To strengthen academic collaboration and deepen partnership with Hanyang University (HYU)—a key partner of National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)—Director Professor Po-Hsiu Lin of the Graduate Institute of Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Management (SLHM) led Professors Tien-Chin Tan and Li-Jung Lin on an official visit from October 22 to 25, 2025.
During the visit, the delegation met with the Department of Global Sport Industry, the Division of Sport Science, and the College of Sports and Arts at HYU. This overseas engagement not only broadened academic perspectives but also successfully concluded the signing of a department-level Student Exchange Agreement, as well as a college-level MOU and Student Exchange Agreement. The visit further facilitated meaningful exchanges with professionals in the field of sport and leisure, enhancing mutual understanding and paving the way for deeper collaboration between the two universities.
On October 23, the NTNU delegation first visited the Department of Global Sport Industry. Founded in 1939, Hanyang University is a leading private comprehensive university located in Seoul, South Korea. Its Department of Global Sport Industry focuses on global sports-related studies, emphasizing problem-solving, value creation, communication, leadership, and language proficiency to cultivate internationally minded sport leaders.
Earlier this year, in February 2025, Director Roger Park, Professors Seung-Ae Lee and Jong-Sung Lee, and students from Hanyang University visited NTNU to hold a joint academic seminar with SLHM. That collaboration led to the development of a bilateral academic cooperation agreement, broadening the scope of exchange between the two institutions.
This visit marked the formal signing of the agreement in Seoul, demonstrating NTNU’s strong commitment to this partnership. The ceremony was attended by former Director Sung-Sik Cho, Professor Jong-Sung Lee, Professor Eun-Jung Kim, Lecturer Hee-Min Yang, and three graduate students, symbolizing a new milestone in the academic collaboration between the two universities. Both sides expressed enthusiasm for future cooperation and shared visions for advancing partnership in sport and leisure studies.
On the following day, the delegation visited the Division of Sport Science, which has maintained a long-standing academic cooperation agreement with NTNU’s Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences since June 2016.
Hanyang University’s Division of Sport Science—comprising the Department of Sport and Culture and the Department of Coaching—has been recognized as a cradle for nurturing Korea’s top talent in sport culture and science. In 2005, it was rated as the best university in Korea for sports research by the Korean Council for University Education.
Building upon this strong foundation, SLHM and HYU’s College of Sports and Arts signed a college-level MOU and Student Exchange Agreement, establishing a long-term academic platform to expand collaboration beyond individual departments.
On behalf of Dean Tzyy-Yuang Shiang, Director Po-Hsiu Lin signed the agreement with Dean Bum-Young Park of HYU’s College of Sports and Arts. The signing was witnessed by Professor Jae-Woo Park (Head of the Division of Sport Science), Professor Dongmin Kwak (Chair of the Graduate Program in Sport Science), and Assistant Professors Hyesoo Cho and Jaeyoon Kwon.
Through these agreements, both institutions aim to create more opportunities for student exchange, promote mutual understanding, and foster lasting friendships between faculty and students alike—strengthening the international network and enhancing NTNU’s global visibility.
The Graduate Institute of Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Management at NTNU has long been committed to offering diverse, internationalized, and professional academic programs, attracting students from around the world—including many from Korea. During this visit, the delegation also organized an alumni gathering in Korea, bringing together alumni currently working or studying there. The event provided a warm platform for sharing experiences, strengthening connections, and reinforcing alumni’s sense of belonging to NTNU and SLHM. Alumni shared insights into their professional journeys and the sports and leisure industry in Korea, providing valuable perspectives for the Institute’s future curriculum and development.
This visit concluded with fruitful discussions on fostering cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Through the signing of academic cooperation agreements and student exchange programs with Hanyang University—ranked 159th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings—the Institute gained valuable insights from it.
Moving forward, SLHM will actively promote student and faculty exchanges, further strengthen academic collaboration, and continue to contribute to NTNU’s international teaching and research excellence.
This successful visit marks a significant step toward deepening NTNU’s educational connections with Korea’s leading universities and expanding cooperation from the departmental to the college and university levels—paving the way for sustainable academic partnerships and reinforcing NTNU’s leading position in the field of sports sciences in Taiwan, as the College continues its steady stride toward becoming one of the world’s top 100 sports universities.