From September 1 to 8, 2025, National Chung Cheng University (CCU) sent a nine-member delegation to the United Kingdom, led by Vice President Professor Sheng-Ju Chan. The group included scholars from the Center for Research on Labor and Welfare in an Aging Society (IAWW) and the Research Lab for Talent Development and Entrepreneurship in an Aging Society (Lab TEAS), highlighting CCU’s commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research.

The visit was also a key milestone in Taiwan’s Ministry of Education Yushan Scholar Program. Professor Andy Green, a distinguished scholar at University College London’s Institute of Education (UCL IOE), serves as a Yushan Scholar at CCU and has played an important role in building bridges between the two universities. Through this program, CCU not only attracts globally recognized scholars but also deepens collaborations with leading international institutions, enhancing the global competitiveness of Taiwan’s higher education.

On September 3, the delegation visited UCL IOE and met with Professor Tristan McCowan, Vice Dean International, and the LLAKES research team. Discussions explored joint doctoral supervision, short-term faculty and student exchanges, and potential research center collaborations. Professor McCowan, a leading scholar in sustainability studies, has also confirmed his visit to CCU in December 2025, where he will deliver a lecture as part of the university’s Chung Cheng Lecture Series, the highest academic lecture at CCU.

A major highlight of the trip was the Comparative Perspectives on Education in a Global Context symposium, jointly organized by CCU, UCL IOE, and King’s College London (KCL) on September 4–5. Vice President Sheng-Ju Chan, Professor Ya-Hui Lee, Professor Ai-Tzu Li, Dr. Joclarisse Albia, Dr. Amelio Salvador Quetzal and doctoral students presented papers on higher education governance, leadership development, and strategies for talent cultivation in aging societies. Their contributions were well received by international peers, reflecting CCU’s academic strength and diverse perspectives in these fields.

On September 8, the delegation visited the International Longevity Centre (ILC), engaging in in-depth discussions on aging societies, health policy, and sustainable development. The two sides explored potential areas of collaboration and reached preliminary consensus. That same day, the delegation also called on the Taipei Representative Office in the UK to strengthen academic diplomacy and foster closer ties with local diplomatic and educational institutions.

Overall, the visit showcased CCU’s strengths in educational leadership, adult learning, and aging studies, while advancing the mission of the Yushan Scholar Program to bring world-class talent to Taiwan and promote academic internationalization. Through this trip, CCU deepened its partnerships with leading global institutions and reinforced its role as a vital bridge between Taiwan and the international academic community.