President Ogawa Courtesy Call to National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan) and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (Taiwan)
On June 28, 2023, the delegation, led by President Hisao Ogawa, paid a courtesy call to the National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) and the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). Dr. Jun Otani, Executive Vice President for Research and Global Strategy, and Mr. Kenji Kakuta, Executive Director of the International Affairs Department, accompanied the visit.First, the delegation visited NTHU in Hsinchu City and held discussions with President John Kao and other university representatives. NTHU is a globally renowned comprehensive university with a history of over 100 years. It excels in various educational and research fields, including the natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, and nuclear science, establishing itself as a leading institution in Taiwan and globally. In 2015, NTHU and KU signed an inter-university academic exchange agreement, which has contributed to the continuous strengthening of our collaborations. During the meeting, President Ogawa introduced KU's current initiatives, focusing on the establishment of the Research and Education Institute for Semiconductors and Informatics, as well as the conception of a specialized educational program in semiconductors. These initiatives have been implemented in response to the growing demand for highly skilled human resources in the semiconductor field following the expansion of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) into Kumamoto Prefecture. The participants expressed their commitment to further enhance collaboration and deepen exchanges in various fields in the future.
Following that, the delegation visited NYCU in Taipei City and held discussions with President Chi-Hung Lin and other university representatives. NYCU was formed in February 2021 through the merger of National Yang-Ming University, a comprehensive medical university, and National Chiao Tung University, renowned for its excellence in electronic engineering. In December 2022, Dr. Wu-Ching Chou, Dean of the International College of Semiconductor Technology at NYCU, paid a courtesy call to KU, further strengthening the ties between the two universities. During the meeting, the participants discussed strategies to promote future exchanges in the field of semiconductors and other related areas, deepening their understanding of the current status of the universities. The participants agreed to expedite discussions towards the conclusion of an inter-university academic exchange agreement.
Moreover, taking the opportunity to visit universities in Taiwan, the delegation also visited TSMC in Hsinchu City and engaged in discussions with representatives from the Human Resources Department and the Industry-Academic Cooperation Department. President Ogawa expressed his welcome to TSMC's expansion into Kumamoto Prefecture and introduced KU's initiatives for advanced research and the development of highly skilled human resources in the semiconductor field. Considering the current situation where leading universities in Taiwan, such as NTHU and NYCU, have established specialized graduate schools in the semiconductor field, the participants exchanged opinions on the possibility of future collaboration in research and human resource development in the semiconductor field.
We hope that this visit will serve as an excellent opportunity to enhance the exchange of human resources and foster deeper multilateral cooperation in the field of semiconductors.
Meeting at NTHU（From left, Executive Vice President Otani,
President Ogawa, President Kao）
Group Photo of NYCU and KU Representatives