News

2008.0223

Two European Universities Sign Deals With NTNU

By Sabrina Lin Campus Reporter with Office of International Affairs National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) signed two additional European counterparts during President Gou Yih-shun’s (郭義雄) 12-day trip, which ended yesterday. Under the academic deals with University or Rome and University of London’s Royal Holloway, exchange student activities, professors’ interacting activities and research cooperation programs will be increased and expected in the near future. Gou, accompanied by Office of International Affairs Dean Chuang Kun-liang (莊坤良), Graduate Institute of European Cultures and Tourism Director Lai Shou-cheng (賴守正) and several other professors, began his trip to the Europe on Feb. 10, to visit NTNU’s alumni in the region and also seek for potential ally relationship with local universities and colleges.  During this 12-day trip, Gou and his delegates visited nine universities in four different countries. Chuang quoted Gou and said that the president was very surprised about the remarkable reputation of NTNU’s Mandarin Training Center as most of European universities would recommend or refer their students to learn Mandarin at NTNU. "In return, the president is also concerned that NTNU students do not have equal opportunities to develop their skills of foreign languages.  It will also become a part of our future plans in terms of reforms,” Chuang said. In the meantime, to encourage more NTNU students to study at the Paris 7 – Denis Diderot University, its President Guy Cousineau promised Gou during their meeting and said that the university will help reduce NTNU students’ burden in terms of expensive tuition fees.  In return, Gou also promised Cousineau that a scholarship will be established for Paris 7 – Denis Diderot University students as well.  In addition, Gou invited Cousineau to visit NTNU and its sister university – National Chiao Tung University – in the near future for conducting potential classes or sharing his experiences, now that Cousineau is a professional with expertise in information technology.