Global Perspectives, Local Impact: Dr Cha-Hsuan Liu Shares Insights with Asian Institutions

08.10.2025

Wittenborg Associate Professor Delivers Workshops for Policymakers and Education Officers in Taiwan and Macau

This summer, Wittenborg associate professor Dr Cha-Hsuan Liu carried out a series of academic activities across Asia, sharing her expertise on youth development, healthcare and international collaboration. Her itinerary included delivering keynotes and workshops in Taiwan’s Taitung County and at Kaohsiung Medical University. She was also a keynote speaker in the 2025 Asia Pacific Physical and Mental Health Conference in Macau.

Reflecting on her activities, Liu explained that she has adopted a thematic approach to her lectures in recent years. “Since 2023, I have tried to weave my talks into an overarching theme. This year, I chose ‘Outside In’, because I wanted to introduce outside perspectives to local audiences,” she said.

Discussing youth and well-being

On 8 and 9 July, Liu was invited by the Taitung County administration, a rural region in Taiwan, to speak with both policymakers and young people. The workshops addressed the challenges faced by children and families in areas with limited resources and high levels of screen time among youth.

“One day was dedicated to policymakers, social workers and teachers, and the next day to children aged 10 to 18,” she explained. “With the students, we discussed their past experiences and their aspirations for the future. They appreciated this opportunity very much, as for many it is not easy to travel to the major cities to access cultural or educational activities.”

She added that the workshops encouraged students to reflect on how their upbringing influenced their identity. “One student shared that, after her parents’ divorce, she often felt insecure and different from others. But through the discussion, she realised that this situation had made her more independent and mature. What once seemed a disadvantage became an asset,” the associate professor recalled.

In her talk with officials, she compared policies on the use of digital devices in education. “In the Netherlands, for instance, students must leave their smartphones outside the classroom, as the government believes they can harm learning by causing distraction. In Taiwan, similar school policies are addressed with different considerations, such as the encouragement to self-regulation. By comparing these approaches, policymakers and educators can reflect on what might be improved.”

Liu also travelled to Macau to take part in the Asia Pacific Physical and Mental Health Conference from 24 to 27 July, which gathered professionals from across the region. Her presentation centred on welfare and well-being policies for youth. “It was very insightful to exchange views in such a diverse setting,” she said. “During the forum where I delivered my keynote, we saw how different countries approach these issues, and that broadens our understanding.”

Academic collaboration in Kaohsiung

On 14 July, Liu returned to her alma mater, Kaohsiung Medical University, to deliver a lecture on international academic cooperation. Her talk focused on initiatives such as the Healing through Humanity network and the Erasmus+ Green4Adu project at Wittenborg, which promotes skills development linked to digital competencies, well-being and sustainability. She also shared her experiences from the Africa-Asia International Conference-Festival (Confest) where she organised a programme on Global Health Matters in June in Dakar, Senegal.

“The faculty members were very eager to learn more about cooperation with Europe,” she noted. “Traditionally, their connections are mostly with the United States and East Asia. But now they want to understand better how they can work together with European institutions.”

While in Taiwan, the associate professor also delivered a lecture to master’s students in the Department of Welfare at Chinese Culture University, addressing how parents may consciously assist their children in using digital technologies.

The importance of internationalisation

For Liu, these activities resonate strongly with Wittenborg’s upcoming Globalisation Forum, which will be held in November. The event brings together academics, industry professionals and students to exchange perspectives on global opportunities and challenges.

“What I experienced this summer is exactly what the Globalisation Forum aims to achieve,” she said. “Only from different perspectives can we create good ideas for the future. If there is only one viewpoint, our imagination and solutions remain limited.”

Her recent engagements also demonstrated how international cooperation enriches both local communities and global debates. “By bringing ideas from Europe to Asia and from Asia to Europe, I offer new angles on education and health. But at the same time, I learned from their approaches and their cultural context. This kind of exchange is essential for building better policies and practices,” she concluded.