【Article by Cheng Meng-Chia】

To strengthen international academic ties and unite its global alumni network, a delegation led by National Chengchi University (NCCU) President Tsai-Yen Li visited the United Kingdom from September 5 to September 12. The week-long itinerary included attending the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference in Glasgow and visiting several prestigious British universities. With NCCU approaching its centennial, the trip focused on advancing global academic collaboration, recruiting international faculty, fostering industry exchanges, and rallying overseas alumni to expand the university’s global horizon.

Deepening Links with UCL and SOAS Through Interdisciplinary Programs
The delegation visited University College London (UCL) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, to build on existing partner relationships. Founded in 1826, UCL is one of the UK’s "G5 Super Elite" universities, consistently ranking among the world's top 10 in the QS World University Rankings. Representatives from UCL’s Office of the Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) welcomed NCCU's proposal for future collaboration, offering to facilitate interdisciplinary matchmaking across departments to expand joint research and teaching initiatives.

Concrete steps are already underway: NCCU’s College of Social Sciences plans to align its forthcoming English-taught Master’s program in Philosophy, Public Policy, and Global Transformation with complementary programs at UCL. Short-term plans include inviting UCL faculty to teach at NCCU, holding graduate student workshops, and hosting guest lectures. Over the medium to long term, both institutions aim to establish joint teaching, faculty and student exchanges, dual-degree programs, and collaborative research projects.
At SOAS, President Adam Habib and his leadership team met with the delegation for in-depth discussions on future directions. SOAS’s renowned expertise in Asian, African, and Middle Eastern studies seamlessly complements NCCU’s strengths in the humanities, social sciences, international relations, and area studies. President Habib highlighted SOAS’s strategic commitment to "Co-teaching" and "Co-research" with international partners. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation beyond current student exchanges to include joint academic initiatives spanning the Department of Diplomacy, the Department of Computer Science, and university libraries.

Expanding the Global Academic Network
Beyond UCL and SOAS, the delegation broadened NCCU’s international reach by attending the University of Edinburgh Partner Day, engaging in academic exchanges at the University of St Andrews, and networking at the EAIE Conference.

The University of Edinburgh—a prestigious Scottish research institution founded in 1583 and a key university-level partner of NCCU—hosted more than 120 global higher education representatives, including leaders from Freie Universität Berlin, the University of Zurich, and Seoul National University, etc. Participants exchanged insights on international student mobility, short-term study opportunities, and student support systems.

At the University of St Andrews (founded in 1413), the delegation gained insights into the university’s strategic focus areas: world-leading research, diversity, digitalization, sustainability, and innovation/entrepreneurship. They also learned about its Global Fellowship Scheme, which supports international scholar exchanges—providing valuable inspiration for NCCU’s future talent mobility programs.

Meanwhile, at the EAIE Conference in Glasgow, representatives from NCCU’s Office of International Cooperation connected with nearly 80 delegates from more than 50 universities. Combining conference networking with targeted campus visits allowed NCCU to forge fresh partnerships while deepening ties with existing sister institutions, laying the groundwork for joint research, curriculum development, and talent cultivation.

Currently, NCCU’s university-level partners in the UK include UCL, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, SOAS, etc.

Connecting UK Alumni: Passing the Torch Across Generations
In addition to academic exchanges, the delegation actively engaged with the UK alumni community. President Li attended a London gathering hosted by the NCCU Alumni Association in the UK under the theme: "Passing the Torch in London: Mind the Gap. Bridge the World. See it, Cross it, and Make it."

The event is organized by Moja Fan范萱怡, President for NCCU Alumni Association UK, bringing together UK-based alumni, young scholars, and professionals across academia, industry, and law. Featured speakers included Dr. Pan Yu-Chun潘育群 (a UK university faculty member), Tammy Chang張菁容(an e-commerce fashion professional), and Claire Shih Yu Wu吳詩瑜(a legal professional). They shared personal insights on studying, building a career, and navigating cross-cultural life in the UK—framing their journeys around "Seeing the UK" (understanding local dynamics), "Crossing into the UK" (overcoming cultural and institutional barriers), and "Establishing Roots in the UK" (building professional trust and credibility). The gathering served as a bridge between generations, helping established alumni pass down their hard-won knowledge and networks to newcomers.

Looking Toward the Next Century
From interdisciplinary collaboration alignment and joint faculty ventures with UCL and SOAS to expanding global reach at EAIE and strengthening alumni bonds in London, the trip transformed international dialogue into concrete action. As NCCU stands on the threshold of its centennial, the university will continue leveraging its core strengths in the humanities and social sciences to deepen ties with leading global institutions and unite its worldwide alumni network for the century ahead.