NTNU and Seoul National University (SNU) took parallel steps in May to deepen academic collaboration, advancing ties in both teacher education and music through high-level visits and ongoing programmatic exchanges. These visits build on existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and reflect a commitment to broader, cross-disciplinary cooperation between two leading institutions in the region.

Education Exchange and New MOU

On May 22, NTNU’s Dean of the School of Teacher Education, Dr. Yeu-Ting Liu, visited Seoul to sign a new MOU with Professor Joon-ho Kang, Dean of SNU’s College of Education. The agreement followed a January visit to NTNU by Professor Hyungryeol Kim and a group of teacher education students from SNU. During that visit, students observed secondary classrooms and participated in a teacher education forum. Their strong language skills and engagement with pedagogical issues drew praise from NTNU faculty, including Professor Hsin-Heng Chen, Director of the Division of International Teacher Education at the School of Teacher Education.

On May 15, ahead of the signing, SNU’s Vice Dean of the College of Education, Professor Young-Hoan Cho, and Professor Byungmin Lee of the English Department, visited NTNU to meet with faculty. The discussions addressed shared challenges in the field—such as declining birthrates, teacher recruitment, and the integration of social-emotional learning and artificial intelligence into teacher training. Dean Liu emphasized that collaborative research and ongoing exchange would allow both institutions to respond more effectively to these issues.

Ongoing Collaboration in Music

From May 11 to 14, NTNU’s College of Music hosted Professor Choi EnSik, Dean of SNU’s College of Music, and Vice Dean Professor Jun Seung Hyun Attila. The visit followed the signing of an MOU between the two music colleges in 2024 and focused on furthering collaboration through joint instruction and academic planning. On May 12, Professor Choi led a viola masterclass, and on May 14, Professor Jun conducted a vocal masterclass—both of which were well attended by NTNU students and faculty.

On May 13, the visiting professors met with NTNU’s Dean of the College of Music, Professor Hsiao-Fen Chen, and department heads to explore future initiatives in student and faculty exchange, joint performances, and research. That evening, they attended NTNU's spring concert by the Department of Music at the National Concert Hall, which featured a blend of classical and contemporary works.

A Strengthened Institutional Relationship

These developments are particularly noteworthy given Seoul National University’s highly selective approach to international partnerships. With only a small number of MOUs signed with Taiwanese institutions, the fact that NTNU now holds two formal agreements with SNU—one in teacher education and one in music—underscores both NTNU’s growing academic reputation in the region and the strong alignment between the two universities.

As NTNU and SNU continue to pursue joint initiatives across disciplines, these May visits laid the groundwork for long-term, meaningful collaboration in education, research, and the arts. The partnership reflects shared academic values and a commitment to advancing international exchange in East Asia.