【Article by OIC】
National Chengchi University (NCCU) President Tsai-Yen Li led a delegation on January 24 to the French Office in Taipei, located in Taipei 101, for the first formal meeting with Sciences Po. The discussions focused on student exchanges and academic cooperation, marking the start of a promising partnership.

During the two-hour meeting, President Li introduced NCCU’s unique educational philosophy and institutional strengths, while Vice President Shu-Heng Chen highlighted NCCU’s aspiration to model itself as "Taiwan’s Sciences Po." VP for International Cooperation Katherine Chen emphasized that the collaboration between the two institutions could extend beyond student exchanges to include joint research and teaching initiatives. Representatives from NCCU, including College of Social Sciences Dean Wan-Ying Yang, IMAS Director Cho-Hsin Su, and Professors Ping-Yin Kuan and Hung-Ying Chen from the International College of Innovation, presented the unique features and international collaboration efforts of their respective programs.

Both sides agreed to expand the partnership beyond student exchanges to areas such as joint course development, faculty exchanges, and research collaboration. Sciences Po President Luis Vassy expressed strong interest in working with NCCU, particularly highlighting NCCU’s English-taught programs as an excellent option for Sciences Po doctoral students’ mandatory one-year overseas training. He looked forward to exploring various formats of collaboration to deepen the ties between the two institutions.

President Li described the meeting as a milestone in Taiwan-France higher education cooperation, showcasing shared goals in the internationalization of humanities and social sciences education. Both institutions anticipate creating more opportunities for global engagement through this partnership.

The meeting also marked a new chapter in NCCU’s collaboration with Sciences Po, setting the foundation for continued cooperation in course development and faculty and student exchanges. This partnership is expected to become a pivotal milestone in enhancing Taiwan-France higher education ties.

Sciences Po President Luis Vassy, who assumed office in September 2024, previously served as the French Ambassador to the Netherlands and as Chief of Staff to the French Foreign Minister. International Affairs Director Jeremy Perelman, who joined Sciences Po in June 2024, holds a doctorate in law from Harvard University and specializes in human rights and sustainable development. Also present at the meeting were representatives from the French Office in Taiwan, including Director Franck Paris, Cultural and Academic Cooperation Section Chief Josué Serres, and Science and Academic Cooperation Officer Pauline Ravinet.

The meeting was organized by the French Office in Taiwan. The Sciences Po delegation arrived in Taiwan on January 23 and departed on the evening of January 24. During their visit, they met with NCCU representatives, think tanks, and Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister.
Founded in 1871, Sciences Po boasts a faculty of 400 professors and 4,000 adjunct instructors, a student body of 15,000 from over 150 countries, and an outstanding reputation in political science, sociology, and economics. Known as the "cradle of French presidents," Sciences Po is internationally acclaimed for its emphasis on globalization and research innovation.