University of Salzburg Visits NCKU to Strengthen Research Collaboration and Expand Student Exchanges
Written by NCKU Office of Internation Affairs. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
On the afternoon of September 23, 2025, Rector Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fügenschuh and his spouse, Ms. Andrea Leuprecht-Fügenschuh, of the University of Salzburg visited National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). The visit aimed to initiate exchanges between the two universities, including promoting research cooperation and enhancing interaction among faculty and students. NCKU convened senior representatives from the College of Medicine, College of Sciences, and the Disaster Prevention Research Center (DPRC) to explore potential areas of future collaboration.
Rector Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fügenschuh from University of Salzburg presents a panoramic view of Salzburg to Executive Vice President Dr. Shyy-Woei Chang, with all attendees posing for a group photo in front of the artwork.
In his remarks, Executive Vice President Dr. Shyy-Woei Chang highlighted NCKU’s strengths in engineering, medicine, semiconductors, AI, and sustainable development, emphasizing the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary research. NCKU has already engaged in disaster prevention research with Austria through the Taiwan–Austria Cooperation Program under the National Science and Technology Council–Austrian Science Fund (NSTC–FWF). To encourage student mobility, Dr. Chang suggested using government-supported scholarships at NCKU, including the International Internship Pilot Program (IIPP), Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP), and Taiwan–Europe Connectivity Scholarship, for University of Salzburg students to participate in exchanges or internships. NCKU also hosts a Chinese Language Center (CLC), officially recognized by the U.S. government for training its officials in Mandarin. Through the CLC, University of Salzburg students can study Mandarin and experience Taiwanese culture through homestays.
Rector Fügenschuh presented a profile of the University of Salzburg to NCKU faculty and staff. The university has 18,000 students, 34% of whom are international. It comprises six colleges, with the social sciences and humanities receiving the most funding from the European Research Council (ERC). Strategically located in Europe, the University of Salzburg participates in the European University Alliance and collaborates with universities across the continent. The university also emphasizes sustainable development and interdisciplinary research.
Vice President of International Affairs Chair Professor Sun-Yuan Hsieh presented NCKU’s profile, highlighting close collaborations with national research institutions, including the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Center, National Space Organization, National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, Academia Sinica, and the Industrial Technology Research Institute. Situated in southern Taiwan, NCKU actively promotes international exchanges with top institutions worldwide, including NASA. To support student mobility, NCKU offers multiple government-supported scholarships, including the Taiwan–Europe Connectivity Scholarship, IIPP, and TEEP, enabling international students to participate in exchanges, internships, or Mandarin courses. NCKU also offers several summer schools covering semiconductors, traditional Chinese medicine, and archaeology focused on Taiwanese history, reflecting the university’s interdisciplinary academic strength and global perspective.
During the discussion, both parties reached agreement on the following areas of collaboration:
1. Student mobility: Promote short-term exchange, internship, and Mandarin learning programs for University of Salzburg students through scholarships.
2. Research collaboration: Expand existing disaster prevention cooperation; explore joint initiatives in humanities and sustainability; and in medicine, College of Medicine representative Prof. Chun Hei Antonio Cheung suggested collaboration with the University of Salzburg’s Faculty of Life Sciences, starting with short-term graduate laboratory internships, focusing on Protein Structural Biology, Cancer Cell Biology and Nanodrugs Development, Immunology.
Rector Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fügenschuh and spouse had a cheerful conversation with Executive Vice President Dr. Shyy-Woei Chang.
Delegation
- Rector Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fügenschuh, University of Salzburg (PLUS)
- Ms. Andrea Leuprecht-Fügenschuh, spouse of the Rector, University of Salzburg (PLUS)
- Mr. Yu-Lin Chen, Secondary Education Secretary, Department of International and Cross-strait Education, Ministry of Education
NCKU Representatives
- Dist. Prof. Shyy-Woei Chang, Executive Vice President, NCKU
- Chair Professor Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President of International Affairs, NCKU
- Prof. Wen-Chi Lai, Deputy Director, Disaster Prevention Research Center
- Prof. Chin-Chun Tsai, Dean, College of Sciences
- Prof. Chun Hei Antonio Cheung, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine
- Prof. Tsung-Lin Liu, Director, International Relations Division, Office of International Affairs
- Ms. Sophie Cheng, Manager, International Relations Division, Office of International Affairs
- Ms. Anna Wu, Manager, International Relations Division, Office of International Affairs
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2025-09-24
