To further strengthen collaboration between San Francisco State University (SFSU) and Tamkang University, the Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs and the College of International Affairs jointly hosted the “San Francisco State University Faculty-Led Program” from July 1 to 22. As part of the initiative, the Department of Diplomacy and International Relations invited Dr. Scott Seigal, Associate Professor of International Relations at SFSU, to serve as a visiting faculty member and teach the summer course “East Asia’s Role in the Global Economic System.” The program brought together 9 SFSU students and 15 Tamkang students, creating a platform for academic and cultural exchange.

The opening ceremony was held on June 30 at 10:00 a.m. in Room T903 of the Ching-Sheng Building, with Vice President for International Affairs Prof. Hsiao-Chuan Chen, Dean of International Affairs Prof. Chien-Mu Yeh, Chair of the Department of Diplomacy and International Relations Prof. Hsin-Chih Chen, and visiting scholar Prof. Ramu Manivannan welcoming the SFSU delegation to the Tamsui campus. In her remarks, Prof. Chen highlighted that the partnership between the two universities dates back to 2007, noting that President Huan-Chao Keh visited SFSU in 2022 and that Chairperson Flora Chia-I Chang is an alumna of SFSU. She emphasized that the two universities share a deep and enduring partnership. She encouraged participating students to not only expand their academic knowledge but also engage in cultural exchange, gain diverse perspectives, and build lasting friendships.

Expressing his gratitude to all the teams and individuals who made the program possible, Dr. Seigal introduced SFSU and the structure of the three-week course in an engaging and lively manner. The course explores topics in international political economy through the lens of the East Asian region, covering themes such as international trade, finance, multinational enterprises, and economic development. Dr. Seigal remarked humorously, “I could keep talking about everything I know because I think it’s important, but you will also learn from each other.” He emphasized that the course would not be a one-way lecture but an interactive experience where students could learn through discussion, collaboration, and cross-cultural exchange to broaden their understanding and critical perspectives on international political economy.

Giancarlo Fernandes Goes, one of the participating students from SFSU, expressed his excitement about joining the program in Taiwan, stating that Taiwan plays a critical role in today’s international relations. He noted that experiencing Taiwan firsthand and gaining a deeper understanding of its economic and geopolitical context presented a rare and valuable learning opportunity.