National Chung Cheng University (CCU) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations–accredited international organization, the Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND), on January 7, 2026. The signing ceremony was held at the 7th Floor Conference Hall of the CCU Administration Building, marking a significant milestone in the university’s advancement of University Social Responsibility (USR) and international sustainability collaboration.
The ceremony was presided over by President Shaw-Jenq Tsai of National Chung Cheng University. CSEND was represented by its Chair, Professor Lichia Saner-Yiu, and Director of International Affairs, Professor Raymond Saner, who both attended in person. CSEND is an international non-governmental research and development organization with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It has long been engaged in the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, global governance initiatives, and international capacity-building programs, maintaining close partnerships with international organizations and higher education institutions worldwide.
President Shaw-Jenq Tsai stated that CCU has long placed USR at the core of its institutional development, integrating teaching, research, and social practice to cultivate action-oriented talents with global perspectives and strong public engagement. The partnership with CSEND represented not only a collaboration in talent cultivation and international exchange, but also an important opportunity to connect Taiwan’s local USR practices with global sustainability governance frameworks.
According to the MoU, the key collaborative initiative focuses on the Geneva Programme on Global Leadership (GLP). Through this two-week summer program held annually in Geneva, CCU and CSEND aim to jointly cultivate young leaders equipped with global governance knowledge and the ability to localize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program integrated SDG-oriented lectures, institutional visits, team-based collaboration, and project development. The 2026 GLP, scheduled from August 14 to 27, include plans for visits to major international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), enhancing students’ understanding of global public issues.
Beyond talent development, the MoU outlines mechanisms for faculty and research collaboration. CSEND facilitates institutional visits and substantive exchanges for CCU’s USR teams and faculty members in Geneva, strengthening international networking opportunities. The two parties also plan to jointly develop research projects on a case-by-case basis and co-organize or participate in international forums, conferences, and academic events, thereby expanding the global visibility of USR knowledge and practice.
CCU emphasized that through this partnership, the university continued to deepen its international USR connections. By leveraging CSEND’s extensive experience within the United Nations system, CCU aims to promote multi-level exchanges among students, faculty, and researchers, demonstrating the university’s concrete actions in addressing global sustainability challenges and fulfilling its social responsibility.