EN-US 
ZH 
The Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature at Yuan Ze University continued to expand international academic collaboration and overseas learning opportunities for students. On the morning of August 28, Wei-Hsuan Ho, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature, traveled to Penang, Malaysia, to formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Siang-Ting Loh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Cultural Hub. Chien-Tsung Kong, Ph.D., Chief Research Fellow of the organization, witnessed the signing ceremony. Under the agreement, both parties would collaborate in the areas of literature and history education and research, student research-based self-directed learning, overseas internships, and academic and cultural exchange.
Noble Cultural Hub is an independent cultural research institution based in Penang. Guided by the mission of “Deeply Rooted in Local Communities, Revitalizing History and Culture,” the organization has been dedicated to the exploration, research, preservation, and promotion of Malaysian Chinese history and culture. Its work has included local historical document collection, digitization, publishing, and public humanities initiatives, earning widespread recognition within the local Chinese community. Its integration of academic research and cultural practice closely aligned with the Department’s recent efforts to combine humanities research, digital technology, and international engagement.
Wei-Hsuan Ho stated that Penang possessed rich resources in Chinese history, literature, education, language, and culture, making it an ideal site for humanities research. One of the primary goals of this collaboration was to enable students to move beyond the classroom and immerse themselves in authentic cultural settings. Under the joint guidance of faculty members and the Noble Cultural Hub research team, students would conduct independent research projects and extend their self-directed learning experiences overseas, gaining greater exposure to diverse cultures and perspectives.
Both parties also planned to develop overseas internship opportunities with distinctive humanities-oriented features. Through participation in local historical and cultural investigations, archival organization, digital preservation projects, cultural planning, and publishing initiatives, students would be able to transform their studies in literature, history, culture, and digital technologies into practical research and professional competencies.
The partnership also carried special significance in terms of alumni heritage and continuity. Three members of the Noble Cultural Hub team graduated from Yuan Ze University, including Chien-Tsung Kong, Ph.D., who had previously studied under Wei-Hsuan Ho. Their journey from academic learning and research at Yuan Ze University to engaging in local historical and cultural work in Malaysia, and eventually establishing a partnership with their alma mater, reflected a meaningful connection characterized by “learning at Yuan Ze University, applying knowledge in society, and building new interdisciplinary connections.”
In recent years, the Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature had actively expanded academic exchanges with institutions and organizations in South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the United States. The signing of the MOU with Noble Cultural Hub further extended international collaboration beyond academic exchange to include student-led research and overseas internships. Drawing upon Penang’s rich local historical and cultural resources, both sides would deepen educational, research, and talent exchanges between Taiwan and Malaysia while exploring new possibilities for Chinese historical and cultural studies and international humanities collaboration.
