As artificial intelligence, digital finance, and sustainability continue to reshape the global financial landscape, how should the next generation of finance professionals be trained? The School of Banking and Finance at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) and Mizuho Bank, one of Japan's three major financial groups, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The partnership marks the first collaboration between the School and a foreign-owned bank since its establishment, as well as the first formal partnership between the School and a Japanese bank. Through corporate visits, overseas exchanges, practice-oriented courses, and industry–academia collaboration, both sides will work together to cultivate finance talents equipped with global perspectives and practical expertise, while strengthening Taiwan–Japan cooperation in financial education.

The signing ceremony was held at NSYSU's School of Banking and Finance. It was jointly represented by NSYSU President Chih-Peng Li, Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of Banking and Finance Chih-Wen Kuo, General Manager of Mizuho Bank Takehito Onishi, and Managing Director of Mizuho Bank Eric Lin. Distinguished guests attending as witnesses included Joseph Lyu, Chairman of the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association; Kenichiro Koreeda, Deputy Director-General of the Kaohsiung Office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association; and Shao-Yu Yen, Senior Executive Officer of the Economic Development Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government. Their presence highlighted the strong commitment of both Taiwan and Japan to advancing financial education cooperation.

Shuji Matsuura, Managing Executive Officer of Mizuho Bank's headquarters in Japan, also delivered remarks via video message, expressing his expectations for deeper Taiwan–Japan collaboration in financial education and talent exchange.

President Chih-Peng Li emphasized that the global financial industry is undergoing rapid transformation. From AI-driven smart finance to sustainable investment under the ESG movement, finance professionals today require far more than traditional accounting skills; they must possess global perspectives, digital competencies, and cross-cultural communication abilities. To align higher education with international developments, universities must advance alongside global enterprises and provide students with direct exposure to real-world industry trends while still on campus.

According to Senior Vice President and Dean of the School of Banking and Finance Chih-Wen Kuo, the partnership represents not merely the signing of an agreement but the beginning of concrete action. This summer, the School will lead faculty members and students on a visit to Mizuho Bank's headquarters in Tokyo. Through corporate visits and exchange programs, students will gain firsthand insight into the operation of international financial markets and extend their learning beyond the classroom. Looking ahead, both institutions will continue to deepen cooperation in talent development, corporate exchange, overseas study visits, and industry–academia collaboration, jointly advancing the internationalization of Asian finance talent and injecting globally competitive new talent into Taiwan's financial sector.

The School of Banking and Finance noted that it is one of Taiwan's few academic institutions dedicated specifically to cultivating advanced financial professionals. Established with support from the National Development Council and 23 financial institutions, the School focuses on developing talent in international finance and asset management, while actively expanding into asset management, digital finance, and sustainable finance. The collaboration with Mizuho Bank will further strengthen students' connections with the global financial industry and create more opportunities for practical learning and international exchange.