NSYSU College of Management International Faculty Member in Taiwan for a Total of 22 Years – Professor David Emanuel Andersson Officially Obtains Taiwanese (ROC) Citizenship

Demonstrating Deep Commitment to Taiwan and Advancing Global Education at NSYSU

Professor David Emanuel Andersson, a long-serving international faculty member at the College of Management, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), has recently been granted Taiwanese citizenship, marking a significant milestone in his decades-long commitment to teaching, research, and life in Taiwan.

Born in Vänersborg, Sweden, David Andersson has dedicated his career to teaching business-related disciplines and researching creativity in cities, urban housing markets and urban planning, with a unique academic background spanning Europe and Asia. Having arrived in Taiwan for the first time in 1994, and choosing the island as his homebase, he has now served in the International Business MBA (IBMBA) Program at the NSYSU College of Management for over ten years, becoming one of its most distinguished international faculty members. David’s impression of NSYSU students is warm and positive: “Students are students, but NSYSU students tend to have greater motivation to learn than the global average. What really stands out, however, is the way that NSYSU acts as a bridge between Taiwan and two of the world's most interesting regions. On the one hand, the European connection is surprisingly strong. For example, there are exchange agreements with four Swedish universities, including my own alma maters, Gothenburg University and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). NSYSU also has several dual degree programs with several French universities. On the other hand, NSYSU serves as a gateway to the ASEAN countries, with a great number of students from the region, particularly Indonesia and Vietnam. This is fitting, since Kaohsiung is the economic node outside of ASEAN that is geographically closest to that region. For example, among ASEAN’s capital cities, Manila can be reached in less than 2 hours, and Hanoi is almost as close.”

We were glad to hear when Professor David said that southern Taiwan and NSYSU particularly are the best places for him: “I'm finally old enough to know what I like. And I like Taiwan, particularly southern Taiwan! I think it's not a coincidence that Taiwan was recently ranked as the best country for expats. It's just a good place to live in so many different ways: Kaohsiung’s mild tropical climate is among the best in the world; people are friendly; the food is good; it's relatively affordable; the health care system is top-notch; it's one of the few liberal democracies in this part of the world and the list goes on…

 I can only compare NSYSU with the other six universities I have worked for and the three universities at which I studied. What I like most is the autonomy given to faculty in terms of their research direction and teaching content. But then of course there is also the location. It's simply the best location for a campus anywhere. It's equally close to the sea, a nature reserve, and the downtown area of a major city. I can't think of anyplace anywhere else with that combination of locational attributes. 

Interestingly, this is my third time with NSYSU. I was an adjunct professor here for one semester back in 2006 and then I was a full-time professor from 2008 to 2012, and I have been back again for more than six years. It was and remains my favorite university. Nice colleagues and students, a supportive environment and a superb natural setting all play a part.”

Obtaining citizenship, he explained, is more than just an administrative step, it symbolizes his deep sense of belonging and commitment to Taiwan. "Being a citizen means that I am not an “expat.” I am now without any doubt a first-generation naturalized immigrant. I have also lived more years in Taiwan than in any other single country. I hope to contribute even more to our local and international students and to Taiwanese society as well as the greater Asia-Pacific community. I have lived in a total of 8 countries, of which Taiwan has made the greatest imprint. I lived in northern Taiwan from 1994 to 2001 and in southern Taiwan from 2003 to 2012 and again from 2019.”

David Andersson’s courses in the IBMBA program, including Managerial Economics, International Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Seminar on the Innovation Economy in the Asia-Pacific Region are highly popular among students. They expand students’ knowledge of business-related topics and enrich the college’s curriculum. Through his cross-cultural expertise and global experience, he helps students understand international market dynamics and develop the ability to approach business issues with open and diverse mindsets.

Dean Hao-Chieh Lin of the College of Management remarked, “Professor Andersson is not only a key driving force behind our internationalization efforts but also a scholar who has demonstrated deep love and commitment to Taiwan through his actions. His passion for teaching, cross-cultural expertise, and dedication to students have had a profound impact on the college’s development and the cultivation of students’ global perspectives. We warmly congratulate him on becoming a citizen of Taiwan and look forward to continuing to advance the College of Management’s mission of global engagement and local relevance together.”

When asked a question about his Chinese language skills, David Andersson replied as follows: “I can have a conversation in Chinese, as long as it deals with everyday stuff like food or movies or the weather. But don't ask me about scholarly topics in Chinese! I'm not very good at reading Chinese characters. Street signs are OK, except when they are not. My advice to those who want to learn Chinese would be to focus on spoken Chinese, which is relatively straightforward. The pronunciation can be challenging (the four tones), but the grammar is more straightforward than the grammatical rules of the other two languages that I can speak.”

David Andersson’s journey embodies the College of Management’s commitment to both internationalization and local engagement. Looking ahead, the college will continue to welcome distinguished scholars from around the world to create an academic environment that blends global perspectives with local insights, nurturing future business leaders equipped with world-class competitiveness.