Associate Professor Chao-Hsien Chiu of the Institute of Strategic and International Affairs at National Chung Cheng University has been awarded funding under the Ministry of Education Youth Development Administration’s “2025 University International Sustainability and Social Innovation Talent Cultivation Program.” On May 16, he led a group of 10 graduate students on a two-week study tour to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. The delegation visited six international organizations focusing on environmental sustainability, met with representatives of Taiwan’s overseas missions, and engaged with one academic institution in Belgium. The tour has yielded fruitful results.

Professor Chiu explained that this international study tour was part of the Institute’s graduate course "Seminar on European Sustainable Development," under the module of “Field-Based Learning.” He expressed his deep gratitude for the funding support from the Ministry of Education’s Youth Development Administration, as well as the support from the Office of Research and Development at Chung Cheng University and the Institute itself. He emphasized that the pre-departure training sessions, which focused on current issues and developments related to environmental sustainability in Europe, helped students better understand and prepare for meaningful exchanges. During the visits, students engaged in in-depth discussions with policy officials from EU institutions, NGOs, and think tanks. This integration of classroom knowledge with practical experience allowed students to validate what they had learned and enhanced their applied knowledge, global perspectives, and international mobility. Second-year graduate student Yu-Jui Chang remarked that the visits deepened his understanding of how sustainable principles can be implemented in daily life and urban governance, which in turn strengthened his interest and commitment to sustainability practices.

The delegation visited and held discussions with six major institutions related to EU environmental and sustainability policy: the European Parliament's Directorate-General for External Policies, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe, the Center of Future Generations, the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. Third-year graduate student Chi-Chen Wang and second-year student Shih-Chieh Luo shared that through conversations with EU officials and NGO representatives, they gained insight into how the EU builds consensus and takes collective action. They also developed a clearer understanding of the current implementation and future challenges outlined in the EU’s sustainability reports, inspiring them to further pursue transnational research in sustainable development.

The delegation also paid visits to the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and the one in Belgium, the Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom, and the Asia-Pacific Studies Program at the Brussels Diplomatic Academy at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. During their visit to the UK office, former Deputy Representative Hui-Chien Liu and Education Division Director Tsu-An Pi warmly welcomed the group. They emphasized that the UK, with its rich history, culture, innovation, and achievements, is a valuable partner in educational collaboration with Taiwan—ranging from university alliances and Taiwan Studies programs to Mandarin language education. They encouraged the students to explore and learn more during their stay.

The delegation returned to Taiwan on May 30 and held a results-sharing seminar at the Institute of Strategic and International Affairs on June 11. Professor Chiu once again expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Education and Chung Cheng University for their support, which enabled the establishment of strong international linkages between the Institute and various European governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as academic institutions. He hopes that more students at Chung Cheng University have similar opportunities in the future, supported by relevant programs, to not only “read ten thousand books” but also “travel ten thousand miles.” By combining theoretical learning with practical experience, students can broaden their international outlook, enhance their global mobility, and better prepare for their future careers.