NTNU Strengthens Academic Ties with Leading Eastern European Universities
In early December, President Cheng-Chih Wu of National Taiwan Normal University(NTNU) led a delegation including Executive Vice President Frank Yung-Hsiang Ying, Dean of the College of Science Jein-Shan Chen, and Vice President for International Affairs Yi-De Liu on an official visit to Poland and Romania. The delegation visited the University of Warsaw (UW), the “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia (UAB), and Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB). The visit aimed to strengthen academic collaboration with leading Eastern European institutions, expand international mobility opportunities for students and faculty, and explore multifaceted cooperation in research and talent development.
University of Warsaw: Advancing Interdisciplinary Research and Talent Development
The delegation visited the University of Warsaw (UW), and was warmly received by Rector Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, accompanied by Vice Rectors and Deans from multiple faculties. Both institutions reviewed the outcomes of their partnership since establishing a partnership in 2015, and exchanged views on student exchange programs, short-term mobility, interdisciplinary research collaboration, and new forms of academic partnership.
UW shared its research strengths in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and Asian studies, while NTNU introduced its institutional profile, research features of the College of Science, and the implementation of the Taiwan–Europe Semiconductor Scholarship. Faculty representatives from both sides expressed strong interest in expanding faculty and student exchanges and further developing concrete collaboration models such as laboratory visits and joint degree programs.
“1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia: Establishing an Erasmus+ Cooperation Platform
The delegation visited the “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia (UAB), and was hosted by Rector Prof. Daniel Breaz, the Vice Rector, and senior representatives from the International Relations Office and Project Management Center. Discussions focused on higher education internationalization, research collaboration, European Union–funded programs, and talent cultivation, alongside exchanges of institutional governance and management experience.
UAB expressed strong appreciation for NTNU’s practical achievements in international cooperation and institutional development. During the visit, NTNU’s College of Science and UAB formally signed an Erasmus+ cooperation agreement, officially launching a bilateral exchange mechanism. The agreement will facilitate future collaboration in student and faculty mobility, joint research, and English-taught programs.
Babeș-Bolyai University: Launching Joint Doctoral Programs and Advanced Talent Cooperation
The delegation visited Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB), Romania’s largest public university with outstanding research capacity. The delegation was received by Acting Rector Prof. Adrian Petrușel, together with Vice Rectors and Senior International Affairs representatives. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on academic exchange, research collaboration, and talent development, while sharing experiences in university governance and institutional development.
UBB expressed strong interest in NTNU’s experience in fundraising strategies and educational governance, and indicated its willingness to strengthen faculty exchanges and explore participation in Erasmus+ programs to support short-term visits, co-teaching initiatives, and joint research projects. A key outcome of the visit was the formal signing of a dual doctoral degree agreement between NTNU’s College of Science and UBB, marking the launch of substantive collaboration in advanced doctoral education.
Through this Eastern European visit, NTNU successfully broadened the reach of the university’s Erasmus+ and dual doctoral programs, expanded international mobility channels for students and faculty, and showcased its concrete achievements in cultivating talent in science, technology, and fundamental research through initiatives such as the Taiwan–Europe Semiconductor Scholarship. By deepening engagement with key Eastern European partners, NTNU continues to grow its global academic network and advance long-term, substantive international collaboration.