【Article by IMAS】

From late October to early November, the International Master’s Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IMAS) organized a series of engaging international exchange activities. From academic dialogues with scholars from Nigeria in West Africa to a homecoming lecture by an alumna from Palau, one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Pacific, IMAS faculty and students crossed national borders and cultural boundaries this autumn. These activities brought the study of international relations beyond the classroom, offering firsthand encounters with diplomacy, historical heritage, and diverse cultural communities.

The first highlight was a visit by a delegation of university professors and think tank scholars from Nigeria. The delegation included Dr. Solomon Tamarabrakemi Ebobrah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, and Dr. Andrew Ali Ibbi, Dean of its Faculty of Social and Management Sciences; Dr. Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), and Dr. Joshua Olusegun Bolarinwa, Director of Research at NIIA; Dr. Christian Chukwuebuka Ezeibe, Dean of Students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Dr. Nnanna Onuoha Arukwe, Head of its Department of Criminology and Security Studies; as well as Dr. Musa E. Umar, Director of Research at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). Scholars and researchers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Kenya, South Africa, and Somaliland also joined the delegation for the academic workshop, “Taiwan and Africa: A Dialogue with Nigeria,” held on October 21–22.

What made this conference particularly meaningful was not only the participation of scholars from different countries, but also the opportunity it provided for IMAS students to engage directly in international academic dialogue and play an active role in scholarly exchange.IMAS student Huynh Nguyen Phuong Khanh and alumna Motimifagha Kei presented their research papers, while Nicholas Robert Rugbart and Emma Sampson-Green served as masters of ceremonies. Analyse Louise Hughes, Duong Van Minh Phuc, and Eunhae Lee served as timekeepers. In addition, Aliyah Nicole Miles, Matthew Bragg, and Tong Chu shared their research findings during an exchange with African students at Tzu Chi University, where Tong Chu gave a presentation on the interactions between contemporary Taiwanese Buddhist organizations and Africa.

IMAS students were no longer simply members of the audience; they took an active role in various aspects of the conference, including moderating sessions, coordinating the program, managing presentation times, and presenting research papers. Through these hands-on experiences, they gained a deeper understanding of how international academic conferences are organized and conducted, while developing valuable practical skills.

During their visit, the scholars also met with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), and visited the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET), further strengthening exchanges with Taiwan’s government agencies and academic community. In addition, Professor Hsiao-Peng Liu, Director of IMAS, personally accompanied the visiting scholars on tours of the National Palace Museum, the Taipei Muslim Cemetery, and other sites, offering them firsthand insights into Taiwan’s rich history, cultural diversity, and social landscape.

One particularly memorable highlight was the visit to the Sun Yun-suan Memorial Museum. The visiting scholars were both surprised and excited to learn that Sun Yun-suan, a key figure in Taiwan’s economic development, had spent three years working for Nigeria’s national electricity company. After returning to Taiwan, he played a leading role in expanding the country’s power infrastructure and promoting economic growth, laying important foundations for the subsequent rise of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. This little-known chapter of history offered the visitors a fascinating discovery: the historical ties between Taiwan and Nigeria run much deeper than they had ever imagined!

Following the academic workshop, a trip around Taiwan had originally been planned, including visits to Tzu Chi University in Hualien, Fo Guang Shan in Kaohsiung—a Buddhist organization that established Africa’s largest Buddhist temple—and historical sites in Tainan associated with African slaves during the Dutch colonial period. Through visits to universities, religious organizations, and colonial-era historical sites, the itinerary was designed to offer the scholars firsthand insights into the diverse historical, religious, and cultural connections between Taiwan and Africa.

However, the journey also took an unexpected turn. A typhoon and severe weather conditions disrupted railway services, forcing the group to cut short its planned trip around Taiwan. Despite this setback, the visiting scholars and IMAS students were still able to visit Tzu Chi University in Hualien, where they engaged with African students from Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi, and Eswatini. This exchange gave the Nigerian scholars an opportunity to hear firsthand about the academic and everyday experiences of fellow Africans studying and living in Taiwan, while also allowing IMAS students to gain a deeper understanding of the African student community in Taiwan.

Of course, the visitors also had the unexpected opportunity to experience both a typhoon and an earthquake in Taiwan. Although neither was included in the original academic itinerary, these encounters with nature added an unforgettable dimension to their Taiwan experience—an unexpected form of fieldwork that no conference organizer could have planned!

In November, IMAS welcomed another distinguished guest as part of its international exchange activities. Landisang L. Kotaro, Chief of Staff to the President of Palau and a recipient of the Ministry of Education’s Fifth Outstanding Taiwan Alumni Award, returned to National Chengchi University on November 3 to share her experiences as an IMAS student and her professional journey in public affairs and government service in Palau after graduation.

The event also received strong support from H.E. Gaafar J. Uherbelau, Ambassador of Palau to Taiwan, who attended the lecture accompanied by his wife, Mindy S. Uherbelau, First Secretary Nathan Keruul Salvador, and Second Secretary Sachi S. Jones. Their presence highlighted Palau’s commitment to educational exchange and alumni connections. For IMAS students, the event offered a rare opportunity to interact directly with diplomats and government officials from one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, bringing the world of diplomacy into the classroom.

For Landisang, returning to NCCU was more than an opportunity to deliver a lecture. It was also a meaningful homecoming and a chance to reconnect with her alma mater and the next generation of IMAS students. She was particularly delighted to see so many students enthusiastically participating in the event. At the end of her visit, she happily took home an IMAS T-shirt as a special souvenir of her return.

From university professors and think tank scholars from Nigeria to a distinguished IMAS alumna serving in the Office of the President of Palau, this autumn’s series of activities showcased the many dimensions of international education at IMAS. Students not only had opportunities to engage in academic dialogue with scholars from different countries but also gained hands-on experience in organizing and running an international academic conference. They traveled across Taiwan, interacted with African students studying in the country, and witnessed how international education can open doors to careers in public service and beyond through the experiences shared by a returning alumna.

Professor Hsiao-Peng Liu, Director of IMAS, emphasized that the program’s appeal lies not only in its academic exchanges across national borders but also in its ability to bring knowledge beyond the classroom and transform learning into meaningful, real-life experiences. This unique spirit was reflected in an international academic conference, a journey around Taiwan unexpectedly interrupted by a typhoon, and even an IMAS T-shirt happily carried home to Palau by a proud alumna.

Through firsthand participation, cross-cultural dialogue, and field visits, IMAS not only brings the world to NCCU but also empowers its students, faculty, and alumni to carry the knowledge, experiences, and friendships they have gained at IMAS into the wider world, continuing to strengthen the connections between Taiwan and the international community.

Visit IMAS: https://imas.nccu.edu.tw