Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen (left) and Vice Rector Bonanni (right) sign the renewal of the MOU and the Student Exchange Agreement between the two institutions.

On December 4th, 2024, Prof. Alberta Bonanni, Vice Rector of Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU), Austria, visited National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), accompanied by Lih-Tien Hsu, Third Secretary of the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education, Ministry of Education, Taiwan. During the meeting, chaired by Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen of NCKU, the two institutions renewed a university-level memorandum of understanding and a student exchange agreement, while discussing ways to enhance bilateral academic exchange and cooperation.
 

Executive Vice President Chen remarked that NCKU has been privileged to maintain a formal academic collaboration with JKU since 2004, marked by the signing of a university-level memorandum of understanding and a student exchange agreement. Chair Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs, introduced NCKU’s 8-week intensive Mandarin program, offered by the Chinese Language Center as a unique initiative to provide immersive language learning experiences. Executive Vice President Chen also highlighted the university’s host family program, designed to improve Chinese proficiency through cultural immersion. Prof. S. Felix Wu, Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science welcomed JKU students to Taiwan for exchanges and expressed hopes for deepening research collaboration and faculty exchange. Prof. Chun Hei Antonio Cheung, Professor of the College of Medicine, emphasized NCKU College of Medicine's proactive efforts to expand partnerships with European universities and conveyed enthusiasm for future bilateral collaborations.
 

Vice Rector Bonanni pointed out that JKU’s four faculties—Engineering and Natural Sciences, Medicine, Business, Social Sciences and Economics, and Law—closely align with NCKU’s academic fields, offering significant potential for further collaboration. She highlighted JKU’s recent advancements in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with quantum computing and medical technology, resonating with Taiwan’s technological development priorities. Vice Rector Bonanni also emphasized that JKU’s internationalization efforts, with 19% of its student body comprising international students, fostering a highly globalized environment. As an expert in semiconductor and quantum materials research, she expressed enthusiasm for exploring research collaborations in these fields with NCKU.
NCKU representatives attending the meeting included Chair Prof. Hong-Chen Chen, Executive Vice President; Chair Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, Vice President for International Affairs; Prof. S. Felix Wu, Dean, College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Prof. Chun Hei Antonio Cheung, Vice Convener of the International Affairs Committee, College of Medicine; Assoc. Prof. Chia-Hsiang Lin, Director, International Relations Division, Office of International Affairs; and Ms. Ya-Tsui Ellen Hsueh, Deputy Director for International Relations.

Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) is a public university in Austria, established in 1966 and named in honor of the renowned astronomer Johannes Kepler. Located in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria and the third-largest city in Austria, JKU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in business, engineering, law, sciences, and social sciences. As of 2024, the university has approximately 25,000 students, with 20% coming from abroad. In 2014, JKU established its Faculty of Medicine. The university ranks between 401-500 in the Times Higher Education 2025 World University Rankings, and 472 in the QS 2025 World University Rankings.

 
 
Group photo of the NCKU representatives and Vice Rector Bonanni. The guests from left to right are: Third Secretary Lih-Tien Hsu, Prof. Chun Hei Antonio Cheung, Prof. S. Felix Wu, Vice Rector Bonanni, Executive Vice President Hong-Chen Chen, Chair Prof. Sun-Yuan Hsieh, and Assoc. Prof. Chia-Hsiang Lin.