New Academic Partnership between National Taiwan University and Northwestern University

On May 27, 2021, representatives from National Taiwan University (NTU) and Northwestern University (NU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at a virtual signing ceremony to begin a new academic partnership.

Representatives from NTU included President Chung-Ming Kuan (管中閔), Executive Vice President Chiapei Chou (周家蓓), and Vice President for International Affairs Hsiao-Wei Yuan (袁孝維); NU representatives comprised President Morton Schapiro, Provost Kathleen Hagerty, and Vice President for International Relations Dévora Grynspan. Also present at the ceremony were Director General Johnson Sen Chiang with Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago and Director Jerry Lee with the Friends of Taiwan Foundation. On the U.S. side, Chicago Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood and Economic Development were present to witness the signing.

This MOU aims to facilitate student and faculty mobility, language and cultural exchanges, and hosting of joint academic conferences. TECO in Chicago and Friends of Taiwan will provide necessary support to strengthen ties not only between the two universities, but also Taiwan and U.S.

As the ceremony neared the end, President Kuan and President Schapiro expressed eagerness to visit each other in the near future, when travel restrictions are lifted. The two presidents look forward to combining the strengths of NTU and NU towards development of multilateral initiatives.