2025-04-16

National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with SOAS University of London (SOAS), marking the first and only exclusive collaboration of its kind in Taiwan. This partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will promote academic exchanges, including faculty and student mobility, as well as joint research initiatives. The NSYSU College of Social Sciences will collaborate with SOAS's Department of Anthropology and Sociology to launch the SOAS-NSYSU joint master degree program in sociology and global citizenship, set to begin student admissions in 2026. This innovative program is poised to set a new benchmark in Taiwan's higher education landscape.

The MoU was officially signed by NSYSU President Chih-Peng Li and SOAS Vice-Chancellor Adam Habib, with key witnesses including NSYSU Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo, Vice President for International Affairs Ming-Hsuan Lee, and Dean of the College of Social Sciences Mei-Hua Chen. During the signing ceremony, President Li emphasized the growing importance of international cooperation and global connectivity in modern higher education. President Li noted that this partnership not only marks a meaningful collaboration between two respected academic institutions but also serves as a platform to raise Taiwan's global visibility and foster greater international engagement.

Vice-Chancellor Adam Habib, whose views were expressed both during the signing ceremony and in his subsequent talk, titled "The Role of Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century", which was addressed to an audience of around 140 faculty and students, emphasized the significance of this partnership in tackling global challenges. He discussed pressing transnational issues such as climate change, pandemics, conflict, food security, and the transition to renewable energy, stressing that addressing these challenges requires both global scientific collaboration and the integration of local knowledge. Habib highlighted that the collaboration with NSYSU, alongside SOAS's broad international partnerships across Africa, Europe, Asia, and beyond, represents a new model for academic alliances in the 21st century. He also expressed excitement about the long-term potential of this partnership, noting that the joint program marks the beginning of many more initiatives to come.

Dean Mei-Hua Chen of the NSYSU College of Social Sciences outlined the unique structure of the SOAS-NSYSU joint master degree program in sociology and global citizenship, which will operate on the principles of "Joint Design, Joint Teaching, and Joint Supervision." Unlike traditional dual-degree programs, this initiative offers a fully integrated academic experience. Students will complete coursework at both institutions, and be co-awarded a single joint degree by both institutions. Dean Chen explained that all courses and curricula will be co-developed by both universities, aiming to cultivate globally-minded citizens with interdisciplinary expertise, international mobility, and a strong focus on sustainable development.

Founded in 1916, SOAS University of London is a leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to social justice. Uniquely placed to address the global challenges of today, SOAS provides a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that fosters critical thinking and international perspectives. Among its departments, the Department of Development Studies ranks third globally, while the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology and Politics and International Studies consistently rank in the top 20 worldwide.