Leipzig University President Visits NCCU to Deepen Academic Exchange Across Law, Sinology, and AI
Date :
2026-09-08
Department :
Office of International Cooperation (OIC)
【Article by Office of International Cooperation】
At the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Dr. Eva Inés Obergfell, President of Leipzig University in Germany, visited National Chengchi University (NCCU) on September 2. Since signing a university-wide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and student exchange agreement in 2019, the two institutions have maintained a close academic partnership, particularly with a rich history of collaboration in religious studies and Sinology. This visit aimed to further deepen transnational cooperation in key fields including the humanities, social sciences, international relations, law, and artificial intelligence (AI).
President Obergfell shared that prior to her departure, she spoke at length with a renowned Sinologist at Leipzig University who emphasized and expressed deep gratitude for the long-standing, precious partnership between the two universities. NCCU President Tsai-Yen Li introduced the Lo Chia-luen International Sinology Research Fellowship, welcoming graduate students from Leipzig’s Department of East Asian Studies to apply for research grants and conduct research at NCCU. President Obergfell noted that acquiring international experience is crucial for young scholars and promised to actively promote the opportunity upon her return.
She also highlighted that Leipzig’s history as a prominent trade hub, which boasts the Leipzig Trade Fair with over 860 years of heritage, has fostered a strong local demand for language learning, making language education a core strength of the university. The Department of East Asian Studies at Leipzig University remains committed to teaching Traditional Chinese. Although it presents a steeper learning curve, the university firmly believes it is a deeply meaningful and far-reaching endeavor.
During the meeting, both presidents recognized that as top public research universities, NCCU and Leipzig University are uniquely positioned to drive long-term, in-depth academic synergy. Leipzig University plans to establish a professorship in East Asian Studies in the future and warmly invites Taiwanese scholars to join as visiting faculty. Furthermore, the university library maintains a close partnership with the National Central Library of Taiwan, housing a rich collection of Taiwan-related publications, a resource President Obergfell described as a "paradise for researchers".
Highlighting NCCU's prominent standing as a hub for democracy and international relations (anchored by the Institute of International Relations and the Election Study Center), President Obergfell praised Taiwan's democratic development. She noted that since the younger generation was born into a democratic era, it is harder for them to appreciate how hard-won democracy is; thus, joint research between the two universities on democracy and the rule of law would be exceptionally meaningful.
Addressing the global boom in AI technology, Leipzig University is currently collaborating with TU Dresden to expand AI research across all academic disciplines. President Li strongly resonated with this vision, stressing that the humanities and social sciences must actively participate in AI development, especially while regulatory frameworks and ethical norms are still emerging. President Obergfell added that the European Union took the lead by enacting the EU AI Act to regulate AI applications, establishing a solid legal foundation.
Dr. Josef Goldberger, Head of Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan who accompanied the delegation, noted that Saxony has collaborated closely with Taiwan's tech sector in recent years. He welcomed the deepened collaboration in humanities and social sciences between NCCU and Leipzig University, enabling Taiwan's outstanding academic strength in these areas to gain greater global visibility alongside its tech and engineering sectors.
Given President Obergfell's background in legal scholarship, NCCU arranged a guided tour of the College of Law, hosted in German by Dean Jiin-Yu Wu. The partnership in law represents a powerhouse alliance: as a benchmark institution for legal and social sciences in Taiwan, NCCU joins forces with Leipzig University, one of Germany's oldest institutions with top-tier strength in public law, to create a unique cross-border learning environment for students.
Founded in 1409 in Saxony, Germany, Leipzig University is the second-oldest university in Germany with uninterrupted teaching and stands among Europe's top comprehensive research universities. Rich in history and academic tradition, it has nurtured countless distinguished figures, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Nietzsche, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Leipzig University enjoys an international reputation in law (particularly public law), Sinology, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Additionally, as Leipzig is home to the Federal Administrative Court of Germany, the university possesses an irreplaceable advantage in both legal practice and academic research.
At the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Dr. Eva Inés Obergfell, President of Leipzig University in Germany, visited National Chengchi University (NCCU) on September 2. Since signing a university-wide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and student exchange agreement in 2019, the two institutions have maintained a close academic partnership, particularly with a rich history of collaboration in religious studies and Sinology. This visit aimed to further deepen transnational cooperation in key fields including the humanities, social sciences, international relations, law, and artificial intelligence (AI).
President Obergfell shared that prior to her departure, she spoke at length with a renowned Sinologist at Leipzig University who emphasized and expressed deep gratitude for the long-standing, precious partnership between the two universities. NCCU President Tsai-Yen Li introduced the Lo Chia-luen International Sinology Research Fellowship, welcoming graduate students from Leipzig’s Department of East Asian Studies to apply for research grants and conduct research at NCCU. President Obergfell noted that acquiring international experience is crucial for young scholars and promised to actively promote the opportunity upon her return.
She also highlighted that Leipzig’s history as a prominent trade hub, which boasts the Leipzig Trade Fair with over 860 years of heritage, has fostered a strong local demand for language learning, making language education a core strength of the university. The Department of East Asian Studies at Leipzig University remains committed to teaching Traditional Chinese. Although it presents a steeper learning curve, the university firmly believes it is a deeply meaningful and far-reaching endeavor.
During the meeting, both presidents recognized that as top public research universities, NCCU and Leipzig University are uniquely positioned to drive long-term, in-depth academic synergy. Leipzig University plans to establish a professorship in East Asian Studies in the future and warmly invites Taiwanese scholars to join as visiting faculty. Furthermore, the university library maintains a close partnership with the National Central Library of Taiwan, housing a rich collection of Taiwan-related publications, a resource President Obergfell described as a "paradise for researchers".
Highlighting NCCU's prominent standing as a hub for democracy and international relations (anchored by the Institute of International Relations and the Election Study Center), President Obergfell praised Taiwan's democratic development. She noted that since the younger generation was born into a democratic era, it is harder for them to appreciate how hard-won democracy is; thus, joint research between the two universities on democracy and the rule of law would be exceptionally meaningful.
Addressing the global boom in AI technology, Leipzig University is currently collaborating with TU Dresden to expand AI research across all academic disciplines. President Li strongly resonated with this vision, stressing that the humanities and social sciences must actively participate in AI development, especially while regulatory frameworks and ethical norms are still emerging. President Obergfell added that the European Union took the lead by enacting the EU AI Act to regulate AI applications, establishing a solid legal foundation.
Dr. Josef Goldberger, Head of Saxon Science Liaison Office Taiwan who accompanied the delegation, noted that Saxony has collaborated closely with Taiwan's tech sector in recent years. He welcomed the deepened collaboration in humanities and social sciences between NCCU and Leipzig University, enabling Taiwan's outstanding academic strength in these areas to gain greater global visibility alongside its tech and engineering sectors.
Given President Obergfell's background in legal scholarship, NCCU arranged a guided tour of the College of Law, hosted in German by Dean Jiin-Yu Wu. The partnership in law represents a powerhouse alliance: as a benchmark institution for legal and social sciences in Taiwan, NCCU joins forces with Leipzig University, one of Germany's oldest institutions with top-tier strength in public law, to create a unique cross-border learning environment for students.
Founded in 1409 in Saxony, Germany, Leipzig University is the second-oldest university in Germany with uninterrupted teaching and stands among Europe's top comprehensive research universities. Rich in history and academic tradition, it has nurtured countless distinguished figures, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Nietzsche, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Leipzig University enjoys an international reputation in law (particularly public law), Sinology, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Additionally, as Leipzig is home to the Federal Administrative Court of Germany, the university possesses an irreplaceable advantage in both legal practice and academic research.