Written by  NCKU Office of Internation Affairs.Image credit to NCKU News Center.
 

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) welcomed Professor Yassine Lakhnech, President of Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), France, to campus on October 6, 2026, for a special keynote address on “Vision and Opportunities for Global Collaboration.” Held at NCKU’s Macronix Hall, the speech brought together faculty and students to exchange perspectives on international collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and the future of talent development in higher education.
 

Drawing on his experience as a computer scientist and university leader, President Lakhnech shared his perspectives on how universities can build global partnerships and create new opportunities for research and innovation in an increasingly interconnected world. The visit also provided an opportunity for NCKU faculty and students to engage directly with the UGA president on the future of Taiwan–France higher education collaboration.
 

 UGA President Yassine Lakhnech delivers a special keynote address at NCKU, sharing his vision for global collaboration and new opportunities in higher education.
 

From Computer Scientist to University Leader: Advancing Research and Global Engagement
 

President Lakhnech is a scholar in computer science who earned his doctoral degree from the University of Kiel, Germany. His research has focused on areas including program verification, provable security, and the connections between logic and computational models.
 

Before becoming president of UGA, Professor Lakhnech held a number of academic and research leadership positions and contributed to the development of Grenoble’s research and innovation ecosystem. These experiences have shaped his perspective on research, academic leadership, and international engagement.
 

Since becoming President of UGA in January 2020, he has led the university in advancing its strategic priorities in research, innovation, and global engagement.
 

Vice President Chang Shyy-Woei of NCKU noted in his opening remarks that the partnership between the two universities has continued to deepen, evolving from the signing of a university-level cooperation agreement in 2019 to an expanding partnership in dual master’s and doctoral degree programs.

Connecting Universities, Research Institutions, and Industry: UGA’s International Research and Innovation Ecosystem
 

Université Grenoble Alpes is one of France’s major research-intensive universities and a key institution within the Grenoble research and innovation ecosystem. The Grenoble Alpes region brings together leading research organizations and institutions, including the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Inria, and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).
 

This concentration of universities, research institutions, advanced research facilities, and industry has created a closely connected innovation ecosystem that supports both fundamental research and real-world applications.
 

UGA’s current research strengths span areas including artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, microelectronics, quantum technologies, nanoscience, energy and the environment, health, and neuroscience. Through interdisciplinary research and industry–academia collaboration, the university seeks to connect fundamental discoveries with practical applications.
 

Grenoble is also recognized as one of Europe’s important microelectronics and semiconductor hubs and is home to major international research facilities such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). This rich research environment provides researchers and international partners with access to world-class infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration.
 

Faculty members, students, and distinguished guests actively participated in the event, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere for exchange.
 

From the 2019 Partnership to Dual Master’s and Doctoral Degrees: Deepening NCKU–UGA Collaboration
 

In his opening remarks, NCKU Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang noted that the partnership between NCKU and UGA has steadily developed since the two universities signed a university-level Memorandum of Understanding and Student Exchange Agreement in 2019, laying a strong foundation for academic and student exchange.
 

This year, the partnership reached a new stage with the signing of agreements for dual master’s and doctoral degree programs, alongside continued efforts to expand interdisciplinary research collaboration.
 

The two universities also signed the NCKU–UGA Collaborative Research Cluster Agreement on October 5, one day before President Lakhnech’s address. The agreement establishes a Cluster-to-Cluster collaboration framework through which research teams from both universities can connect and develop long-term collaboration in areas of shared interest.
 

Against this backdrop, President Lakhnech’s lecture and dialogue with NCKU faculty and students further extended the two universities’ shared vision for collaboration in research, education, and global engagement. The event not only continued the longstanding exchange between NCKU and UGA, but also provided an opportunity for members of the NCKU community to engage directly with the UGA president and consider how universities can transcend national and disciplinary boundaries to address global challenges.
 

In his address, President Lakhnech explored how Université Grenoble Alpes is responding to a rapidly changing international environment by leveraging cross-border partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration to expand opportunities for research and innovation. His perspectives closely resonated with the Cluster-to-Cluster collaboration currently being developed between NCKU and UGA.
 

Both sides engaged in a Q&A session during the event, sharing their experiences in international collaboration and higher education development.

Faculty and Students Explore New Opportunities in Research, Innovation, and International Collaboration
 

During the dialogue following the lecture, NCKU faculty and students raised questions from a range of perspectives, reflecting strong interest in the future of Taiwan–France higher education collaboration.
 

Questions explored how UGA has developed international partnerships with long-term impact and how the university connects with universities, research institutions, and industries across Grenoble and France to enable international partners to participate in the region’s innovation ecosystem.
 

The recently established dual master’s and doctoral degree programs also attracted considerable interest from NCKU students. Faculty and students asked how UGA supports dual-degree students in accessing research facilities, participating in research projects, and connecting with research teams and international partners across France. They also explored how dual-degree opportunities could provide pathways into broader international academic networks, industry–academia collaboration, and long-term career development.
 

As artificial intelligence continues to advance and global challenges become increasingly complex, the discussion also turned to the capabilities future generations of talent will need. Faculty and students asked how universities can help students balance depth of disciplinary expertise with interdisciplinary capabilities, while using international collaboration to develop independent judgment, cross-cultural communication, and the ability to work collaboratively to solve complex problems.
 

Faculty, students, and guests from Université Grenoble Alpes and NCKU gather for a group photo following the event, commemorating this important moment of international exchange.
 

From Global Collaboration to Shared Growth: A New Chapter for Taiwan–France Research and Talent Development
 

President Lakhnech’s visit to NCKU connected a broad vision for global collaboration with concrete discussions on research and innovation, international degree programs, and talent development, reflecting the evolution of the NCKU–UGA partnership from traditional student exchange toward deeper academic and research collaboration.
 

Looking ahead, NCKU and UGA will continue to expand collaboration in dual-degree education, interdisciplinary research, and international exchange, creating more opportunities for faculty and students to study, conduct research, and collaborate in an increasingly open global academic environment.
 

Through these efforts, the two universities seek not only to strengthen their institutional partnership, but also to empower the next generation of talent and explore new possibilities for addressing global challenges together.