Advancing academic exchange in Seattle, NSYSU partners with the University of Washington to launch AI and teaching collaboration
2026-06-29
National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) and the University of Washington (UW) in the United States have officially signed a college-level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), launching collaboration in three major areas: restructuring English-Medium Instruction (EMI) curricula, integrating AI and data science into teaching, and promoting international research collaboration. Led by NSYSU Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo and Dean of the College of Social Sciences Mei-Hua Chen, an interdisciplinary faculty delegation visited the United States to observe UW's teaching and research operations firsthand, while also discussing curriculum reform and collaboration models with the UW College of Education. The visit established concrete directions for future international alignment in teaching and research.
The MOU signing ceremony was held at the UW and was signed by Mei-Hua Chen, Dean of NSYSU's College of Social Sciences, and Mia Tuan, Dean of the UW College of Education. The event was witnessed by UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs Ahmad Ezzeddine and NSYSU Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo, with Director General May Mei-Chen Lin of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle also in attendance. Both sides further discussed future initiatives involving faculty exchange, classroom observation, and collaborative research projects.
The visit was supported by the Ministry of Education's University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT) program for innovative curricula and talent cultivation. The NSYSU delegation included Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo; Dean of the College of Social Sciences Mei-Hua Chen; Chair of the Institute of Education Ching-Lin Shih; Professors Hsueh-Hua Chuang and Ching-Huei Karen Chen; Associate Professor Cheng-Hao Sung; Assistant Professor Yu-Hui Chang; Associate Professor Elaine Borazon of the International Graduate Program of Education and Human Development; and Associate Professor Chun-Wei Tsai of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Bringing together expertise in education, computer science, and interdisciplinary teaching, the delegation's primary goal was to review the current curriculum design of NSYSU's International Graduate Program of Education and Human Development. Drawing on UW's experience in EMI instruction, interdisciplinary integration, and modular curriculum design, the team explored possible curriculum adjustments to better meet the needs of international students and emerging AI trends.
One of the key topics discussed during the exchange was how to incorporate AI and data science competencies into the social sciences. In addition to existing educational theory courses, future curriculum plans may include data analysis tools, interpretation of educational data, and interdisciplinary project-based learning, enabling students not only to study theory but also to work with real-world data. For example, students may analyze learning outcomes or classroom data to understand better how AI can support educational decision-making and transform abstract technologies into practical applications.
The delegation also visited the UW's eScience Institute, a major center for advancing data science research and education. The institute supports more than 15,000 faculty members and students in AI- and data science-related research and teaching, while also collaborating with industry and research organizations. During the meeting, the NSYSU team introduced the university's achievements in AI teaching and research, including the application of AI technologies and interdisciplinary research initiatives in social sciences. The two sides exchanged views with eScience Institute researchers on data analysis methodologies, the integration of AI in social science research, the sharing of teaching resources, and future collaboration opportunities.
In addition, the newly established Global AI Society Research Network under NSYSU's College of Social Sciences has invited eScience Institute Director Andrew Connolly and Executive Director Dr. Sarah Stone, among others, to participate. Both sides plan to continue exchanges through online meetings, workshops, and thematic discussions, aiming to build long-term inter-university research collaborations gradually.
Centered on the questions of "how courses should be taught" and "what students should learn," the collaboration seeks to integrate AI and data competencies into social science education. Through direct exchange with the UW, NSYSU also aims to align its curriculum design more closely with international teaching practices. The long-term impact of the initiative will depend on the continued advancement of curriculum reform and inter-university collaboration.
National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) and the University of Washington (UW) in the United States have officially signed a college-level Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), launching collaboration in three major areas: restructuring English-Medium Instruction (EMI) curricula, integrating AI and data science into teaching, and promoting international research collaboration. Led by NSYSU Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo and Dean of the College of Social Sciences Mei-Hua Chen, an interdisciplinary faculty delegation visited the United States to observe UW's teaching and research operations firsthand, while also discussing curriculum reform and collaboration models with the UW College of Education. The visit established concrete directions for future international alignment in teaching and research.
The MOU signing ceremony was held at the UW and was signed by Mei-Hua Chen, Dean of NSYSU's College of Social Sciences, and Mia Tuan, Dean of the UW College of Education. The event was witnessed by UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs Ahmad Ezzeddine and NSYSU Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo, with Director General May Mei-Chen Lin of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle also in attendance. Both sides further discussed future initiatives involving faculty exchange, classroom observation, and collaborative research projects.
The visit was supported by the Ministry of Education's University Academic Alliance in Taiwan (UAAT) program for innovative curricula and talent cultivation. The NSYSU delegation included Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo; Dean of the College of Social Sciences Mei-Hua Chen; Chair of the Institute of Education Ching-Lin Shih; Professors Hsueh-Hua Chuang and Ching-Huei Karen Chen; Associate Professor Cheng-Hao Sung; Assistant Professor Yu-Hui Chang; Associate Professor Elaine Borazon of the International Graduate Program of Education and Human Development; and Associate Professor Chun-Wei Tsai of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Bringing together expertise in education, computer science, and interdisciplinary teaching, the delegation's primary goal was to review the current curriculum design of NSYSU's International Graduate Program of Education and Human Development. Drawing on UW's experience in EMI instruction, interdisciplinary integration, and modular curriculum design, the team explored possible curriculum adjustments to better meet the needs of international students and emerging AI trends.
One of the key topics discussed during the exchange was how to incorporate AI and data science competencies into the social sciences. In addition to existing educational theory courses, future curriculum plans may include data analysis tools, interpretation of educational data, and interdisciplinary project-based learning, enabling students not only to study theory but also to work with real-world data. For example, students may analyze learning outcomes or classroom data to understand better how AI can support educational decision-making and transform abstract technologies into practical applications.
The delegation also visited the UW's eScience Institute, a major center for advancing data science research and education. The institute supports more than 15,000 faculty members and students in AI- and data science-related research and teaching, while also collaborating with industry and research organizations. During the meeting, the NSYSU team introduced the university's achievements in AI teaching and research, including the application of AI technologies and interdisciplinary research initiatives in social sciences. The two sides exchanged views with eScience Institute researchers on data analysis methodologies, the integration of AI in social science research, the sharing of teaching resources, and future collaboration opportunities.
In addition, the newly established Global AI Society Research Network under NSYSU's College of Social Sciences has invited eScience Institute Director Andrew Connolly and Executive Director Dr. Sarah Stone, among others, to participate. Both sides plan to continue exchanges through online meetings, workshops, and thematic discussions, aiming to build long-term inter-university research collaborations gradually.
Centered on the questions of "how courses should be taught" and "what students should learn," the collaboration seeks to integrate AI and data competencies into social science education. Through direct exchange with the UW, NSYSU also aims to align its curriculum design more closely with international teaching practices. The long-term impact of the initiative will depend on the continued advancement of curriculum reform and inter-university collaboration.
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