2023.10.21

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy led a delegation comprised of senior officials, elected representatives, business leaders, and university presidents to visit Taiwan. Their special stop at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) on October 21st was marked by discussions on the impact of international experiences and the signing of a research cooperation agreement between NTHU and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
 
During the visit, Governor Murphy and NTHU's President W. John Kao (高為元) engaged in a discussion on "How International Experiences Shape Our Worldview." Governor Murphy, who brings a wealth of experience as a former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and a successful financier, encouraged students to broaden their horizons by gaining international experience and exploring interdisciplinary fields. He emphasized the importance of STEM education and interdisciplinary learning for students' future success.
 
President Kao welcomed the visiting delegation and highlighted New Jersey's commitment to talent and economic development. NTHU aims to collaborate with like-minded partners to address societal needs through the development of talent and impactful research. Kao also shared NTHU's focus on interdisciplinary and diversified learning, where students are encouraged to venture beyond their traditional disciplines. For instance, students specializing in semiconductors can explore fields like geopolitics and law, ultimately becoming industry leaders.
 
When NTHU's Global Officer, Ta-Jen Yen (嚴大任), introduced NTHU's core values of inclusivity, equality, and diversity, the visiting delegation applauded in agreement.
 
At the end of last year, President Kao initiated a partnership with NJIT in the United States. In March of this year, under the facilitation of Jordan Hu (胡國琳), a NTHU and NJIT alumnus, President Teik C. Lim (林竹進) of NJIT signed a memorandum of cooperation with NTHU in Taiwan, outlining specific areas of collaboration.
 
The visit in October witnessed a pivotal moment when NTHU and NJIT signed a comprehensive research cooperation agreement that extended their collaboration into various new research areas, including materials science and engineering, life sciences and engineering, environmental sustainability, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, data science, and management. Both universities are set to collaborate on joint research projects, aiming for technological breakthroughs and enhanced supply chain management.
 
President Lim, on his second visit to NTHU, expressed his commitment to fostering student success and expanding research cooperation and faculty-student exchanges between NJIT and NTHU. NJIT, based in the New York metropolitan area, is a top-ranked public university in New Jersey and a leader in interdisciplinary STEM fields, making it an ideal partner for NTHU's research initiatives.
 
In sum, Governor Phil Murphy's visit to NTHU marked a significant step in strengthening international collaboration and included the signing of a research cooperation agreement between NTHU and NJIT and a recognition of the need to encourage NTHU students to explore diverse fields. His visit also solidified the commitment to interdisciplinary learning and opened the door to research collaborations across various domains. The collaboration between NTHU and NJIT holds the potential to drive technological breakthroughs and transform the landscape of academia both locally and globally.

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey (center) witnesses the NTHU-NJIT research cooperation agreement signing by Presidents W. John Kao (高為元) (left) and Teik C. Lim (林竹進) (right).

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey (center) witnesses the NTHU-NJIT research cooperation agreement signing by Presidents W. John Kao (高為元) (left) and Teik C. Lim (林竹進) (right).

President W. John Kao (高為元) of NTHU (left) engages in a discussion on "How International Experiences Shape Our Worldview" with Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey.

Governor Murphy leads a delegation to visit NTHU.

President Teik C. Lim (林竹進) of NJIT expresses eagerness for further research cooperation and student-faculty exchanges with NTHU.

Ta-Jen Yen (嚴大任), NTHU's Global Officer, introduces the core values of NTHU, emphasizing inclusivity, equality, and diversity.

President W. John Kao (高為元) of NTHU highlights NTHU's distinctive interdisciplinary and diversified learning.

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey encourages NTHU students to explore the world and enhance their international experiences.

President W. John Kao (高為元) of NTHU (left) welcomes the visit of Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey.

President W. John Kao (高為元) of NTHU (left) and Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey engage in a friendly conversation.

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey (left) and his wife visit NTHU.

Governor Murphy (center) leads a delegation, accompanied by NTHU's Global Officer, Ta-Jen Yen (嚴大任) (left).

NTHU students actively participate in a Q&A session with Governor Phil Murphy.