Elite Athletes College Visits Singapore for Sports and Academic Exchange
To enhance international engagement and academic cooperation, Dean Chih-Fu Cheng of the NTNU Elite Athletes College led a delegation to Singapore from April 13 to 17. The group visited the Singapore Sports School, the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Singapore Sports Hub, and the World Aquatics Championships 2025 Organising Committee.
Delegation members included Vice President for Student Affairs Mei-Chun Lin, Director Chia-Jung Lee of the Office of Physical Education and Sports, CEO He-Sen Wang of the Elite Athletes College, Executive Secretaries Yu-Kai Chang and Ching-Feng Cheng, Professors Shao-Hsi Chang and Jui-Fu Cheng from the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Assistant Professor and Table Tennis Team Coach Ching-Hung Lin, and Elite Athletes College students Liang-Yu Hsu and Yung-Chieh Lin.
During the five-day trip, the delegation visited institutions recognized for their leadership in sports education and infrastructure. At the Singapore Sports School, known for its integrated academic and athletic training, and Nanyang Technological University, ranked 15th globally in the 2024 QS World University Rankings and 39th in Sports Science, the group engaged in meaningful academic dialogue and facility tours.
They also explored the Singapore Sports Hub, observing the management and use of major sporting venues, and held a focused discussion with the World Aquatics Championships 2025 Organising Committee on the planning and promotion of high-profile international events. These visits offered NTNU faculty practical insights that can inform future teaching, research, and campus facility development.
On April 14, the delegation met with leadership at the Singapore Sports School, including Principal Mr. Ong Kim Soon and Vice Principal Mr. Clement Lim, to exchange perspectives on athlete development, academic support, life counseling, and long-term career planning. A guided tour of the school’s Olympic-standard swimming pool and other training facilities highlighted their integrated approach to sports education.
That afternoon, the group visited NTU’s Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, where they were received by Chair Associate Professor Ying Hwa Kee, Associate Chair Dr. Lit Khoon Chian, and Associate Professor Koon Teck Koh. Discussions focused on potential collaboration, including faculty exchanges, joint research, co-teaching initiatives, and long-term dual-degree programs. The visit also included a tour of NTU’s campus, sports facilities, classrooms, and laboratories. NTNU was invited to join the upcoming the GSUNS' 25 Summit (Global Summit of University Network for Sports), further advancing institutional collaboration in the field of sports science.
On April 15, the delegation visited the Singapore Sports Hub, a comprehensive sports complex located in Kallang. The Hub includes the Singapore National Stadium, which seats 55,000 and regularly hosts major sporting events, concerts, and national celebrations. Venue management staff guided the delegation through its operations, highlighting key strategies in facility use, maintenance, and administration—valuable insights for NTNU’s future campus planning.
Later that day, the delegation met with the World Aquatics Championships 2025 Organising Committee to learn about the event’s structure, including its schedule, venues, media strategy, promotional campaigns, and digital engagement tools. The session offered practical references for NTNU’s future efforts in sports event planning and management. A working lunch with committee staff further supported relationship-building and mutual understanding.
In addition to bolstering academic ties, the visit provided NTNU’s coaches and students with an opportunity to experience Singapore’s approach to sports facility design and operation firsthand. This exposure deepened the international perspectives of the delegation and generated ideas for ongoing development within NTNU’s own athletics and academic programs.
The delegation returned with stronger academic ties and valuable experience to inform NTNU’s future initiatives in sports science and education.