NCCU IMES Students Explore Digital Diplomacy and Cross-Border Trade Cooperation at MOFA Taiwan
Date :
2025-11-03
Department :
International Master’s Program of Applied Economics and Social Development
【Article by IMES】
On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Professor Alicia Say led her international students from the Cross-Border Digital Trade (CBDT) course on an academic field trip to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The visit offered students a rare, firsthand look into how digitalization is reshaping global trade, diplomacy, and international cooperation.
The CBDT course, one of the IMES program’s most dynamic English-taught classes, bridges classroom learning with real-world applications of digital trade and policy. This semester’s field trip brought together students from 21 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia, reflecting the program’s global perspective and diversity.
During the visit, students engaged directly with Taiwanese diplomats and ambassadors, gaining valuable insights into Taiwan’s economic and political strategies, as well as its initiatives in cross-border digital trade and digital diplomacy.
Several MOFA officers who are also proud NCCU alumni joined the session. In addition to presenting MOFA’s core missions and initiatives, they shared their career journeys and professional insights, offering valuable guidance to students interested in pursuing careers in diplomacy and international affairs.
The visit was thoughtfully organized and ran seamlessly, with MOFA extending a warm and gracious welcome to the NCCU delegation. During the Q&A session, students actively engaged with the speakers, posing thoughtful and critical questions about Taiwan’s global engagement and the development of its digital economy.
During the main session, MOFA representatives introduced Taiwan’s Integrated Diplomacy and International Cooperation Framework, a strategic approach emphasizing collaboration across government ministries, private sectors, and international partners. This framework, as explained by the representative, ensures that Taiwan’s diplomacy and cooperation remains adaptive to global challenges. “Integration is the key component of Taiwan’s diplomacy today,” the MOFA representative stated. “It’s not just inter-governmental coordination, but also the integration of public resources and private participation to make our development projects more sustainable and impactful.”
The presentation also introduced Taiwan’s Economic Diplomacy Task Force, which coordinates cross-ministerial efforts to align diplomatic and commercial objectives. This initiative connects directly with the goals of the CBDT course, as it demonstrates how trade, technology, and policy converge in shaping Taiwan’s international engagement. Students were particularly intrigued when the discussion turned to digital cooperation and smart technology programs, such as Taiwan’s “Eight Flagship Projects” in areas like Smart Healthcare, Green Energy, and AI innovation.
The Q&A session allowed students to engage directly with the diplomats on a wide range of issues from development cooperation and AI governance to the semiconductor industry and Taiwan’s role in global trade. In response to a question about the semiconductor industry and TSMC’s overseas investments, the representative explained how Taiwan balances free-market dynamics with national strategy.
Students also raised thought-provoking questions on AI ethics, geopolitical challenges, and Taiwan’s diplomatic balancing between major global powers. The dialogue reflected both the students’ analytical thinking and MOFA’s openness to engage with diverse global perspectives.
For many students, the visit served as an eye-opening experience that connected classroom theories with real-world diplomacy. One of the participants, Zoe, a master’s student in the International Master’s Program in Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES), from Ohio, United States, shared her thoughts: “It was a great experience to visit MOFA as part of the Cross-Border Digital Trade class,” she said. “Despite Taiwan’s unique position in the international community, it is no secret that it plays a critical role in global trade. I feel grateful that MOFA took the time to share with us their initiatives in trade facilitation and expanding Taiwan’s role in the international trade community.” Her reflection echoed the sentiments of many international students who found the visit both educational and inspiring, offering them a clearer view of Taiwan’s leadership in trade and technology diplomacy.
Pre-Visit Lecture with Ambassador Simon S. K. T.
Professor Alicia designed the Cross-Border and Digital Trade (CBDT) course to be highly engaging, featuring a variety of interactive activities for international students. The course aims to broaden students’ global perspectives and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to compete on the international stage after graduation.
As part of this experiential learning, Professor Alicia invited Ambassador Simon S.K. TU., an NCCU alumnus, as a guest speaker on Wednesday, October 23, 2025, to deliver a special lecture introducing MOFA Taiwan and the Practice of Cross-Border Digital Trade. His session covered key topics on the Practice of International Trade and was highly interactive, including group discussions and student presentations that encouraged participants to apply theoretical knowledge to practical issues. This pre-visit engagement provided students with valuable background and a clearer understanding of Taiwan’s approach to internationalization cooperation and trade diplomacy, enriching their learning experience ahead of the visit to MOFA.
