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National Cheng Kung University

Coordinates: 23°00′N 120°13′E / 23.000°N 120.217°E / 23.000; 120.217
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National Cheng Kung University
國立成功大學
Former name
Tainan Technical College (1931–1946)
Taiwan Provincial College of Engineering (1946–1971)
Motto
窮理致知[1]
Motto in English
Knowledge through reason[2]
TypePublic research university
EstablishedNovember 11, 1931; 94 years ago (1931-11-11)
EndowmentNT$20 billion (2022)
(US$665 million)
PresidentShen Meng-ru
Academic staff
2,175[3]
Undergraduates12,010[4]
Postgraduates10,815[4]
Location
Tainan
,
Taiwan
CampusUrban, 461.9 acres (186.9 ha)
Colors Red  Grey  White [5]
Affiliations
WebsiteEnglish, Chinese
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese国立成功大学
Traditional Chinese國立成功大學
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGuólì Chénggōng Dàxué
Bopomofoㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄌㄧˋ ㄔㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄩㄝˊ
Wade–GilesKuo2-li4 Ch'eng2-kung1 Ta4-hsüeh2
Tongyong PinyinGuólì Chénggōng Dàsyué
Southern Min
Hokkien POJKok-li̍p Sêng-kong-tāi-ha̍k
Map

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU; Chinese: 國立成功大學) is a public research university in the East District of Tainan, Taiwan. Founded in 1931 during Japanese rule as a technical and engineering college, the university is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Taiwan.[7]

The university is organized into nine colleges, where most students are enrolled primarily in engineering, science, medicine, and design programs. The university is a founding member of the Taiwan Comprehensive University System, a strategic alliance of four leading research universities in the Southern Taiwan. The university is also a member of AACSB and IEET, and the only member from Taiwan in the Worldwide Universities Network. Its main campus in Tainan houses the National Cheng Kung University Hospital and the National Cheng Kung University Museum.

In 2005, NCKU was chosen by the Ministry of Education as one of the seven universities in Taiwan for the Aim for the Top University Project (邁向頂尖大學計畫), which is similar to Top Global University Project in Japan and Universities of Excellence in Germany. Starting from 2006, because of its academic performance and research potential, the Ministry of Education (Taiwan) has offered NCKU NT$1.7 billion annually for five consecutive years, which is the second highest amount received among the universities in the project.[8]

History

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National Cheng Kung University was originally established under Japanese colonial government in January 1931 as the Tainan Technical College. After the Japanese handover of Taiwan in October 1945, the school was renamed Taiwan Provincial Tainan Junior College of Technology in March 1946, and then to Taiwan Provincial College of Engineering in October the same year.

When the Republic of China government moved to Taiwan in 1949, it was one of the three existing colleges in Taiwan. As the number of colleges expanded, it was upgraded to a provincial university in 1956 as Provincial Cheng Kung University,[9] named after Koxinga, a Southern Ming military general who drove the Dutch East India Company from Taiwan and founded the Kingdom of Tungning. In 1971, the university became a national university and was renamed National Cheng Kung University.[citation needed]

Former Minister for Education Wu Jin served as the first president of the new National Cheng Kung University.[10]

College of Engineering

Campuses

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NCKU is located in Tainan City, Taiwan. The main campus is situated across from the Tainan Railway Station, offering convenient transportation. NCKU has 11 campuses occupying a total of 187 hectares of land in the greater Tainan area, including the Cheng-Kung, Sheng-Li, Kuang-Fu, Cheng-Hsing, Tzu-Chiang, Ching-Yeh, Li-Hsing, Tung-Ning, Kuei-Jen, An-Nan and Dou-Liu campuses, and some areas designated for dormitory use.

On 12 January 2011, the Y. S. Sun Green Building Research Center was inaugurated.[11] It is the world's first green educational center as well as Taiwan's first zero carbon building.[12] The 4,800 m2 (52,000 sq ft)-facility cost NT$30 million (US$4.41 million) to construct, far below the original NT$180 million budget.[11] Natural ventilation, limited power usage, reduced window size, and energy efficient lighting all contribute to the building's carbon neutrality.[11]

Organization

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NCKU Main Library

NCKU comprises 9 colleges, 43 departments, and 39 institutes. NCKU is organized into 9 colleges, including Liberal Arts, Sciences, Management, Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Social Science, Planning & Design, Bioscience & Biotechnology and Medicine, each with its own faculties, departments, and institutes offering programs up to doctoral level. The university currently offers 42 undergraduate programs, 74 master's degree programs, 53 doctoral programs, and 17 master's degree programs for working professionals. While most courses are taught in Mandarin Chinese, many are offered in English.[citation needed]

