News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　In April of 2020, National Chiayi University joined the International Linkage Programme (ILP) on Tropical Fisheries as an observer, becoming its only member university in Taiwan. The signing ceremony yesterday (March 19th) was attended by 13 faculty members from NCYU including President Han Chien Lin, Vice President Ruey-Shyang Chen, Vice President Hung-Wen Lee, and College of Life Sciences Dean Hong-Thih Lai; and 9 representatives from 4 ILP educational institutions. They signed a memorandum of cooperation on transnational, inter-institutional talent cultivation. NCYU officially became the 8th member university of the ILP.

　　The ILP on Tropical Fisheries is an international higher education alliance founded by 7 universities from 6 Asian countries in 2014. Its member universities also include Kagoshima University in Japan, Kasetsart University in Thailand, University of the Philippines Visayas, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, and Nha Trang University in Vietnam, and Sam Ratulangi University and Bogor Agricultural University (IPB University) in Indonesia. In addition to signing the MOU between ILP and NCYU, the representatives participated in the 13th council meeting to discuss the curriculum plan for 2023 and go over the faculty members of the alliance.

　　At the meeting that day, Hong-Thih Lai, Dean of the NCYU College of Life Sciences, and Jen-Hong Chu, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aquatic Biosciences, took over as directors of the alliance from Chen-Huei Huang, Lifetime Distinguished Professor of the Department of Aquatic Biosciences, and Vice President Ruey-Shyang Chen. After the meeting, both parties exchanged ideas on the cooperation. Led by NCYU’s faculty, the honored guests from ILP visited the aquaculture and processing sites near Chiayi.

　　Dean Hong-Thih Lai indicated that the ILP integrated the resources of all member educational institutions. By offering courses and internships related to tropical and subtropical aquaculture, the ILP aims to nurture advanced, interdisciplinary talents with a global perspective. NCYU students may apply to the Department of Aquatic Biosciences for registration in the ILP’s postgraduate (master) programme, and enjoy free access to the courses offered by member universities. Those who have completed the credits recognized by ILP can obtain a certificate of completion of its postgraduate (master) programme. Each year, NCYU offers intensive summer elective courses to students of the member educational institutions. Through the ILP program, they hope to foster cooperation and exchange with educational institutions in different countries, nurture outstanding researchers dedicated to sustainable ocean development, and contribute to protection of the earth's natural resources.