On July 24, the College of Social Sciences at National Chung Cheng University (CCU) hosted a distinguished delegation from IPB University (Institut Pertanian Bogor), a top-ranking national institution in Indonesia. The two institutions officially signed a Letter of Agreement on Academic Cooperation in the conference room of the College of Social Sciences, followed by an international academic symposium in the afternoon. Moving forward, both parties pledged to engage in deep transnational collaboration across multiple areas, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, academic journal publications, co-authored scholarly presentations, and joint bilateral conferences, injecting new momentum into academic ties and international connectivity between Taiwan and Indonesia.

The signing ceremony was officially conducted by Prof. Tsai-chuan Ma, Dean of the College of Social Sciences at CCU, and Prof. Dr. Arya Hadi Dharmawan, Head of the International Research Institute for Social, Economic and Regional Development Studies (LRI PSEK IPB) at IPB University. The IPB delegation comprised leading scholars, including Prof. Dr. Arya Hadi Dharmawan (Political Ecology), Prof. Dr. Eka Intan Kumala Putri (Resource and Environmental Economics), Dr. Yulina Eva Riany (Family Sciences), and Dr. Bayu Eka Yulian (Agrarian Sociology). The agreement also engaged the Faculty of Social Science and Human Ecology (FISEMA IPB) and four key affiliated research centers—including the Center for Agrarian and Child Studies (PKGA) and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (PSP3)—as collaborative network partners, highlighting strong mutual commitment and academic synergy. Distinguished CCU faculty members attending the event included Dean Tsai-chuan Ma, Associate Dean Guang-Hui Chen (Department of Political Science), Prof. Li-Jiuan Chen-Huang and Prof. Wen-Ching Ting (Department of Labor Relations), Prof. Szu-Yuan Liang (Department of Psychology), Prof. Fang-Pei Chen (Department of Social Welfare), Prof. Chih-He Yang (Director of the Institute of Strategic and International Affairs), and Prof. Yu-Ching Chen (Department of Adult and Continuing Education).

During the international academic symposium held in the afternoon, scholars from both universities held in-depth discussions on key themes, including family development, environmental economics, and migrant workers' rights. Representatives from IPB University shared the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the Indonesian higher education system—which integrate teaching, research, and community development—and exchanged insights on gender equality, child protection, and family parenting practices (such as research on the "fatherless" phenomenon). CCU scholars presented the concept of "Fishing Ports as Welfare Ecosystems," exploring how institutionalized spaces can protect distant-water and coastal migrant fishers. The discussion also addressed safeguarding the rights of approximately 90,000 undocumented migrant workers in Taiwan, particularly through the implementation of the "firewall principle" (e.g., ensuring access to healthcare services regardless of legal status). Additionally, both sides exchanged views on global challenges such as climate change, environmental diplomacy, human security, and aging societies.

Prof. Tsai-chuan Ma, Dean of CCU’s College of Social Sciences, emphasized that CCU has long been committed to promoting international academic collaboration. This partnership with IPB University not only invigorated bilateral research dynamics but also deepened exploration into critical issues such as child and family protection, migrant workers' rights, and human rights sustainability from a transnational perspective.

In particular, scholar Dr. Yulina Eva Riany conducted a specialized field visit to Nantou to participate in a symposium on migrant worker issues. Furthermore, she actively engaged in the project titled "Dignified Agriculture: Co-constructing a Social Safety Net for the Occupational Health of Agricultural Workers in Yunlin and Chiayi." On July 27, she took part in an immersive field study that encompassed understanding the local pineapple supply chain, attending briefings by NTU Occupational Medicine specialists, joining a historical tour of Minxiong's agricultural heritage, visiting local lotus root fields, and observing the production of "President Rice." Integrating theory with practice, these rich activities showcased the academic strength of CCU’s College of Social Sciences in bridging local characteristics with an international vision.

The Letter of Agreement remains valid for three years. Both institutions look forward to achieving fruitful outcomes in student exchanges, international summer programs, and joint publication endeavors, working together to cultivate globally minded talent for the future.