SDG3
NCKU & Thailand’s PBRI Partner on Public Health Education in Tainan
Vichai Tienthavorn, President of Praboromarajchanok Institute (PBRI)—the only university under Thailand's Ministry of Public Health—led a delegation of nearly 100 faculty members and students to National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) for a three-day multifaceted exchange. In addition to visiting the NCKU College of Medicine and holding academic symposiums, President Vichai personally visited local communities to share Thailand's public health experience. NCKU also organized a "Campus Historical & Cultural Tour," guiding the visitors through campus history, architecture, and landscape to help them understand NCKU's development and its connection with Tainan City.
A key highlight of the exchange was President Vichai's visit to Shengan Community in North District for a health education demonstration and lecture. He introduced the "Seven-Color Life Traffic Ping-Pong Model" developed by PBRI, which integrates health risk management for chronic diseases—such as hypertension and diabetes—into daily life, enabling volunteers and residents to quickly identify health risks and engage in health management. Sharing Thailand's accumulated public health expertise with Taiwanese communities demonstrates the potential of combining international exchange with University Social Responsibility (USR).
The exchange activities took place over three days, from August 19 to 21. On the afternoon of August 19, the PBRI delegation first attended the forum "From Home to Coming-of-Age Rituals: Social Transformations" and a special exhibition on Southeast Asian cultural customs, hosted by NCKU's Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (RCHSS) at the History Museum, kickstarting mutual cultural understanding.
NCKU hosted a welcome dinner that evening, where Vice President Yu-Nu Chen delivered opening remarks. She commended NCKU's Department of Nursing and RCHSS for their long-standing foundation of collaboration in nursing education, academic research, and public health. Vice President Chen emphasized that healthcare extends beyond professional expertise to encompass cross-border mutual assistance, learning, and community connections; through this exchange, both institutions shared professional experience while taking knowledge out of the classroom and into real-world cultural and community settings.
On August 20, activities began with the opening ceremony of the "PBRI × NCKU Student Academic Symposium" at the 2nd International Conference Hall on the Guangfu Campus. Professor Cheng-Ta Yang, Director of NCKU RCHSS, quoted Confucius—"Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?"—to welcome the Thai delegation. He noted that universities should serve not only as spaces for teaching and research, but also as vital bridges connecting disciplines, institutions, society, and the world, facilitating dialogue between local knowledge and international experience.
Following the opening ceremony, activities proceeded along dual tracks of academic exchange and community outreach. At the symposium, Thai faculty and Distinguished Prof. Ching-Chih Wang from the Department of Nursing co-chaired sessions where students from both regions discussed academic research and public health issues.
Meanwhile, President Vichai, accompanied by Prof. Hsing-Mei Chen (Department of Nursing) and Associate Director Chao-Chun Yang (Department of Medicine), brought public health expertise to Shengan Community in Changsheng Village. Approximately 40 residents participated in the session, with Prof. Li-Chuan Lin from the Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies providing translation and explanation. She guided residents through understanding hypertension classifications and lifestyle adjustments in an engaging and informative atmosphere. To show hospitality, NCKU also arranged a campus tour exploring the university's development context and its bond with Tainan. On the final day, the delegation visited off-campus sites, including the Zhuxi Village Community Center.
NCKU stated that the PBRI delegation's visit has deepened existing academic and public health partnerships. Looking forward, both institutions aim to continue prioritizing student development and expanding collaboration in student exchanges, overseas internships, community health, and international USR initiatives.
A key highlight of the exchange was President Vichai's visit to Shengan Community in North District for a health education demonstration and lecture. He introduced the "Seven-Color Life Traffic Ping-Pong Model" developed by PBRI, which integrates health risk management for chronic diseases—such as hypertension and diabetes—into daily life, enabling volunteers and residents to quickly identify health risks and engage in health management. Sharing Thailand's accumulated public health expertise with Taiwanese communities demonstrates the potential of combining international exchange with University Social Responsibility (USR).
The exchange activities took place over three days, from August 19 to 21. On the afternoon of August 19, the PBRI delegation first attended the forum "From Home to Coming-of-Age Rituals: Social Transformations" and a special exhibition on Southeast Asian cultural customs, hosted by NCKU's Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (RCHSS) at the History Museum, kickstarting mutual cultural understanding.
NCKU hosted a welcome dinner that evening, where Vice President Yu-Nu Chen delivered opening remarks. She commended NCKU's Department of Nursing and RCHSS for their long-standing foundation of collaboration in nursing education, academic research, and public health. Vice President Chen emphasized that healthcare extends beyond professional expertise to encompass cross-border mutual assistance, learning, and community connections; through this exchange, both institutions shared professional experience while taking knowledge out of the classroom and into real-world cultural and community settings.
On August 20, activities began with the opening ceremony of the "PBRI × NCKU Student Academic Symposium" at the 2nd International Conference Hall on the Guangfu Campus. Professor Cheng-Ta Yang, Director of NCKU RCHSS, quoted Confucius—"Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?"—to welcome the Thai delegation. He noted that universities should serve not only as spaces for teaching and research, but also as vital bridges connecting disciplines, institutions, society, and the world, facilitating dialogue between local knowledge and international experience.
Following the opening ceremony, activities proceeded along dual tracks of academic exchange and community outreach. At the symposium, Thai faculty and Distinguished Prof. Ching-Chih Wang from the Department of Nursing co-chaired sessions where students from both regions discussed academic research and public health issues.
Meanwhile, President Vichai, accompanied by Prof. Hsing-Mei Chen (Department of Nursing) and Associate Director Chao-Chun Yang (Department of Medicine), brought public health expertise to Shengan Community in Changsheng Village. Approximately 40 residents participated in the session, with Prof. Li-Chuan Lin from the Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies providing translation and explanation. She guided residents through understanding hypertension classifications and lifestyle adjustments in an engaging and informative atmosphere. To show hospitality, NCKU also arranged a campus tour exploring the university's development context and its bond with Tainan. On the final day, the delegation visited off-campus sites, including the Zhuxi Village Community Center.
NCKU stated that the PBRI delegation's visit has deepened existing academic and public health partnerships. Looking forward, both institutions aim to continue prioritizing student development and expanding collaboration in student exchanges, overseas internships, community health, and international USR initiatives.
PBRI President Vichai introduces the application and results of the "Seven-Color Life Ping-Pong Model" for chronic disease management in Thailand.
Group photo at the welcome dinner.
Opening ceremony participants (from right to left): Director Chun-Yen Liu (International Relations Division, Office of International Affairs); Distinguished Prof. Nai-Ying Ko (Department of Nursing, College of Medicine); Director Cheng-Ta Yang (Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences); Associate Director Chao-Chun Yang (Department of Medicine); President Vichai Thienthavorn; Vice President Wanicha Chuenkongkaew; Secretary to the President Prof. Phayong Thepaksorn; Vice Dean Piyapan Cheeranont (College of Medicine); and Vice Dean Chuleeporn Pusopa (College of Nursing).
Group photo with Director Wu Yun-Yan of Changsheng Village (center) following the community hypertension health education session.
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