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Tag: Taiwan

NTU Celebrates International Talent Ties

Posted on by National Taiwan University

National Taiwan University (NTU) recently hosted its “2026 International Talent Development Appreciation Banquet,” bringing together long-term corporate partners, donors, students, and university colleagues to reflect on the impact of international learning opportunities and the partnerships that help make them possible.

Student sharing sessions formed a central part of the evening, with participants reflecting on how overseas experiences had shaped their academic development, career exploration, and confidence in international settings. Through these conversations, guests heard more directly about the personal and professional perspectives students had gained through international exchange experiences.

The banquet also highlighted several of NTU’s international exchange and student development programmes, including the “NTU Beyond Borders” initiative. NTU currently sends more than 1,500 students overseas each year while also welcoming approximately 7,300 international students to campus, contributing to an increasingly international learning environment.

Representatives from organisations including the Hsieh Kuo-cheng Baseball Cultural and Educational Foundation, Missioncare Medicine Holding, C Sun Mfg., and Yuanta Bank attended the event, reflecting the university’s continuing relationships with partners that support international learning opportunities for students.

By bringing together students, donors, industry representatives, and university colleagues in the same space, the banquet highlighted the shared role these partnerships play in helping students gain international experience and wider professional perspectives.

NTU & Cake: Elevating Global Careers

Posted on by National Taiwan University

As international student mobility continues to grow, universities are increasingly focused on how students can translate cross-cultural experiences into professional opportunities across different job markets.

At National Taiwan University, a series of career workshops developed by the Office of International Affairs in collaboration with Cake and the Center for Bilingual Education aims to support international students in navigating this transition. The sessions focus on helping participants align their academic backgrounds and multicultural experiences with the expectations of both local and global employers.

The first workshop, “Resume Culture and Personal Branding,” introduced students to strategies for presenting their experiences in a clear and structured way. Participants used Cake’s AI Resume Review tool to refine their applications, while insights from Evelyn, an alumna of the International Mentorship Program, highlighted how to communicate experience effectively through concise and focused narratives. Students were also provided with Cake Premium access to support ongoing development.

A second session, “Turning Interview Traps into Wins,” focused on interview preparation ahead of the International Mentorship Program matching process. Led by NTU alumni Angie and Coco, the workshop explored how to interpret interview questions and respond in ways that reflect both personal experience and employer expectations. Through mock interviews and group exercises, students practised presenting their skills with greater clarity and confidence.

Together, these workshops illustrate how universities are combining digital tools with practical training to support international students in developing career readiness. By addressing both communication and cultural dimensions of employability, such initiatives reflect broader efforts to help students navigate increasingly complex global career pathways.

NTU Partners with Swedish Chamber of Commerce

Posted on by National Taiwan University

As the global financial sector becomes more complex and interconnected, universities are exploring how to help students understand industry expectations while developing the skills needed for long-term careers.

At National Taiwan University, a recent workshop organised by the Office of International Affairs in collaboration with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei brought students into direct dialogue with finance professionals. The event, titled “Keys to Success in the Finance Industry,” focused on how students can navigate career pathways in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

The workshop featured speakers from across the finance sector, including banking, investment trusts, securities analysis and asset management. Participants included former DBS Managing Director Jerry Ho, Cathay SITE Executive Hans Deng, J.P. Morgan Associate Jennifer Hsieh, asset management expert Hsin-ju Hsieh, and Bloomberg Relationship Manager Claire Hsu. Through these discussions, students gained insights into both career trajectories and the practical challenges of working in the industry.

A key theme that emerged was the importance of ethics and resilience. Jerry Ho emphasised that maintaining integrity is essential for long-term success in a sector often shaped by high-pressure decision-making. Hsin-ju Hsieh highlighted the need for continuous learning and professional networking, noting that career opportunities in finance often arise in unpredictable ways.

The workshop illustrates how universities are creating opportunities for students to engage with industry perspectives beyond the classroom. By working with international partners such as the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Taipei, initiatives like this aim to support students in developing the awareness and skills needed for global professional environments.

Study Finds Dietary AGEs Harm Gut Health

Posted on by Taipei Medical University

New research demonstrating the impact of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) shows that excessive intake can disrupt lipid metabolism and alter gut microbiota composition, highlighting potential metabolic risk associated with obesity.

