【Text and Photos: Yuan-Ru Hsu, Office of International Affairs; Edited by: Public Affairs Section】

【Translator： Ya-Hsin Wan】

【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】

2024-12-24 The National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) has once again achieved remarkable progress in driving international connections and expanding its influence. President Chi-Jen Chen and Vice President of Administration Hsing-Hao Wu were invited to South Korea to participate in an international symposium, where they shared insights on Cultural Heritage Preservation, University Social Responsibility (USR), and the Asia Virtual Academy (AVA). During the visit, NUK also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hanbat National University, marking significant achievements from this international engagement.

President Chi-Jen Chen of the National University of Kaohsiung, along with his delegation, visited South Korea in mid-December to participate in the 2nd International Symposium on Disruptive Innovation in Higher Education, hosted by Hanbat National University and the Korea National University Development Institute. The symposium united university presidents, experts, and scholars from multiple countries, including the host nation, the United States, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Kyrgyzstan, fostering vibrant international academic exchanges.

President Chi-Jen Chen of the National University of Kaohsiung and President Oh Yong-Jun of Hanbat National University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of their respective institutions. The two universities will collaborate in areas such as semiconductor materials science, talent development, and cultural exchange.

Chi-Jen Chen expressed that the two universities, being of similar scale and both located at key hubs of high-tech corridors, are well-positioned to achieve remarkable outcomes through their collaboration. Oh Yong-Jun, who visited the National University of Kaohsiung this September (2024) to attend a symposium organized by the Department of Asia-Pacific Industrial and Business Management, was deeply impressed by NUK's operations and the vibrant harbor city of Kaohsiung.

At the symposium, Chi-Jen Chen delivered a keynote speech titled "NUK’s Cultural Heritage and Green Campus Initiatives," in which he elaborated on the National University of Kaohsiung's efforts in cultural heritage preservation, comprehensive University Social Responsibility (USR) projects and green university initiatives. His presentation stressed the university's achievements in cross-disciplinary innovation, industrial collaboration, local engagement, and international integration, reflecting NUK's exemplary governance practices.

Hsing-Hao Wu shared the achievements of the National University of Kaohsiung in advancing the Asia Virtual Academy (AVA). Established in 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this online platform overcame the barriers to international exchange, enabling continuous knowledge and cultural interaction with higher education partners from 9 universities across 6 countries.

After the symposium, Hsing-Hao Wu visited two of NUK’s partner universities, Dongguk University and Hanyang University, to further strengthen academic collaborations and student exchange programs. These efforts aim to enhance NUK’s international competitiveness and secure more opportunities for faculty and students to engage in international exchange and mobility initiatives.

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