【A visit from the Vice Provost for International Affairs of Harvard University】

Dr. Mark Elliott, Vice Provost for International Affairs at Harvard University (Harvard), visited National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on March 8^th,2024. Based on the current co-publications and exchanges between Harvard and NCKU, the discussions centered on Medicine, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science.

Dr. Mark Elliott, Vice Provost of Harvard University (middle), visited NCKU

Prof. Pau-Choo Chung, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, gave an overview of the co-authored publications between Harvard and NCKU of the collaborative publications between Harvard and NCKU, which are primarily in the field of Medicine, with an integration of expertise from Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Prof. Chung also shared about NCKU’s vibrant progress and advancements which include the establishment of Taiwan’s first smart geriatric hospital scheduled to open in 2025.

Vice Provost Elliott introduced Harvard by exploring its historical journey, from its religious origin to its current status as a prestigious research institution. Drawing parallels, he highlighted similarities between NCKU and Harvard in terms of student and faculty size. He suggested that faculty and student mobility could be developed and promoted through research-oriented collaborations. The two universities look forward to increasing joint authorship and talent circulation through international cooperation.

Gift Session: Prof. Pau-Choo Chung, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (right), and Dr. Mark Elliott (left)

Over the past decade, NCKU and Harvard University have fostered extensive exchange, marked by visits, awards, and collaborative research. Dr. Huey-Jen Su, former NCKU president, visited Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2015 and received the Leadership Award in Public Health Practice in 2017. In 2019, NCKU's School of Dentistry and Harvard School of Dental Medicine formalized collaboration through a MoU, enhancing research, education, and faculty interactions. Notably, Prof. Jung-Hsien Chiang, Distinguished Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering (NCKU), collaborating with a medical team of Harvard University, achieved significant milestones in predicting colorectal cancer with Artificial Intelligence, and published their achievements in Nature Communications in 2023.

The discussion participants from NCKU included Prof. Yan-Shen Shan, Dean of the College of Medicine, Prof. Nai-Ying Ko, Vice Dean for International Affairs of the College of Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Chia-Hsiang Lin, Director of the Division of International Relations of the Office of International Affairs and Education Attaché Tina Ou of the Ministry of Education. In addition to co-authored publications, exchanges between NCKU and Harvard had extended to visits and awards, exemplified by Dr. Huey-Jen Su's visit to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) in 2015 and receipt of the Leadership Award in Public Health from HSPH in 2017.