"NCCU" Professors Return, IMAS Students Venture Out: A Week of Alumni Homecoming at the College of Social Sciences
Starting this semester, the College of Social Sciences at NCCU is arranging for alumni of international programs, now working in academia globally, to return to the university. They not only showcase their academic research but also share stories of Taiwan they have spread in campuses around the world.
The event kicked off on October 21 with Manoj Kumar Panigrahi, a 2022 PhD graduate of the International Doctoral Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IDAS), now an Assistant Professor and Director of the Northeast Asia Studies Center at O.P. Jindal Global University in India. His academic talk emphasized how shifts due to the pandemic, Sino-Indian territorial disputes, and changing U.S.-China relations, coupled with Taiwan’s increased investments in India and educational cooperation, are reshaping India’s relationships with Taiwan and China.
On the 22nd, Virgemarie A. Salazar and Ronald van Velzen took the stage. Salazar, a 2023 IDAS graduate, is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and her talk analyzed efforts by ASEAN countries—both at governmental and grassroots levels—to combat climate change. Van Velzen, a 2022 graduate of the International Master’s Program in Asia-Pacific Studies (IMAS), is currently a history lecturer at Erasmus University Rotterdam. His presentation revisited Taiwan’s deer skin trade and hunting regulations during the Dutch colonial period, comparing them to contemporary indigenous autonomy laws in Taiwan.
On the 23rd, Sabrina Habich-Sobiegalla, a 2013 IDAS graduate now a professor at the Graduate School of East Asian Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, delivered a lecture. She analyzed grassroots governance in Beijing and noted how public opinions on infrastructure projects are reflected in decision-making bodies under institutional oversight.
Dean Yang Wan-ying and NCCU President Li Tsai-yen warmly welcomed the four alumni, expressing joy that their knowledge gained at NCCU is now shared worldwide, further enhancing international understanding of Taiwan. On the 24th, the alumni shared their experiences with students aspiring for academic careers abroad, encouraging them to broaden their knowledge in various fields as preparation for graduation, and to be resilient to thrive in the academic job market.
On October 25 and 26, the alumni expanded their engagement, joining IMAS students in sustainability projects with National Taiwan Ocean University and Shenkeng Farmers’ Association. Four IMAS students—Jaden Gloden from the U.S., Ja Seng Hkawn from Myanmar, Daniel Gombos from Austria, and Kei Motimifagha from Nigeria—presented sustainability cases and challenges from their home countries. The Farmers’ Association then introduced the group to Shenkeng’s development, religious culture, and tofu-making.
The group proceeded to the Lanyang Museum in Yilan, where Taiwanese student Fangyun Chen explained the museum’s design as an environmentally integrated green building. Their second stop in Yilan was a century-old distillery, where U.S. student Catherine Tadlock discussed its development from the colonial period and recent strategies to differentiate itself in a competitive market.
That evening, the students stayed at Fo Guang University, a Buddhist university with campus lodging that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offers beautiful night views. IMAS student Norbu Lhagyal, from India, discussed the spread of Buddhism to East Asia, while Vietnamese student Tran Huynh Bao Khanh talked about the development of Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan.
On the second day, after enjoying a vegetarian breakfast, British student Michael Chang recounted the story of how, in the 19th century, James Horn from Britain and James Milisch from Germany attempted to expand their influence into the Nan’ao region. After the history session, the group headed to Nanfang’ao to experience fishing village culture. They observed the fresh catches of local fishermen and selected seafood to have it cooked by a restaurant for their lunch.
The event concluded in the afternoon after returning to NCCU. Gesa Heym, Head of the Student Mobility Unit / International Affairs at Freie Universität Berlin, also participated in this activity and highly praised the cultural itinerary. Philip Hsiaopong Liu, Associate Dean for International Affairs at the College of Social Sciences, noted that through this cultural journey, alumni not only returned to share their experiences with current students, but more importantly, IMAS students gained a deeper understanding of the value of studying at NCCU by interacting with distinguished alumni. In the near future, the College of Social Sciences will organize similar events again.