On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Professor Alicia Say led her international students from the Cross-Border Digital Trade (CBDT) course on an academic field trip to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The visit offered students a rare, firsthand look into how digitalization is reshaping global trade, diplomacy, and international cooperation.
The CBDT course, one of the IMES program’s most dynamic English-taught classes, bridges classroom learning with real-world applications of digital trade and policy. This semester’s field trip brought together students from 21 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia, reflecting the program’s global perspective and diversity.
During the visit, students engaged directly with Taiwanese diplomats and ambassadors, gaining valuable insights into Taiwan’s economic and political strategies, as well as its initiatives in cross-border digital trade and digital diplomacy.
Several MOFA officers who are also proud NCCU alumni joined the session. In addition to presenting MOFA’s core missions and initiatives, they shared their career journeys and professional insights, offering valuable guidance to students interested in pursuing careers in diplomacy and international affairs.
The visit was thoughtfully organized and ran seamlessly, with MOFA extending a warm and gracious welcome to the NCCU delegation. During the Q&A session, students actively engaged with the speakers, posing thoughtful and critical questions about Taiwan’s global engagement and the development of its digital economy.
During the main session, MOFA representatives introduced Taiwan’s Integrated Diplomacy and International Cooperation Framework, a strategic approach emphasizing collaboration across government ministries, private sectors, and international partners. This framework, as explained by the representative, ensures that Taiwan’s diplomacy and cooperation remains adaptive to global challenges. “Integration is the key component of Taiwan’s diplomacy today,” the MOFA representative stated. “It’s not just inter-governmental coordination, but also the integration of public resources and private participation to make our development projects more sustainable and impactful.”
The presentation also introduced Taiwan’s Economic Diplomacy Task Force, which coordinates cross-ministerial efforts to align diplomatic and commercial objectives. This initiative connects directly with the goals of the CBDT course, as it demonstrates how trade, technology, and policy converge in shaping Taiwan’s international engagement. Students were particularly intrigued when the discussion turned to digital cooperation and smart technology programs, such as Taiwan’s “Eight Flagship Projects” in areas like Smart Healthcare, Green Energy, and AI innovation.
The Q&A session allowed students to engage directly with the diplomats on a wide range of issues from development cooperation and AI governance to the semiconductor industry and Taiwan’s role in global trade. In response to a question about the semiconductor industry and TSMC’s overseas investments, the representative explained how Taiwan balances free-market dynamics with national strategy.
Students also raised thought-provoking questions on AI ethics, geopolitical challenges, and Taiwan’s diplomatic balancing between major global powers. The dialogue reflected both the students’ analytical thinking and MOFA’s openness to engage with diverse global perspectives.
For many students, the visit served as an eye-opening experience that connected classroom theories with real-world diplomacy. One of the participants, Zoe, a master’s student in the International Master’s Program in Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES), from Ohio, United States, shared her thoughts: “It was a great experience to visit MOFA as part of the Cross-Border Digital Trade class,” she said. “Despite Taiwan’s unique position in the international community, it is no secret that it plays a critical role in global trade. I feel grateful that MOFA took the time to share with us their initiatives in trade facilitation and expanding Taiwan’s role in the international trade community.” Her reflection echoed the sentiments of many international students who found the visit both educational and inspiring, offering them a clearer view of Taiwan’s leadership in trade and technology diplomacy.
Pre-Visit Lecture with Ambassador Simon S. K. T.
Professor Alicia designed the Cross-Border and Digital Trade (CBDT) course to be highly engaging, featuring a variety of interactive activities for international students. The course aims to broaden students’ global perspectives and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to compete on the international stage after graduation.
As part of this experiential learning, Professor Alicia invited Ambassador Simon S.K. TU., an NCCU alumnus, as a guest speaker on Wednesday, October 23, 2025, to deliver a special lecture introducing MOFA Taiwan and the Practice of Cross-Border Digital Trade. His session covered key topics on the Practice of International Trade and was highly interactive, including group discussions and student presentations that encouraged participants to apply theoretical knowledge to practical issues. This pre-visit engagement provided students with valuable background and a clearer understanding of Taiwan’s approach to internationalization cooperation and trade diplomacy, enriching their learning experience ahead of the visit to MOFA.