Global Studies Forum Convenes Scholars at NTNU
The International Forum on Global Studies, held on May 8, 2025, at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), brought together scholars, institutional leaders, and policy experts to examine the evolving role of higher education in addressing global challenges. Discussions centered on international engagement, cross-border collaboration, and the future of interdisciplinary learning amid geopolitical and structural shifts.
Hosted by NTNU’s College of International Studies and Social Sciences, the forum featured keynote lectures, expert panels, and institutional dialogues. The event forms part of the university’s broader efforts to expand academic exchange and integrate global themes into teaching and research, following the launch of its fully English-medium undergraduate program in Global Studies in 2024.
NTNU President Cheng-Chih Wu opened the proceedings by reflecting on the university’s 103-year history and its longstanding role in international education. He emphasized the importance of preparing students to respond critically to complex global realities and acknowledged Department Chair Chih-Chien Steven Lai and Vice President for International Affairs Yi-De Liu for organizing the forum.
Attending the event were NTNU Vice Presidents Yao-Ting Sung, Frank Yung-Hsiang Ying, and Kun-Ming Chen, along with Vice President for Academic Affairs Mei-Hui Liu and Vice President for Research and Development Ying-Shao Hsu. Their presence reflected institutional support for expanding NTNU’s global partnerships and academic networks.
The forum also welcomed international affairs representatives from partner universities, including Hsiao-Wei Yuan, Vice President for International Affairs at National Taiwan University; Ying-Jung Yeh, Dean of the Office of International Affairs at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology; and Jane C-J Chao, Dean of Global Engagement at Taipei Medical University, accompanied by Global Initiatives Section Chief Jade Bair. These conversations emphasized mutual interest in collaborative strategies across institutions.
Yi-De Liu, NTNU’s Vice President for International Affairs, addressed the structural role of internationalization in university development. He cited the university’s partnership with the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) as an example of sustained academic exchange and highlighted the importance of shared participation by faculty, staff, and students in building resilient institutional relationships.
The keynote program began with Dr. Sonia Feigenbaum, Senior Vice Provost for Global Engagement at UT Austin, who delivered a talk titled “Global Engagement at UT Austin: Strategic, Agile and Future Forward.” She examined how universities can navigate institutional and geopolitical complexity by grounding global partnerships in data and internal alignment. Cheryl Dumaresq, Executive Director of UBC Global at the University of British Columbia, followed with “Navigating Through Turbulence: UBC’s Commitment to Global Engagement in Unsettling Times,” exploring systemic barriers to global learning and emphasizing the role of financial access and curricular reform in achieving equity.
Two panel discussions further developed the forum’s themes. The first, “Challenges of Globalization and Interdisciplinary Collaboration,” included Donna Baines and Hsing Chi von Bergmann (UBC), Hirofumi Tanaka (UT Austin), Di Wang (UT Austin), and Michael Anderson (UT Austin), who addressed the practical and intellectual challenges of conducting research across disciplines.
The second panel, “Multicultural Exchange and Global Governance: From Theory to Practice,” featured Heung Wah Wong (Tenri University / University of Hong Kong), Hoi-Yan Yau (Lingnan University), Fujii Michiaki (Kyushu University), Li-Chen Lin (UT Austin), and Po-Bo Lee (former Deputy Secretary-General, TaiwanICDF). The discussion explored how cultural and institutional diversity shape international cooperation and governance.
The program concluded with a musical performance, “A Century of Piano – A Tribute to Mothers We Love,” conducted by Chia-Hung Liao, former Dean of NTNU’s College of Music.
The forum highlighted the value of sustained academic dialogue in advancing collaborative research, institutional partnerships, and globally informed teaching.