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
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