Prof. Wei-Lun Hung, School of Food Safety, College of Nutrition

The study, led by Associate Professor Wei-Lun Hung from Taipei Medical University (TMU)’s School of Food Safety, was supported by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council and published in Food Chemistry, an international journal with a 2024 impact factor of 9.8, ranking in the top 3.5% of the Nutrition & Dietetics category.

AGEs are widespread in everyday foods, particularly processed products. While previous studies have linked AGEs to oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases, the mechanisms by which dietary AGEs influence metabolism and gut ecology under obese conditions have remained unclear. TMU’s research provides new evidence that excessive dietary AGEs intake may have a direct and detrimental impact on metabolic health.

Using a high-fat diet–induced obesity mouse model, the research team investigated the physiological effects of different forms of AGEs. The findings revealed that additional dietary AGEs intake significantly interfered with lipid metabolic pathways and reshaped the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Mice receiving high-AGE diets gained more weight and exhibited elevated AGE accumulation in the liver. Metabolomic analysis showed widespread disturbances in metabolic profiles, particularly in lipid-related metabolites.

Gut microbiome analysis further revealed that AGEs substantially increased the abundance of Verrucomicrobiaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, two bacterial families previously associated with metabolic disorders. At the same time, gut metabolite profiling demonstrated a marked rise in secondary bile acids, compounds known to influence lipid absorption and inflammation.

Integrated analyses demonstrated a positive correlation between shifts in gut microbiota composition, changes in bacterial metabolites, and disturptions in host lipid metabolism. These findings offer valuable insights into how dietary AGEs may elevate metabolic risks in individuals with obesity.

The study underscores the importance of nutritional strategies and food-processing improvements aimed at reducing AGE exposure. By clarifying the interactions between AGEs, metabolic regulations, and gut health, this research provides a scientific foundation for the development of future interventions to support improved metabolic outcomes.

Original Research Article:

Distinct effects of methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone 1, Nε-carboxyethyllysine, and an advanced glycation end product-rich diet on lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and secondary bile acids in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Research Process Flowchart

NCU Develops Green Sensing Platform

Posted on by NCUSEC

A collaborative research team led by Associate Professor Cihun-Siyong Gong from the Department of Electrical Engineering at National Central University (NCU) and Professor Ren-Jei Chung from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at National Taipei University of Technology has developed a green electrochemical sensing platform driven by caffeic acid. The study has been published in the internationally renowned journal ACS Sensors.

 

The researchers first synthesized self-templated, double-shelled zinc manganite (ZnMn₂O₄) hollow microspheres using co-precipitation and calcination methods. At room temperature, a natural organic molecule—caffeic acid—was employed as a reducing agent to enable the in situ formation and uniform deposition of rhenium nanoparticles on the shell surface, resulting in a Re@ZnMn₂O₄ composite material. This approach successfully avoids the use of highly toxic reducing agents, aligning with green chemistry principles, while the double-shelled structure provides a large accessible surface area and abundant active sites for reactions.

 

Material characterization revealed that the incorporation of rhenium nanoparticles enhances conductive pathways, significantly improving electron transport and interfacial reaction efficiency. Electrochemical testing further demonstrated that the electrode exhibits optimal performance under near-physiological conditions (pH 7).

 

In terms of sensing performance, the platform achieves a low detection limit of 0.21 μM for epinephrine, along with a wide linear detection range and high selectivity. Notably, the sensor retains approximately 98% of its signal response after 12 days of storage at room temperature, indicating excellent long-term stability.

 

Overall, this study integrates advanced structural design with green synthesis strategies to propose a high-performance electrochemical sensing approach. The findings lay a solid foundation for future real-time biomedical monitoring systems and highlight strong potential for clinical applications.

TMU Develops Triage Tool for Older Riders

Posted on by Taipei Medical University

Summary

A nationwide study led by researchers at Taipei Medical University shows that early warning signs of life-threatening risk among older motorcycle and scooter riders can be identified at the crash scene, supporting faster, data-driven decisions by emergency medical services.

As populations age, older adults are increasingly involved in traffic crashes, particularly those riding motorcycles and scooters. In Taiwan, nearly half of traffic deaths among people aged 65 and above involve two-wheeled vehicles. Ensuring that these riders receive the right level of care at the right time has become a growing challenge for emergency systems.

