Introduction
The Dual Degree Program is an international academic exchange model that goes beyond traditional sister school agreements or short-term student exchanges, fostering deeper transnational academic cooperation. This program has been implemented in various educational systems worldwide for many years and is particularly prevalent in European Union countries. Since 2004, Taiwan's Ministry of Education has also actively promoted such programs.
The Dual Degree Program, or a Joint dual degree, is a novel academic curriculum distinct from a Double Degree. In a Dual Degree Program, students from two partner institutions can transfer and continue their studies at the collaborating institution without taking standardized tests such as TOEFL, GRE, or TOEIC, provided they have completed the required number of semesters at their home institution. Upon meeting the graduation requirements of both institutions, students can obtain degrees from both schools simultaneously.
For example, the institutions mutually recognize course credits in a dual degree agreement between a domestic university and an international sister school. Students can then proceed to the partner institution to take courses or conduct research. Upon fulfilling the graduation requirements of both universities, students can earn degrees from each institution, thus achieving a Dual Degree.
Partner Schools
Since 2012, our university has signed nine transnational dual degree agreements for doctoral programs, spanning Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. The School of Pharmacy signed the first agreement in March 2012 with the University of Szeged in Hungary. A doctoral student from our Institute of Natural Products, Mr. Lai, attended the University of Szeged under this program from March to September 2012. He completed his doctoral thesis in June 2014 and became our first dual-degree graduate. In November of the same year, the School of Pharmacy and Medicine signed a second agreement with Uppsala University in Sweden. In 2013, the School of Medicine signed the third agreement with the University of California, Irvine. The fourth agreement was signed in 2015 by the Department of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry of the School of Life Sciences with Aix-Marseille University in France. The fifth agreement was signed in 2017 by the School of Medicine with Griffith University in Australia and updated to a university-level dual degree agreement in 2019. The sixth agreement was signed in August 2020 with the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at the City of Hope National Medical Center in the United States. The seventh agreement was signed in December 2020 by the School of Pharmacy with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. The eighth agreement was signed in August 2021 by the Department of Medical Technology with the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences at Chulalongkorn University. The ninth agreement was signed in September 2022 by the School of Health Science and the Faculty of Science and Graduate Studies at Mahidol University in Thailand.
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Item
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University
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Effective Date
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Collaborating Schools
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Participating Departments
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1
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University of California, Irvine
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2019.03
(Updated Agreement)
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School of Medicine, School of Dentistry
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Graduate Institute of Medicine, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, PhD Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, PhD Program in Dentistry
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2
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Uppsala University
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2012.11.09
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School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy
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Graduate Institute of Medicine, Graduate Institute of Natural Products, PhD Program in Pharmacy
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3
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University of Szeged
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2012.03.20
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School of Pharmacy
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Graduate Institute of Natural Products, PhD Program in Pharmacy
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4
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Aix-Marseille University
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2018.06.25 (Updated Agreement)
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School of Life Sciences
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PhD Program in Medicinal and Applied Chemistry
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5
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Griffith University
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2019.10.16 (Updated Agreement) |
University-level
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University-level
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6
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Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope
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2020.08.12
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University-level
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University-level
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7
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Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chulalongkorn University
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2020.12.02
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School of Pharmacy
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Graduate Institute of Natural Products, PhD Program in Pharmacy
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8
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Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences at Chulalongkorn University
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2021.08.30
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School of Health Science
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Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology
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9
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Faculty of Science and Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University
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2022.09.16
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School of Health Science
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School of Health Science
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Achievements
As of the 2022 academic year, our university has sent 17 students abroad through the nine dual degree agreements. To date, 13 of our students have successfully obtained transnational dual degrees, showcasing excellent performance. Additionally, five international students have come to our university through the dual degree program, demonstrating significant results in mutual exchange. The dual degree program is a global academic collaboration project that benefits faculty and students.
Faculty Benefits:
- Enhanced interaction with international partner schools.
- Close academic exchanges leading to increased international research paper publications.
Student Benefits:
- Substantial improvement in language skills, academic performance, and cultural exchange.
- Obtaining degrees from both our university and prestigious international universities.
Building on the existing foundation, our university is now actively promoting the dual degree program, aiming to expand collaboration, significantly enhance the university's international research capabilities, and greatly increase the international competitiveness of our students.
