NYUST and Center for Malaysian Chinese Studies Sign MOU to Establish Taiwan–Malaysia Cultural Research and Exchange Platform

In recent years, exchanges between Taiwan and Malaysia in technology, business, education, culture, and other fields have continued to grow. To actively promote cross-border research collaboration, a delegation from the College of Humanities and Sciences at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (NYUST), led by Dean Lee Yeh-Cheng and joined by department heads, recently traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mr. Yang Kuo-Tien, Chairman of the Center for Malaysian Chinese Studies (CMCS). Centered on cultural heritage preservation and Sinological studies, the partnership aims to strengthen international collaboration and deepen academic research. The delegation subsequently engaged in in-depth exchanges with public and private organizations and higher education institutions associated with the George Town World Heritage Site in Penang, further expanding NYUST’s international academic partnerships in Malaysia.

The Center for Malaysian Chinese Studies has long been engaged in the preservation and research of Malaysian Chinese society, clan and lineage cultures, historical documents, and related areas, and holds an important academic position in the field of Chinese studies in Southeast Asia. Building on the MOU, NYUST and CMCS will jointly promote research on the organization and preservation of historical documents, cultural heritage conservation, and surveys of intangible cultural heritage. The two institutions have also reached a shared understanding regarding faculty exchanges and the joint organization of courses. Future initiatives may include international conferences, academic publications, and the sharing of research resources, with the goal of establishing a cross-border Taiwan–Malaysia platform for cultural research and deepening substantive cooperation in the humanities, social sciences, and cultural heritage.

The delegation also visited George Town, Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage City, where it met with several heritage preservation organizations and higher education institutions. These included George Town World Heritage Incorporated, the Penang Heritage Trust, and Arts-ED, a community-based cultural arts and education organization. Through these exchanges, the delegation gained a deeper understanding of George Town’s experience in the preservation and management of historic districts, community participation, and cultural tourism development since its inscription as a World Heritage Site in 2008. The delegation also visited Equator Academy of Art, where it discussed plans for jointly organized courses with its founder, Dato’ Chai Kuei Yong. In addition, the delegation met with Professor Yang Chin-Chuan, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Han Chiang University College of Communication, to explore substantive opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions in Chinese and Sinological studies.

Dean Lee Yeh-Cheng noted that the most significant outcome of the visit was not only the signing of the MOU with the Center for Malaysian Chinese Studies, but also the successful connection of Malaysia’s cultural heritage and academic research organizations, thereby establishing a cross-border collaboration network. Moving forward, NYUST will continue to pursue cooperation in the following areas:

Jointly applying for bilateral Taiwan–Malaysia and international research projects.
Establishing a collaborative platform for cultural heritage and Chinese cultural studies.
Promoting faculty exchanges, student exchanges, and overseas internships.
Jointly organizing international forums and workshops.
Conducting interdisciplinary research on tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

The preservation of historical and cultural heritage is no longer confined to individual regions; rather, it requires international collaboration to address the important challenges of global cultural governance. Through this substantive exchange with Malaysia, the College of Humanities and Sciences at NYUST has demonstrated its commitment to the internationalization of humanities research and education. The initiative also marks an important step toward establishing closer and more substantive partnerships between NYUST and Malaysia’s cultural and academic communities.

Dean Lee Yeh-Cheng of National Yunlin University of Science and Technology and Chairman Yang Kuo-Tien of the Center for Malaysian Chinese Studies Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)


Discussing Potential Future Collaboration Between Public and Private Organizations with the George Town World Heritage Incorporated.


Discussing Plans for Jointly Organizing Courses with Dato’ Chai Kuei Yong of Equator Academy of Art.


Discussing Future Partnership Opportunities in Cultural Heritage Preservation with Chairman Leong Chew Ming of the Penang Heritage Trust.


Exploring Future Collaboration in Cultural Education with Executive Director Tseng Yu-Ping of Arts-ED, a community-based cultural arts and education organization in Penang.

Organizing Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences
Dean: Lee Yeh-Cheng
Contact Person: Hsieh Wan-Ju
Tel: +886-5-534-2601 ext. 3001

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