For emergency medical services (EMS), early decisions—such as whether to transport a patient to a major trauma center—can strongly influence survival. Yet these decisions are often made at the roadside with limited information.

The challenge in emergency care

Assessing injury severity in older adults is particularly difficult. Because older adults are physiologically more fragile, they may appear stable immediately after a crash but deteriorate rapidly hours or days later. In this sense, serious injury in older riders can resemble a delayed alarm—everything may seem quiet at first, while the risk is already building beneath the surface.

“Older patients do not always show clear warning signs at first,” said Prof. Hon-Ping Ma, corresponding author of the study from Taipei Medical University. “This makes early triage decisions especially challenging for emergency teams.”

The solution: data analysis and a practical scoring system

To address this gap, the research team analyzed nationwide data by linking police-reported crash records, hospital admissions, and national death registry data in Taiwan. The study examined more than 120,000 crashes involving motorcycle and scooter riders aged 65 and above, alongside a hospital-based cohort of over 92,000 patients.

Unlike many previous studies, the analysis captured deaths occurring within 30 days of a crash, including victims who died before reaching hospital. The results identified consistent predictors of mortality, including head and neck injuries, advanced age, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and behavioral factors such as helmet non-use, alcohol involvement, and unlicensed riding.

Application in real-world emergency response

By translating the analysis into a simple scoring system, the study offers a practical tool for frontline use. Because older adults can appear stable at first but decline rapidly, this approach allows EMS teams to make objective, data-driven decisions about which victims should be rushed to major trauma centers, even if injuries do not look immediately fatal.

“This tool is designed to support—not replace—clinical judgment,” Prof. Ma said. “It helps emergency responders recognize hidden risk early, when timely escalation of care can make a real difference.”

Looking ahead

By incorporating crash-scene information, this research provides a more complete view of mortality risk among older riders. As motorcycles and scooters remain an important mode of transport for older adults, integrating such prehospital screening tools into EMS protocols could strengthen trauma systems and help reduce preventable deaths.

Look for More Information

Original Reaserch Article: Early identification of high-risk older two-wheeler riders: A dual-sample approach for 30-day mortality prediction

NCU Team Develops High-Stability Robotic Arm

Posted on by NCUSEC

As smart manufacturing and automation technologies continue to advance rapidly, robotic arms have become indispensable in modern industry and technological applications. A research team led by Associate Professor Jim-Wei Wu from the Department of Electrical Engineering at National Central University (NCU) has successfully integrated reinforcement learning with classical and advanced control techniques to develop a highly stable and disturbance-resilient robotic arm. This innovation significantly enhances operational precision and, backed by solid theoretical foundations and research originality, has been published in the leading international journal IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics.

The proposed control method does not rely heavily on precise mathematical models. Even under environmental uncertainty or significant variations in system load, the system maintains robust control performance. This design greatly improves the adaptability and stability of robotic arms. In addition, the team introduced a novel disturbance observer design framework that overcomes the limitations of conventional approaches, which typically handle only limited types of disturbances. The new framework enables faster and more accurate responses to sudden or dynamic disturbances, further enhancing control precision and system stability while reducing dependence on complex sensing and computational resources.

Furthermore, the system incorporates an Actor–Critic artificial intelligence architecture, allowing it to simultaneously learn how to evaluate control performance and generate optimal control strategies. By integrating classical control principles as an initial foundation, the approach significantly reduces the need for extensive parameter tuning in practical applications. This result makes the system easier to design and enables it to reach stable operation more rapidly, laying a critical foundation for the future development of highly autonomous robotic systems. 

NTU Celebrates 2026 Azalea Festival

Posted on by National Taiwan University

Universities are increasingly expected to create environments where local campus life and global engagement intersect, giving students opportunities to experience international collaboration as part of their everyday academic journey.

At National Taiwan University, the annual Azalea Festival provides one such setting. As spring arrives, the blooming azaleas mark a period when academic exchange, institutional partnerships and student activity converge across campus. The 2026 festival, themed “Echoes of Ancient Waterways, Azaleas in Youthful Bloom,” reflects both NTU’s heritage and the energy of its student community.

This year’s event also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the National Taiwan University System. Joint exhibitions with National Taiwan Normal University and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology highlight ongoing efforts to strengthen cross-campus collaboration and resource integration within the system.