International programs

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Central quadrangle

NCKU has 401 cooperation agreements with 251 institutions and universities across the world. Student exchange agreements have been signed with 98 foreign partner universities including University of Southern California, Technical University of Munich, Leiden University, the University of New South Wales, Kyoto University, Seoul National University, National University of Singapore, etc.[citation needed]

In 2018, KU Leuven and IMEC reached dual degree agreement with NCKU.[13] During the same year, NCKU and Purdue University signed the agreement of collaboration for international dual degree program and online courses.[14] TU Darmstadt launched its liaison office in Asia at NCKU on 21 May 2019.[15]

NCKU participates in the Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience of Academia Sinica, the national academy of Taiwan.[citation needed]

Rankings

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University rankings
Global – Overall
ARWU World[16]301-400 (2022)
CWTS World[17]218 (2020)
QS World[18]=203 (2026)
THE World[19]601-800 (2023)
USNWR Global[20]639 (2023)
Regional – Overall
QS Asia[21]36 (2023)
THE Asia[22]159 (2023)
National – Overall
QS National[23]3 (2025)

NCKU is generally considered to be a top tier university in Taiwan, along with National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. In 2014, the Representative of Japan in Taiwan listed NCKU as one of the seven well-known Taiwanese universities.[24]

Overall

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Globally, NCKU is 228th in QS WUR 2024, 601–800th in Times WUR 2023, 639th in U.S. News & World Report rankings 2022-2023, 301–400th in ARWU 2022, and 218th in CWTS Leiden Ranking.[25][26][27][28]

Subject/Area

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According to QS World University Rankings by Subject in 2020,[29] NCKU ranked within the world's top 150 universities in the following fields: Civil and Structural Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Systems, Chemical Engineering, Engineering and Technology, Materials Sciences, Architecture, Statistics and Operational Research, Art and Design, and Environmental Studies.

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked NCKU 76-100th in the engineering field in 2016 and 101-150th in computer science in 2015.[30]

According to the ESI database, NCKU has published 18,333 papers in the last ten years and has respectively ranked the 24th and the 51st in the list of world top 100 universities respectively in the engineering and computer science fields.

List of presidents

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  • Wakatsuki Michitaka [zh] (January 1931 – August 1941)
  • Sakuma Iwao; 佐久間巖 (August 1941 – March 1944)
  • Shunsuke Suemitsu; 末光俊介 (March 1944 – October 1944)
  • Saburo Kousuke; 甲婓三郎 (October 1944 – October 1945)
  • Wang Shih-an [zh] (February 1946 – August 1951)
  • Yeh Tung-tse (August 1951 – February 1952)
  • Qing Dajun [zh] (February 1952 – July 1957)
  • Yen Cheng-hsing (August 1957 – December 1964)
  • Lo Yun-ping [zh] (January 1965 – July 1971)
  • Ni Chao [zh] (August 1971 – July 1978)
  • Wang Wei-nung [zh] (August 1978 – July 1980)
  • Hsia Han-min; 夏漢民 (August 1980 – July 1988)
  • Ma Che-ju; 馬哲儒 (August 1988 – July 1994)
  • Wu Jin (August 1994 – June 1996)
  • Huang Ting-chia; 黃定加 (July 1996 – February 1997)
  • Weng Cheng-yi; 翁政義 (February 1997 – May 2000)
  • Weng Hung-shan; 翁鴻山 (May 2000 – January 2001)
  • Kao Chiang; 高強 (February 2001 – January 2007)
  • Michael M. C. Lai (February 2007 – January 2011)
  • Hwung Hwung-hweng (February 2011 – January 2015)
  • Su Huey-jen; 蘇慧貞 (February 2015 – January 2023)
  • Shen Meng-ru; 沈孟儒 (Since February 2023)

Notable alumni

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The university has produced notable graduates across politics, science, and the arts. Among its most notable alumni is Lai Ching-te, the current president of Taiwan, who graduated from NCKU's post-baccalaureate medicine program in 1991 and was awarded the university's distinguished alumni medal in 2013.[31] Other prominent political figures include Mao Chi-kuo, Premier of the Republic of China (2014–2016); Chang Chia-juch, Minister of Economic Affairs (2013–2014); Chen Hsiung-wen, Minister of Labor (2014–2016); Lung Ying-tai, Minister of Culture (2012–2014); Chen Liang-gee, Minister of Science and Technology (2016–2020); Wang Chien-shien, President of the Control Yuan (2008–2014); Wu Po-hsiung, Mayor of Taipei (1988–1990) and later Chairman of the Kuomintang (2007–2009); Fan Chih-ku, Administrative Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications; Lee Wo-shih, Magistrate of Kinmen County (2009–2014); Lin Hsin-i, Chairman of the Industrial Technology Research Institute and President of China Motor Corporation; and Hsu Hsin-ying, founder and Chairperson of the Minkuotang.

