On 18 August 2026, National Economics University (NEU) welcomed a delegation from National Taipei University (NTPU), led by Professor Daw-Tung Lin, President of NTPU. Building on a partnership established in 2018, the two universities discussed directions for advancing NEU–NTPU cooperation towards greater depth and tangible outcomes, with particular emphasis on research collaboration, direct connections between researchers, student and scholar mobility, academic cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development.

Representing National Economics University were Assoc. Prof. Bui Duc Tho, President of NEU; Professor To Trung Thanh, Vice President; Dr. Pham Sy Long, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department; Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Vice Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management; Professor Ta Van Loi, Rector of the College of Business; and Professor Dinh Duc Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Environment, together with researchers, faculty members and representatives of relevant academic units.

Joining Professor Daw-Tung Lin, President of NTPU, were Dr. Thijs Velema, Head of the Office of International Affairs; Dr. Shu-Ling Yeh, Department of Accounting and Head of the Alumni Center; and Dr. Anxuan Xie, Department of Accounting, together with other members of the delegation.

From an Established Partnership to Substantive Academic Connections

NEU and NTPU established their partnership in 2018. Over the years, NTPU has supported NEU’s participation in a Taiwan-funded research project on climate change, while NEU students have also had opportunities to undertake academic exchanges at NTPU.

NTPU has notable academic strengths in the social sciences. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, NTPU’s Sociology is ranked in the 201–300 band globally, while Law entered the 301–350 band globally.

These academic strengths, together with the two universities’ expertise across economics, business, finance, technology, innovation and sustainable development, provide considerable scope for deeper and more interdisciplinary research collaboration.

Against this background, the meeting focused on identifying areas of cooperation with the potential to generate concrete outcomes in the next phase of the partnership. Discussions covered joint research and international publications, research networks, student and scholar mobility, academic cooperation, innovation and entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on strengthening direct connections between academic units and researchers at the two universities.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Duc Tho, President of National Economics University, delivers his welcoming remarks to the National Taipei University delegation.

In his welcoming remarks, Assoc. Prof. Bui Duc Tho, President of National Economics University, welcomed Professor Daw-Tung Lin and the NTPU delegation to NEU and highlighted the positive foundation that the two universities have built over the years. He expressed NEU’s commitment to developing an increasingly substantive and sustainable partnership with NTPU, combining university-level cooperation with direct engagement among colleges, faculties, researchers and students.

Professor Daw-Tung Lin, President of National Taipei University, speaks at the meeting with National Economics University.

In response, Professor Daw-Tung Lin, President of National Taipei University, shared NTPU’s perspectives on strengthening the partnership and expressed his interest in advancing collaborative activities that can create tangible value for faculty members, researchers and students at both universities.

Connecting Researchers and Expanding Research Collaboration

A key feature of the programme was an Academic sharing session between researchers from NEU and NTPU. The session was designed not only to introduce research interests at each university, but more importantly to provide a platform for academics to engage directly, identify shared or complementary areas of expertise, and establish connections for future research collaboration.

From NTPU, the academic exchange featured Dr. Quang Thai Truong from the International College of Sustainability Innovations; Dr. Kenneth Han Chen from the College of Social Sciences; and Dr. Shu-Ling Yeh and Dr. Anxuan Xie from the Department of Accounting.

NEU speakers included Assoc. Prof. Do Hoai Linh from the School of Banking and Finance; Assoc. Prof. Do Thi Dong, Director of the NEU Center for Innovation and Career Development; and Dr. Pham Xuan Lam, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology. The diverse academic expertise represented in the session provided opportunities to explore intersections across economics, finance, business, technology, innovation, social sciences and sustainable development.

Speakers from National Economics University and National Taipei University during the NEU–NTPU academic sharing session.

Through the presentations and discussions, the two sides sought to establish direct researcher-to-researcher, research group-to-research group, and academic unit-to-academic unit connections. These initial links are expected to develop into concrete activities, including joint research, co-authored international publications, academic conferences and seminars, scholar exchanges, and participation in international research projects and networks.

Towards a Substantive, In-Depth and Results-Oriented Partnership

Concluding the meeting, Professor To Trung Thanh, Vice President of National Economics University in charge of research and international cooperation, summarised the key areas discussed and outlined priorities for the next phase of the NEU–NTPU partnership.

He emphasised that future cooperation should become increasingly substantive, in-depth and results-oriented, building on the respective strengths and needs of both universities. Scientific research and direct connections between researchers were identified as key priorities, with a view to developing joint research, international publications, academic conferences and seminars, research networks, and international collaborative projects.

Professor To Trung Thanh, Vice President of National Economics University delivers the concluding remarks and outlines priority areas for the next phase of the NEU–NTPU partnership.

The two universities also aim to deepen student, faculty and scholar mobility, moving beyond simply expanding mobility opportunities towards integrating exchanges more closely with learning, research and professional development. Innovation and entrepreneurship represent another promising area in which the two institutions can connect their centres, researchers, faculty members and students, share expertise, and jointly develop new initiatives.

To translate these directions into tangible outcomes, the international cooperation offices of both universities will continue to play a coordinating and facilitating role, supporting researchers and academic units in maintaining direct communication, identifying suitable partners, and developing the ideas initiated during the meeting into concrete collaborative initiatives.

Leaders, researchers and representatives of National Economics University and National Taipei University gather for a group photo following the institutional meeting and academic exchange at NEU.

The NTPU delegation’s visit not only further strengthened the relationship between the two universities, but also created new momentum for NEU and NTPU to move from institutional connections towards substantive, in-depth and results-oriented academic collaboration, particularly in scientific research, student and scholar mobility, and innovation.

This direction is closely aligned with NEU’s internationalisation strategy, in which international research collaboration, research networks, joint publications, student and faculty mobility, and international academic partnerships are important drivers of academic quality, research impact and the University’s international engagement.

International Cooperation Department and Communication Department, NEU