Alongside the festival, NTU hosted a Fulbright International Education Administrators delegation in March, welcoming representatives from 16 U.S. institutions, including Rice University and Pennsylvania State University. Through a series of discussions, participants explored opportunities for collaboration in global research, as well as programmes such as the International Mentorship Program and the Taiwan Huayu BEST Program.

Together, these activities demonstrate how campus-based events can support both community engagement and international dialogue. By bringing local traditions and global partnerships into the same space, initiatives such as the Azalea Festival illustrate how universities are creating more connected academic environments that link student experience with global collaboration.

NTU Spotlight: https://www.ntu.edu.tw/spotlight/2026/2463_20260319.html

NTU Launches International NGO Talent School

Posted on by National Taiwan University

As global challenges such as migration, inequality and sustainable development become more complex, universities are increasingly exploring how students can engage directly with real-world issues through international and cross-sector collaboration.

At National Taiwan University, the NTU iNGO Academy brings together students, non-governmental organisations and external partners to create a platform for applied learning in the social impact sector. Now in its fourth year, the programme has welcomed 30 students from nine countries, working alongside 22 partner organisations in a 13-week training and internship experience.

The Academy has expanded to include a wider network of collaborators, including igoodpoint, TÜV Rheinland Taiwan, Impact Hub Taipei, the Taipei City Government Department for Youth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Taiwan), and Taiwan Plus. Through these partnerships, the programme connects academic learning with diverse professional contexts, supporting engagement with public issues across sectors.

The curriculum combines structured training with practical experience. Participants complete more than 150 internship hours while developing skills in issue research, communication, impact measurement and strategy. The opening session featured remarks from Associate Vice President for International Affairs Professor Jiun-Haw Lee, who emphasised that global engagement carries responsibility. Jessie Chan, Special Appointed Consultant to the iNGO Academy and former Asia-Pacific Brand General Manager of L’Oréal, encouraged students to approach the programme with professionalism and resilience.

The first training course, “Issue Research and Communication,” led by Chunyuan Hu of Refugee 101 Taiwan, introduced students to case studies on asylum systems and refugee experiences. Through these discussions, participants examined the relationship between policy and lived experience, and how research and communication shape public understanding.

The programme also includes regional study visits in Taichung and Hsinchu, as well as opportunities to join the NTU Overseas Traineeship in Awaji Island, Japan, and Kathmandu, Nepal. These experiences allow students to engage with local revitalisation and social innovation initiatives across different cultural contexts.

Together, these elements illustrate how universities can integrate academic study with international NGO engagement and cross-sector collaboration. By bringing students, organisations and partners into a shared framework, the NTU iNGO Academy demonstrates how higher education can support the development of skills and perspectives needed to contribute to global challenges

NCU Finds 37 Subglacial Lakes in Arctic

Posted on by NCUSEC

Assistant Professor Whyjay Zheng of the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research at National Central University, who also holds an appointment at the Taiwan Polar Institute, recently published a study in The Cryosphere. Using multi-year satellite observations, the team identified multiple active subglacial lakes beneath glaciers in the Canadian Arctic, providing critical insights into subglacial hydrological systems and glacier dynamics.

By analyzing high-resolution ice surface elevation data from 2011 to 2021, the researchers tracked subtle temporal changes in ice surface height and successfully identified 37 subglacial lakes, of which 35 were newly discovered.

In addition to Assistant Professor Whyjay Zheng, the research team includes Associate Professor Wesley Van Wychen from the University of Waterloo, Researcher Tian Li from the University of Bristol, and Researcher Tsutomu Yamanokuchi from Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan. Assistant Professor Whyjay Zheng led the study by proposing the research concept, integrating datasets, and facilitating the formation of this international research collaboration.

Assistant Professor Whyjay Zheng explained that when subglacial lakes accumulate water, the ice surface gradually uplifts; when water drains, the ice surface subsides. Through long-term satellite altimetry time series and statistical analysis, the researchers were able to monitor the filling and drainage cycles of these lakes, thereby estimating their locations, extents, and activity cycles. The findings not only confirm the existence of more subglacial lakes but also suggest that their activity is correlated with the annual ice mass loss of glaciers in the Canadian Arctic.

For more details, please refer to the article in The Cryosphere:

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-1699-2026