In the fields of science and engineering, notable graduates include Tze-Chiang Chen, IBM Fellow and Vice President of Science and Technology at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center; Ken P. Chong, Director of the Division of Mechanics and Materials at the U.S. National Science Foundation; Chu Ching-wu, a leading superconductor physicist and President of the Taiwan Comprehensive University System; Wei-Kan Chu, professor of physics at the University of Houston; Lin Yi-bing, Vice President of the Office of Research and Development at National Chiao Tung University; Chung Laung Liu, computer scientist; and Wen Ho Lee, the nuclear physicist once accused of espionage. Samuel C. C. Ting, a Nobel Prize laureate in physics, also attended NCKU before returning to the United States. Architect Chu-yuan Lee, who designed Taipei 101, one of the largest skyscrapers in the world, also studied at the university.

In culture and the humanities, Cheng Nan-jung and Pai Hsien-yung both began their studies in engineering at NCKU before shifting to the humanities and went on to become prominent public intellectuals and writers. In addition, NCKU has many international alumni who have studied Mandarin Chinese at the university, such as Mike Frerichs, the state treasurer of Illinois.

Notable faculty

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  • Wong Tsu, first aeronautical engineer at Boeing

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "校務基本資料 (School Profile)". National Cheng Kung University. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "國立成功大學教職員人數統計表" (PDF). pers.ncku.edu.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b "註冊組統計數據". reg-acad.ncku.edu.tw (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  5. ^ "NCKU: Colors".
  6. ^ "科技部公布「國際產學聯盟」通過名單 鏈結國際 麻省理工學院、柏克萊大學來台交流-科技部". www.most.gov.tw.
  7. ^ "Brief History ： College of Social Sciences, National Cheng Kung University. - College of Social Sciences, National Cheng Kung University". www.css.ncku.edu.tw. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  8. ^ Mao, Huan-wen (9 June 2005). "Universities get opportunity to excel". Taipei Times. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
  9. ^ "National Cheng Kung University Organization profile". Research Output NCKU. National Cheng Kung University. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Former Education Minister Wu Jin dies at 74". China Post. 16 January 2008. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  11. ^ a b c "Quirky but efficient, Taiwan's first carbon neutral building opens". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  12. ^ Kuo, Grace (7 January 2011). "NCKU completes Taiwan's first zero-carbon building". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  13. ^ "Dual Degree Opportunities". www.imec-int.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  14. ^ "NCKU and Purdue have signed the agreement of collaboration for international dual degree program and online courses - NCKU, 國立成功大學 National Cheng Kung University". web.ncku.edu.tw.
  15. ^ "A Solid and Trusting Partnership – Opening of TU Darmstadt's Liaison Office at NCKU, the First German University Center in Taiwan - NCKU, 國立成功大學 National Cheng Kung University". web.ncku.edu.tw.
  16. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2020 - Top 500 universities - Shanghai Ranking - 2020 - World University Ranking - 2020". www.shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  17. ^ (CWTS), Centre for Science and Technology Studies. "CWTS Leiden Ranking". CWTS Leiden Ranking.
  18. ^ "QS World University Rankings".
  19. ^ "World University Rankings". 13 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Best Global Universities". www.usnews.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  21. ^ "QS University Rankings: Asia 2021". 30 November 2019.
  22. ^ "Asia University Rankings". 14 March 2016.
  23. ^ "QS Taiwan University Rankings 2025". Top Universities. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  24. ^ 交流, No.879, p.6. A total of 5 public universities and 2 private universities were selected: NTU, NCKU, NTHU, NYCU, NCCU, Fu Jen Catholic and Soochow University.
  25. ^ "National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)". Top Universities. 16 July 2015.
  26. ^ "QS University Rankings: Asia 2021". Top Universities. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  27. ^ Studies (CWTS), Centre for Science and Technology. "CWTS Leiden Ranking". CWTS Leiden Ranking. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  28. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020".
  30. ^ "National Cheng Kung University - Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2020 - Shanghai Ranking - 2020". www.shanghairanking.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  31. ^ Hsu, Tsu-Yueh (20 November 2024). "President Lai Celebrates NCKU's 93rd Anniversary at the Alumni Homecoming Gala". National Cheng Kung University. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
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