CSS IMES and ETP Host Erasmus European Scholars Forum to Deepen International Academic Ties
Date :
2026-04-13
Department :
International Master’s Program of Applied Economics and Social Development
【International Master’s Program of Applied Economics and Social Development】
On April 9, the International Master’s Program of Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES) at the College of Social Sciences (CSS), National Chengchi University, hosted two visiting scholars funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program. The visit aimed to foster in-depth dialogue between European experts and the faculty and students of CSS.
The two distinguished scholars were Professor Rita Bendaraviciene from Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania, and Professor Heiko Jürgen Rachinger, a German national representing the University of the Balearic Islands in Spain. Both institutions are esteemed partner universities of NCCU. Notably, Professor Rachinger previously visited the IMES program through the same initiative last year; his return this year was prompted by the profound impression left by NCCU’s research environment and the high quality of academic exchange.
The visit commenced at the "Ruins Coffee" in the Dah Hsien Library, where the IMES Program Director and several CSS faculty members met with the Erasmus scholars to explore potential future collaborations. They were joined by Lana Pedisic, a visiting researcher from Croatia, and Professor Coleman Mahler, an American faculty member from Charles University in the Czech Republic, for a productive networking session. Faculty members seized the opportunity to exchange insights with the four European scholars before leading them on a tour of the Dah Hsien Library. The visitors were highly impressed by the library’s state-of-the-art facilities and its unique intellectual atmosphere.
Following the morning session, the English Taught Program (ETP) hosted a focused academic forum titled "Political Economy, Education, and Tourism in Europe." Moderated by the ETP Program Director, Professor Yi-Chun Chien from the Department of Political Science, the forum featured speakers who provided insightful perspectives on EU member states including Germany, Spain, Lithuania, and Croatia. The event drew a large audience of students from various departments within the College of Social Sciences. Many students remained after the session to engage in further discussion with the scholars on pressing international issues.
The EU Erasmus program has long supported the exchange of faculty, students, and administrative staff. In recent years, the program has expanded its scope to include partner universities in Asia. The IMES Program Director has previously been invited to a university in Poland for a short-term visit under this initiative. IMES warmly welcomes more European scholars to conduct lectures through this program and encourages CSS faculty to leverage these collaborations to pursue short-term teaching and research opportunities at partner universities in Europe, thereby further strengthening the academic bridge between NCCU and the European scholarly community.
On April 9, the International Master’s Program of Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES) at the College of Social Sciences (CSS), National Chengchi University, hosted two visiting scholars funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program. The visit aimed to foster in-depth dialogue between European experts and the faculty and students of CSS.
The two distinguished scholars were Professor Rita Bendaraviciene from Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania, and Professor Heiko Jürgen Rachinger, a German national representing the University of the Balearic Islands in Spain. Both institutions are esteemed partner universities of NCCU. Notably, Professor Rachinger previously visited the IMES program through the same initiative last year; his return this year was prompted by the profound impression left by NCCU’s research environment and the high quality of academic exchange.
The visit commenced at the "Ruins Coffee" in the Dah Hsien Library, where the IMES Program Director and several CSS faculty members met with the Erasmus scholars to explore potential future collaborations. They were joined by Lana Pedisic, a visiting researcher from Croatia, and Professor Coleman Mahler, an American faculty member from Charles University in the Czech Republic, for a productive networking session. Faculty members seized the opportunity to exchange insights with the four European scholars before leading them on a tour of the Dah Hsien Library. The visitors were highly impressed by the library’s state-of-the-art facilities and its unique intellectual atmosphere.
Following the morning session, the English Taught Program (ETP) hosted a focused academic forum titled "Political Economy, Education, and Tourism in Europe." Moderated by the ETP Program Director, Professor Yi-Chun Chien from the Department of Political Science, the forum featured speakers who provided insightful perspectives on EU member states including Germany, Spain, Lithuania, and Croatia. The event drew a large audience of students from various departments within the College of Social Sciences. Many students remained after the session to engage in further discussion with the scholars on pressing international issues.
The EU Erasmus program has long supported the exchange of faculty, students, and administrative staff. In recent years, the program has expanded its scope to include partner universities in Asia. The IMES Program Director has previously been invited to a university in Poland for a short-term visit under this initiative. IMES warmly welcomes more European scholars to conduct lectures through this program and encourages CSS faculty to leverage these collaborations to pursue short-term teaching and research opportunities at partner universities in Europe, thereby further strengthening the academic bridge between NCCU and the European scholarly community.