsibility.
Senior administrators and faculty members from all four universities attended to witness the signing ceremony.
Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh of NCKU gave a briefing on the alliance’s strategic plan.
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