NCKU President Shen holds the completed Outstanding Student Referral Agreement and poses with principals or representatives from partner schools.

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted the 2026 International High School Principals Visit Program from May 26 to 28, welcoming principals and senior administrators from leading secondary schools across Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. Over the three-day program, NCKU signed the Outstanding Student Referral Agreement with 16 schools, offering recommended students full tuition waivers and scholarship support. 
 

NCKU Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang (center) with the Alliance representatives at the networking dinner.

On the opening evening, NCKU held a Cross-Institutional Global Networking Dinner, bringing together members of the Southern Taiwan University Alliance — National University of Tainan, I-Shou University, Chang Jung Christian University, Kun Shan University, Fooyin University, and Cheng Shiu University — alongside the visiting school delegations. Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang remarked that in a rapidly changing world, education must embrace diverse development. The Alliance pools each member institution’s strengths and distinctive features to address talent needs across different fields, nurture students’ professional capabilities, and help more international students pursue their aspirations in Taiwan.  
Throughout the dinner, Alliance members introduced their programs and development directions to the visiting representatives, broadening students’ academic and career options and helping students of different interests and strengths find the right stage for their development in Taiwan. Institutional highlights included: teacher education and interdisciplinary talent cultivation, flexible study pathways and personalized learning experiences, sustainability-oriented educational philosophies, nursing education, industry-academia collaboration with strong corporate partnerships, and the advancement of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy.
 

NCKU President Shen welcomes the overseas high school representatives.

The opening ceremony and agreement signing took place on May 27 at NCKU’s Future Hall, with President Meng-Ru Shen signing in person. Welcoming delegates from 19 schools across six countries, President Shen noted that NCKU is one of Taiwan’s few fully comprehensive research universities — home to approximately 22,000 students, with nearly one in eleven being international — and is ranked among the world’s top 200. With exchange and dual-degree partnerships spanning Europe, the US, and Japan, he expressed his hope that this visit would deepen collaboration and open diverse pathways for students to connect with the world and realize their potential through education.
 

President Shen signs the Outstanding Student Referral Agreement.

Former NCKU Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh then briefed the attendees on NCKU’s recommendation pathway and scholarship framework, ensuring visiting representatives understood how to refer students and what support awaited them in Taiwan.
 

Former NCKU VP for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh presents NCKU’s profile and scholarship framework.

Building on the Malaysia High School Principals Visits of 2024 and 2025, this year’s program expanded to six countries across Northeast and Southeast Asia, bringing the three-year cumulative total to 56 partner high schools. Through the Southern Taiwan University Alliance, launched in 2025, NCKU continues to offer international students more diverse pathways, building a stronger regional talent development ecosystem and contributing to research and cultural advancement in Taiwan and beyond.