Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
 
Cheers magazine has released the results of its 2026 University President Peer Rating Survey. National Cheng Kung University once again ranked first among leading universities, based on strong performance in interdisciplinary integration, sustainability and University Social Responsibility (USR), global rankings, and industry collaboration. President Meng-Ru Shen received high recognition from fellow university leaders for his leadership.
 
NCKU ranked first overall in the survey for school affairs performance, standing out in three key areas:
 
★ Clear interdisciplinary focus: NCKU promotes interdisciplinary research in sustainability, humanities and social sciences, and smart health, breaking traditional academic boundaries.
 
★ Strong progress in global rankings: In 2026, NCKU ranked 35th in the 2026 Interdisciplinary Science Rankings by Times Higher Education, the highest in Taiwan.
 
★ Leading performance in sustainability and USR: NCKU received the highest number of USR awards in Taiwan, with concrete results in community engagement and social impact.
 

NCKU ranks first in the Cheers magazine 2026 University President Peer Rating Survey. President Meng-Ru Shen received high recognition from fellow university leaders for his leadership.

Since 2015, Cheers magazine has conducted the University President Peer Rating Survey. Over the past 12 years, NCKU has ranked first four times, including three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024. This reflects NCKU’s stable governance and consistent policies, providing assurance to students.
 
“I see NCKU as a university that turns knowledge into a force for society,” said NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen during the interview. With his background as a clinical physician and former superintendent of NCKU Hospital during the pandemic, he believes close cooperation between universities and hospitals is essential. He emphasized that higher education should pursue academic excellence while also serving the public. “This mission has been part of NCKU’s core values since its founding.”
 

President Shen hopes that NCKU will be not only a leading university, but also a force trusted by the nation and society in critical times.
 

President Shen grounds his leadership by focusing on people. He sees students, faculty, and staff as the university’s three most important groups. Without students, a university loses its purpose. Faculty are the core of teaching and research. And staff ensures smooth campus operations. His management lies in regular visits to different units, listening to and understanding their needs and reviewing whether learning resources are sufficient, workplaces are safe, and the campus environment encourages student engagement.
 
President Shen compares students to young trees. NCKU is a resource-rich land that provides strong professional training and interdisciplinary skills, while also nurturing empathy, life education, and aesthetic awareness. Industry employers recognize NCKU students for their practical abilities, which President Shen agrees with. Nonetheless, President Shen hopes to further develop the students’ leadership skills, giving them chances to take responsibility and learn from trial and error. “My role,” he says, “is to create a safe environment for growth.”
 
For faculty development, President Shen encourages the faculty to actively look for collaborating partners instead of being isolated in their own fields, so that research not only advances academic knowledge but also responds to social needs. NCKU allows for its faculty to expand the vision and possibilities.
 
President Shen hopes that NCKU will be not only a leading university, “but also a force trusted by the nation and society in critical times.”
 
Link to the Survey Report

 

Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-03-03