Co-SFSC team members visit in Thailand and Taiwan

Visit to Thailand: Co-SFSC reunion at Mahidol University, October 2025

Strengthening Global Academic Ties

On 30 October 2025, Mahidol University’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and National Taipei University’s College of Public Affairs signed an MOU to enhance collaboration through joint research, student and researcher exchanges, shared publications, and co-organized conferences — fostering international cooperation and sustainable knowledge exchange between Thailand and Taiwan.

This MOU builds upon the successful partnership from the Co-creation of Sustainable Food Supply Chains (CO-SFSC) project, co-initiated by Ying-Chen Lin (NTPU) and Kanang Kantamaturapoj (MU), marking another milestone in advancing academic innovation and sustainability.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the College of Public Affair, NTPU, and Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Mahidol University.

Visit to Taiwan: Co-SFSC reunion in NTPU, October 2025

The Principal Investigator of the Taiwan hub of the Co-creation of Sustainable Food Supply Chains (CO-SFSC), Ying-Chen Lin secured funding from National Taipei University (NTPU) to invite fellow team members for short-term academic visits. Aylin Topal from the Turkey hub visited from September 29 to October 18, 2025, and Natapol Thongplew from the Thailand hub visited from October 7 to 13, 2025.

During this short-term exchange, in addition to jointly participating in the Workshop on the Sustainability and Governance Assessment of Taiwan's Agri-food Industries organized by the Taiwan hub, a significant cooperative foundation was established. The visit was instrumental in establishing connections between the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkey and the College of Public Affairs at National Taipei University, ultimately leading to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for academic cooperation. This MOU lays a solid groundwork for future faculty and student exchanges, academic collaboration, and the joint execution of transnational research projects between the two colleges.

Furthermore, during her visit to NTPU, Aylin Topal co-taught an undergraduate cross-level course, "Urban Development," with Ying-Chen Lin in the Department of Real Estate and Built Environment, guiding students in deep critical thinking. Natapol Thongplew also participated in class discussions during his stay. With instructors from three different countries—Taiwan, Turkey, and Thailand—participating in the course, the interaction between faculty and students was highly enthusiastic. NTPU students who took the course reported that they gained immensely, not only broadening their global perspectives but also gaining new understandings and different viewpoints on complex urban issues.

The Belmont Forum's transnational cooperative research projects are not only for scholars from different countries to brainstorm on common research issues and produce academic results; more importantly, they serve to cultivate and build partnerships as a real research team. During their time at NTPU, Aylin Topal and Natapol Thongplew also fully immersed themselves in the local culture, including participating in the National Day fireworks celebration, learning about local beliefs, visiting traditional markets, trying different foods, and integrating into campus activities. Through such mutual visits, participants can gain a deeper understanding of different environments, thereby fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that lead to varying research outcomes across countries.

Aylin Topal, Natapol Thongplew, and Ying-Chen Lin visit the dean and vice dean of the College of Public Affairs, NTPU.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the College of Public Affair, NTPU, and Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, METU.

Aylin Topal joined the table tennis activity of the Department of Real Estate and Built Environment, NTPU.

Aylin Topal jointly delivers the course with Ying-Chen Lin, titled “Urban Development” at the Department of Real Estate and Built Environment, NTPU.

Aylin Topal, Natapol Thongplew, and Ying-Chen Lin enjoyed the night snack with students after the Urban Development class.

Natapol Thongplew shared the cases from the Thailand hub at the Workshop on the Sustainability and Governance Assessment of Taiwan's Agri-food Industries.

Aylin Topal visited the traditional fish market in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

Taiwan’s National Day is also Aylin Topal’s birthday; thus, the National Day fireworks show at Taipei 101 also served as the birthday celebration for Aylin Topal.

Traditional Taiwanese religious beliefs, including the worship of the Tiger God under the table, are primarily focused on the protection of children and the health of pets.

Aylin Topal, Natapol Thongplwa, and Ying-Chen Lin, three members from three countries within the Co-SFSC project, posed for a group photo at Taipei 101, Taiwan's most famous landmark.