I had the incredible opportunity to visit Taiwan, fostering meaningful connections between universities and exploring exciting collaborative possibilities from December 2 to 9, 2024.
National Taiwan University (NTU)
At National Taiwan Unversity (NTU), I was graciously hosted by Prof. Chung-Hsi Chou, PhD, DVM (周崇熙), from the School of Veterinary Medicine. Touring his lab and learning about the cutting-edge research conducted by his 30-member team was inspiring. Our discussions focused on collaborative projects, particularly involving NTU and Kagawa University.
- December 2
I had the privilege of visiting Prof. Chou’s lab, accompanied by two of my students. - December 6
We explored deeper discussions on collaborative research and faculty exchange opportunities.
I also met with:
- December 9
Prof. Dr. Wei-Hung Kao, Chair, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yen-Fen Liao, Deputy Chair,
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, College of Liberal Arts, NTU.
These meetings emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration, including language education and cultural exchange.
National Chiayi University (NCYU)
During my visit to NCYU, I met faculty and explored collaborative prospects with various departments, including:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (hosted by Prof. Dr. Zhimin Lai, Dean).
- Department of Animal Science ( hosted byProf. Dr. Tsai-Fuh Tseng Chair, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chun-chi Che)
- Department of Horticulture (hosted by Asst. Prof. Dr. Hsiao-Wen Wang)
- Office of the Vice President for International Affairs (hosted by Vice President Prof. Chang & Prof. Yang, Dean of International Affairs)
Key activities included:
- Discussing joint research initiatives between Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science and Horticulture, aligning with ongoing student internships.
- Exploring Double Degree Program (DDP) opportunities with Horticulture and other interested departments.
- Presenting internship and study opportunities for NCYU students at KU’s Faculty and Graduate School of Agriculture.
- Networking with the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs to develop the 2026 Symposium team.
Student Internships
I was delighted to see the success of student internship programs connecting NCYU and KU:
- Ms. Kaho Shinomiya interned in the Department of Animal Science under the guidance of Asst. Prof. Dr. Chun-Chi Chen.
- Ms. Rinko Ogata interned in the Department of Veterinary Medicine under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Zhimin Lai.
- Internship dates: December 2–15.
This visit strengthened academic partnerships and opened new avenues for student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and collaborative symposium planning. I am grateful for the hospitality and forward-thinking vision shared by my Taiwanese colleagues and look forward to deepening these connections in the future.
