Shin Kong Life Insurance, a subsidiary of Shin Kong Financial Holding, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Chung Cheng University (CCU) on March 21. The agreement was signed by Mr. Po-Sheng Wei, Chairman of Shin Kong Life, and Dr. Sheng-Ju Chan, Vice President of CCU, signaling the start of a comprehensive partnership to bridge academic learning with real-world industry experience. Through this collaboration, students will have access to hands-on professional courses, corporate site visits, internship programs, and employment opportunities upon graduation, helping them integrate into the workforce seamlessly.

Additionally, Shin Kong Life aims to leverage the unique advantages of CCU’s Bachelor Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, which emphasizes cross-disciplinary training and adaptive learning, to meet the evolving talent needs of the modern insurance industry. Both parties are committed to fostering a new generation of versatile financial and insurance professionals, ultimately contributing to the development of a more innovative and globally competitive financial ecosystem.

Established in 2022, CCU’s Bachelor Program in Interdisciplinary Studies focuses on nurturing students with both specialized knowledge and leadership potential, emphasizing liberal arts foundations, core competencies, and lifelong learning. The program encourages students to explore diverse disciplines across colleges throughout their four years of study before choosing their professional path. Chairman Wei, who also serves as an adjunct professor in the program, has taught the course “Sustainable and Innovative Business Management” for two consecutive semesters, sharing his industry insights directly with students.

The insurance sector’s demand for diverse talent has grown rapidly in recent years. Beyond traditional specialties such as actuarial science, IT, risk management, and investment, the rise of AI and the digital economy has heightened the need for experts in digital management and corporate sustainability in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). Recognizing that future industry leaders must combine cross-disciplinary thinking with strong problem-solving and innovation skills, Shin Kong Life chose to join forces with the Bachelor Program in Interdisciplinary Studies to cultivate exactly such talent. Moving forward, experienced Shin Kong professionals will serve as industry mentors, offering practical insights through dynamic learning formats. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of life insurance operations, product innovation, asset allocation, human resources management, and the latest fintech trends, equipping them with the full spectrum of skills required to excel in the future insurance landscape.

In order to help CCU students stay ahead of global digital and sustainability trends, Chairman Wei has actively promoted the partnership while personally sharing his professional journey with students since 2022. He also invited top experts from finance and AI fields to contribute to the program and personally donated NT$1 million to support CCU’s talent development initiatives. On the day of the MOU signing, Dr. Chun-Yi Chen, Director of the Bachelor Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, presented Chairman Wei with a special plaque in recognition of his dedication and contribution to nurturing future talent.

In addition, Chairman Wei once again invited Dr. Alicia Garcia Herrero, Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis, and Mr. Chien-Wei Hsu, Senior Economist for Asia Pacific, to deliver a special lecture at CCU’s International Conference Hall due to overwhelmingly positive feedback from past events. Titled “Global and Regional Economic Analysis,” the lecture provided students with deep insights into macroeconomic trends and the evolving challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, equipping them with forward-looking perspectives to better navigate today’s volatile global economy.

Guided by its strong commitment to ESG and sustainable development, Shin Kong Life has long focused on cultivating young talent, actively fostering the next generation of all-round insurance professionals. To date, Shin Kong Life has partnered with over 50 universities across Taiwan, sharing valuable corporate resources and helping students enhance their global outlook and employability. The university is known for its excellence in teaching and research under the leadership of President Shaw-Jenq Tsai, ranked 3rd in the 2024 Global Views Monthly Best Universities Ranking in the Humanities and Social Sciences category and was recognized as the national university with the most significant improvement in overall competitiveness. Its achievements also extend internationally, with its social sciences programs consistently performing well in both the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, even placing in the top 1% globally in ESI rankings. Moreover, 18 CCU faculty and students were listed among the world’s top 2% of scientists in Stanford University’s renowned academic impact ranking.

Through this groundbreaking industry-academia partnership, Shin Kong Life and CCU aim to create a powerful synergy that enhances both educational innovation and talent recruitment, generating win-win outcomes for academia, industry, and the next generation of financial professionals.