ACATCM Welcomes YUCM Delegation, Deepening a Longstanding Academic Partnership
Calgary, Alberta – September 17, 2026 – The Alberta College of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACATCM) was pleased to welcome a delegation from Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (YUCM) for an academic visit and exchange from September 14 to 17, 2026.
The delegation was led by Professor Xiantao Tai, Vice President of YUCM, and included Professor Wei Wang, Deputy Director of the Graduate School, and Associate Professor Xingya Huang, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Languages.
ACATCM and YUCM established a formal partnership in 2013, building a strong foundation for collaboration in education, clinical development, research, and academic exchange. This visit further strengthened that longstanding relationship while exploring new opportunities for future cooperation.
The timing was particularly significant as ACATCM launched Alberta’s first Bachelor of Acupuncture (B.Ac) degree in September 2026, marking a new stage in the development of acupuncture higher education in the province. As ACATCM strengthens its degree-level education and research capacity, collaboration with established Chinese medicine universities such as YUCM provides valuable academic and international support.
Deepening Academic and Research Collaboration
During the visit, representatives from both institutions discussed how to further integrate their academic, clinical, faculty, and research resources.
Building on more than a decade of cooperation, future areas of collaboration may include faculty and student exchange, graduate education, joint research, clinical knowledge exchange, and specialized academic training.
The partnership brings together complementary strengths: YUCM offers extensive experience in Chinese medicine higher education, graduate training, clinical specialties, and research, while ACATCM contributes nearly three decades of experience in acupuncture and TCM education in Alberta and a strong understanding of the Canadian professional and regulatory environment.
Professor Xiantao Tai Delivers Pediatric Tuina Lecture
A highlight of the visit was a special lecture delivered to ACATCM students by Professor Xiantao Tai, one of China’s foremost experts and clinician in the field of pediatric Tuina.
Professor Tai has extensive expertise in TCM clinical techniques, acupuncture and Tuina, and related therapies. Her main areas of research and clinical practice include pediatric Tuina and pediatric health management, as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine aromatherapy and aromatic herbal balm massage therapies.
The lecture gave ACATCM students a valuable opportunity to learn directly from a specialist in a field that is not commonly explored in depth within standard acupuncture education in Canada. It also broadened students’ understanding of the scope of Traditional Chinese Medicine beyond acupuncture and introduced additional non-pharmacological approaches to care.
Four YUCM Graduate Students Begin Three-Month Exchange
As another important part of the partnership, four graduate students from YUCM are undertaking a three-month academic exchange at ACATCM.
During their stay, they will participate in academic activities, research discussions, clinical observation, and professional exchange with ACATCM faculty and students.
The program supports ACATCM’s growing research environment by introducing new perspectives, research approaches, and opportunities for scholarly discussion. It also provides a foundation for future collaboration in joint research, faculty mentorship, and academic activities.
Looking Ahead
The September 2026 visit reaffirmed more than a decade of partnership between ACATCM and YUCM while opening new opportunities for collaboration.
From Professor Tai’s pediatric Tuina lecture to the graduate student exchange and discussions on future academic and research initiatives, the visit demonstrated how long-term institutional partnerships can create meaningful educational and scholarly opportunities.
As ACATCM enters a new chapter with Alberta’s first Bachelor of Acupuncture degree, the College looks forward to further strengthening its partnership with YUCM in education, research, clinical exchange, and academic innovation.