To strengthen international collaboration and enhance institutional governance, Kun Shan University and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) jointly hosted the International Administrative and Financial Management Experience Exchange on March 19. The event was attended by Kun Shan University’s administrative delegation, led by Dr. Chiu Kuo-Chun, Dean of the Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs, and Ms. Hsieh Ting-Chin, Director of the Accounting Office. Through practical exchanges on administrative and financial management systems, the two universities established a platform for sharing institutional governance experiences, providing valuable insights to support the continuous enhancement of university governance and future institutional development.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is one of Kun Shan University’s key partner institutions. Established more than a century ago, PUP is one of the Philippines’ leading national universities, with a student population of approximately 100,000 and a reputation for its large scale and significant academic influence. The two universities have maintained a close and enduring partnership over the years. As the Deputy Coordinating University for the Philippines Overseas Base under the International Industrial Talents Education Special Program (New Specialized Program), Kun Shan University has actively promoted a wide range of collaborative initiatives. In 2025, the university officially established a representative office at PUP, further expanding its international education network and demonstrating its long-term commitment to strengthening educational partnerships across Southeast Asia.
This exchange focused on key topics including budgeting systems, digital financial management, and overall fund allocation and diversified revenue generation. Drawing on their respective national contexts, the two universities shared practical experiences and financial governance models, discussing issues such as differences between public and private higher education systems, institutional scale, and resource availability. These discussions fostered the exchange of diverse perspectives and provided valuable insights for optimizing institutional governance and financial management practices.
During the session on financial management practices, Kun Shan University shared its strategies for addressing the challenges posed by declining birth rates. These included strengthening industry–academia collaboration, actively securing government funding, and maximizing the utilization of campus assets to expand external revenue sources while maintaining sound financial sustainability. The university also introduced its integrated campus information system, which incorporates functions such as budget control, procurement management, asset management, and accounting review, significantly improving administrative efficiency and financial transparency. In addition, Kun Shan University has implemented a performance-based budgeting system that aligns resource allocation with key performance indicators in teaching, research, industry collaboration, and student recruitment, thereby enhancing overall institutional governance.
Ms. Queen D. Franad, Director of the Budget Services Office at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), remarked that the exchange provided valuable insights, particularly regarding financial resource allocation and strategies for maximizing limited resources while controlling expenditures. She noted that ensuring adequate funding for faculty and staff salaries, as well as maintaining essential university operations within constrained budgets, remains a longstanding challenge for higher education institutions. The practical industry–academia collaboration cases shared by Kun Shan University, she added, offer valuable references for future financial management and strategic resource planning.
In his remarks, Dr. Chiu Kuo-Chun, Dean of the Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs, emphasized that administrative exchanges serve as an important bridge for advancing international collaboration. By sharing the challenges each institution faces and exchanging innovative practices, universities can not only learn from one another but also work together to enhance the quality of institutional governance. He further noted that Kun Shan University and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) have maintained a strong and enduring partnership over the years and will continue to promote diverse collaborative initiatives to further strengthen their international ties.
The exchange concluded in a productive and engaging atmosphere of open discussion. In addition to sharing valuable experiences in institutional governance and resource management, the two universities further reinforced their partnership and reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing sustainable higher education and enhancing international competitiveness.
