Exploring International Relations and Trade: 2024 Field Visit of NCCU IMES's Cross-Border Digital Trade Class to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Taipei City, October 30, 2024 – Students from NCCU IMES’s Cross-Border Digital Trade class recently embarked on a field trip to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The visit was hosted by MOFA and featured welcoming remarks by Jean Y.J. Chen, Deputy Counselor on Home Assignment for the Public Diplomacy Coordination Council. Students also had the opportunity to interact with Ambassador Simon S.K. Tu and engage with Professor Alicia Say, who oversees the class, enriching their understanding of the subjects. In addition, the speech about Taiwan’s role in global trade led by Cecilia Wu, Senior Secretary of the Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, shed lights on the new trends of global economy and Taiwan’s approaches to the new trade dynamics.
This field trip offered students a unique opportunity to gain insights into international relations and trade. Deputy Counselor Jean Y.J. Chen highlighted MOFA’s comprehensive, values-driven approach, emphasizing strategies such as economic and trade diplomacy, alignment with democratic nations, and cultivating strategic partnerships to gain insights from diverse international perspectives.
Building on this, during her speech, Cecilia Wu discussed the current global economic and geopolitical landscape. She addressed the rising geopolitical tensions and their impact on global supply chains, with trends like de-risking, decoupling, and protectionism influencing economic policies. Additionally, she underscored the need for economies to embrace transformative growth strategies to address climate change challenges. In closing, Wu encouraged students to prioritize soft skills development, emphasizing their importance for career growth and resilience.
This visit is one of many experiential learning opportunities offered within the Cross-Border Digital Trade class, allowing students to expand their knowledge and gain invaluable real-world insights from seasoned experts, ultimately preparing them to become future leaders in international trade.
IMES: The International Master’s Program of Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES) at National Chengchi University (NCCU) since its inception, has remained the only graduate program in the world that integrates both applied economics and social development. This fully English-taught interdisciplinary program offers a broad range of applied economics fields, alongside emerging trends in social development such as digitalization and innovation, AI and semiconductor, sustainability, and the sharing economy.
