NTNU and University of Salzburg Sign MOU & SEA to Expand Academic and Student Exchanges
On September 24, 2025, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) welcomed Rector Prof. Dr. Bernhard Fügenschuh of the University of Salzburg, Austria. During the visit, the two universities signed a university-level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Student Exchange Agreement (SEA), formalizing an institutional partnership. With this signing, Salzburg became NTNU’s first Austrian partner to establish a university-level student exchange, marking a milestone in Taiwan–Austria higher education cooperation.
The partnership originated at the Taiwan–Austria Higher Education Forum in April 2025 and was further advanced with support from Director Elisa Wang of the Education Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Austria, ultimately leading to today’s signing. During the meeting, Rector Fügenschuh introduced the University of Salzburg, founded in 1622, as one of Austria’s largest and most historic comprehensive universities. The institution comprises six faculties and diverse programs, with about one-third of its 18,000 students from international backgrounds. It offers numerous English-taught courses, collaborates with over 75 institutions worldwide, and is a member of the CIVIS European University Alliance, actively promoting student exchange and research cooperation.
Representing NTNU, Prof. Cheng-Chih Wu, NTNU President, and Prof. Yi-De Liu, NTNU Vice President for International Affairs, highlighted NTNU’s development since its founding in 1922 and its internationalization strategy. NTNU consists of 10 colleges and has established cooperation with more than 400 universities worldwide. Each year, the university facilitates extensive student exchanges, joint research, and dual degree programs, fostering multicultural learning and advancing international education and talent cultivation.
The meeting also included NTNU faculty members with strong academic ties to Austria, including Prof. Hsueh-I Chen (GIECT, University of Vienna alumnus) and Prof. Philip Xaver Fuchs (Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Salzburg alumnus). Prof. Fuchs expressed his delight at witnessing this milestone, noting his ongoing connections with Salzburg faculty and the plans of an NTNU doctoral student to conduct research there—evidence of the tangible academic and talent exchanges the institutional partnership will foster.
In addition to the University of Salzburg, NTNU has already established cooperation with the University of Vienna and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and is currently in discussion with the University of Graz on a student exchange agreement. This latest signing not only broadens opportunities for student mobility, research, and cultural exchange but also represents an important step for NTNU in strengthening ties with Europe and advancing its international education mission.on mission.