NEWS
International Affairs
- Publish Date：2025-07-07
Bridging Cultures, Building Impact: NYCU Partners with Japan’s APU to Nurture Cross-Cultural Tech Leaders
By Chance Lai
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On July 3, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and Japan’s Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) announced a strategic partnership to co-develop a new generation of cross-cultural technology and management professionals. By integrating innovative teaching models with rich cultural perspectives, the alliance aims to empower Taiwanese industry with global influence, starting with education.
“As industries grow more international, the real competitive edge lies not only in technology, but also in intercultural understanding,” said NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin. “This collaboration with APU underscores NYCU’s commitment to preparing talent who can lead in diverse, multicultural environments.”
NYCU and APU combine to cultivate cross-cultural, innovative, and leadership-driven international semiconductor talent. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Why Culture Matters in Global Tech Expansion
Taiwan’s semiconductor sector has become a critical pillar of the global tech ecosystem. As leading firms expand overseas—particularly in Japan and the U.S.—cultural adaptation issues, religious diversity, and management styles have emerged as challenges that rival technical complexity.
“The expansion of Taiwanese companies abroad must be seen as more than an extension of production lines,” said Dr. Yuan-Chieh Tseng, Associate Dean of NYCU’s International College of Semiconductor Technology (ICST). “Without integrating culturally-aware management frameworks, it becomes difficult to project Taiwan’s soft power and national strength fully.”
Dr. Tseng, who visited TSMC’s Arizona plant, observed firsthand the frictions that arise when high-tech ventures overlook local cultural dynamics. He emphasized that Taiwan’s global footprint must include its technologies and education systems, designed to train local professionals in ways that reflect Taiwan’s values and strengths.
“As industries grow more international, the real competitive edge lies not only in technology, but also in intercultural understanding,” said NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin. “This collaboration with APU underscores NYCU’s commitment to preparing talent who can lead in diverse, multicultural environments.”
NYCU and APU combine to cultivate cross-cultural, innovative, and leadership-driven international semiconductor talent. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Why Culture Matters in Global Tech Expansion
Taiwan’s semiconductor sector has become a critical pillar of the global tech ecosystem. As leading firms expand overseas—particularly in Japan and the U.S.—cultural adaptation issues, religious diversity, and management styles have emerged as challenges that rival technical complexity.
“The expansion of Taiwanese companies abroad must be seen as more than an extension of production lines,” said Dr. Yuan-Chieh Tseng, Associate Dean of NYCU’s International College of Semiconductor Technology (ICST). “Without integrating culturally-aware management frameworks, it becomes difficult to project Taiwan’s soft power and national strength fully.”
Dr. Tseng, who visited TSMC’s Arizona plant, observed firsthand the frictions that arise when high-tech ventures overlook local cultural dynamics. He emphasized that Taiwan’s global footprint must include its technologies and education systems, designed to train local professionals in ways that reflect Taiwan’s values and strengths.
APU: Japan’s Global Education Hub
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), founded in 2000 in Beppu, Japan, is renowned for its international focus—over half of its students come from more than 90 countries. APU is a leading model for international higher education in Asia with a bilingual curriculum and a campus culture built on inclusivity and global citizenship.
APU President Hiroshi Yoneyama emphasized the urgency of cultivating globally competent semiconductor talent, citing Japan’s shrinking workforce in the field. “Whether in Japan or the U.S., global tech companies often face cultural friction when deploying talent abroad,” he said. “This partnership with NYCU will help us train professionals who are not only technically proficient, but also culturally adaptive.”
Building the Future of Tech Management
The NYCU-APU initiative will initially focus on faculty exchange and student engagement in technology management, with NYCU professors introducing Taiwan’s approach to innovation and industry-academic collaboration. APU’s globally diverse student body will serve as the testing ground for developing cross-cultural teaching strategies that are both effective and exportable.
“Shortly, we hope to co-create education models that reflect Taiwan’s strength in high-tech development, while being deeply sensitive to local contexts,” said Dr. Tseng. “This isn’t just about exporting knowledge—it’s about building bridges.”
As Taiwan takes center stage in the global tech supply chain, NYCU continues to invest in strategic, future-oriented education partnerships. This alliance with APU aims to redefine what it means to lead, not just in labs, but across borders.
