Written by Amy Lin. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
UK-based higher education analytics firm QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) released the QS World University Rankings 2027 on June 18, 2026. National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) ranked 191st globally, entering the top 200 for the first time and setting a new institutional record — reflecting the university's continued growth in research output, teaching quality, internationalization, and sustainable governance.
UK-based higher education analytics firm QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) released the QS World University Rankings 2027 on June 18, 2026. National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) ranked 191st globally, entering the top 200 for the first time and setting a new institutional record — reflecting the university's continued growth in research output, teaching quality, internationalization, and sustainable governance.
NCKU's 2025 International Advisory Committee Meeting on University Affairs, September 26–27, 2025.NCKU climbed to 191st in the QS World University Rankings 2027, its best result to date. The university credited the gains to sustained efforts in advancing interdisciplinary research, breaking down academic boundaries, and fostering innovative collaboration across colleges and departments. It has also deepened its global partnership network through joint research initiatives and talent exchange with universities worldwide, significantly boosting international visibility and academic influence. NCKU will continue to pursue interdisciplinary collaboration and internationalization as twin pillars of its strategy toward becoming a world-class university.
The QS World University Rankings assesses universities' comprehensive performance across research, teaching, internationalization, and sustainability. NCKU's ranking improvement this year was driven primarily by stronger scores in Citations per Faculty, Faculty-Student Ratio, Sustainability, International Student Ratio, and Employment Outcomes.
AI Summit Project Team Forum, May 26, 2026.NCKU's improved Citations per Faculty score reflects the growing international impact of its research output. In recent years, the university has expanded global partnerships and deepened interdisciplinary exchange, driving steady growth in internationally co-authored publications and raising the global visibility and citation impact of its work.
Since President Meng-Ru Shen took office, NCKU has further strengthened its research capacity through several key initiatives — the International Advancement Program, the Sustainability Advancement Program, the NCKU AI Summit Program, and a pilot scheme encouraging cross-institutional collaborative research. To help faculty leverage research performance analytics and track academic trends, the university plans to host an institutional research analysis workshop in 2026, aimed at further sharpening the international competitiveness of its scholarly output.
Since President Meng-Ru Shen took office, NCKU has further strengthened its research capacity through several key initiatives — the International Advancement Program, the Sustainability Advancement Program, the NCKU AI Summit Program, and a pilot scheme encouraging cross-institutional collaborative research. To help faculty leverage research performance analytics and track academic trends, the university plans to host an institutional research analysis workshop in 2026, aimed at further sharpening the international competitiveness of its scholarly output.
NCKU delegation visits UGA's Center for Research and Innovation in Integrative Health (CReSI), April 17, 2026, to explore joint research in chronic disease, aging, and hypoxia-related health technologies.In recent years, NCKU has bolstered faculty retention and its appeal to international talent by enhancing faculty support, fostering a stronger environment for international collaborative research, advancing talent development, and broadening global partnerships and academic exchange opportunities — efforts that have also attracted outstanding international students to campus.
NCKU has actively pursued strategic partnerships with leading universities. In 2026, the university will establish an overseas base at the Institute of Science Tokyo and launch NCKU Global Collaborative Research Clusters (CRCs) to advance industry-academia-research collaboration. A CRC-based teaching, research, and dual-degree program will also be launched in partnership with Université Grenoble Alpes, France.
New initiatives including the GRIP International Research Partnership Program and the CiC International Alliance Seed Fund Research Program have further expanded NCKU's collaborative reach. Through these efforts, the university aims to grow its global cooperation network, strengthen campus internationalization, support faculty development and international talent cultivation, and build a self-sustaining global academic ecosystem — ultimately elevating NCKU's international visibility and worldwide influence.
NCKU has actively pursued strategic partnerships with leading universities. In 2026, the university will establish an overseas base at the Institute of Science Tokyo and launch NCKU Global Collaborative Research Clusters (CRCs) to advance industry-academia-research collaboration. A CRC-based teaching, research, and dual-degree program will also be launched in partnership with Université Grenoble Alpes, France.
New initiatives including the GRIP International Research Partnership Program and the CiC International Alliance Seed Fund Research Program have further expanded NCKU's collaborative reach. Through these efforts, the university aims to grow its global cooperation network, strengthen campus internationalization, support faculty development and international talent cultivation, and build a self-sustaining global academic ecosystem — ultimately elevating NCKU's international visibility and worldwide influence.
International Advancement Program: 2025 Taiwan–U.S. Training Workshop on Soil and Groundwater Technologies — Emerging Contaminant Investigation and Remediation Practices.
NCKU's gains in Sustainability reflect its long-standing commitment to embedding sustainability across teaching, research, and social engagement. In 2025, the university established the Office of Sustainable Strategy Development to align governance, education, and research resources. Through interdisciplinary integration and innovative talent cultivation, NCKU focuses on nurturing graduates with professional expertise, humanistic literacy, AI fluency, and leadership capability.
The university has further deepened its international ties and governance capacity by drawing on insights from global scholars through its International Advisory Committee on University Affairs, while leveraging channels such as its international newsletter to build academic reputation and global visibility.
Through the Sustainable Humanities and Technology Field Verification Program and the Humanities Innovation and Social Implementation Program, NCKU has advanced sustainable governance and social responsibility in practice. Its accomplishments in sustainability governance and net-zero transition have earned recognition from the 2025 National Sustainable Development Award (Education Category), the 2026 CommonWealth University Citizenship Award, and first prize in the Sustainable Curriculum category at the 7th Global Views Monthly USR Awards in 2026 — underscoring the university's excellence in sustainable development.
In 2026, NCKU also launched an SDG Keywords Workshop to help faculty and researchers align their work with sustainability goals.
The university has further deepened its international ties and governance capacity by drawing on insights from global scholars through its International Advisory Committee on University Affairs, while leveraging channels such as its international newsletter to build academic reputation and global visibility.
Through the Sustainable Humanities and Technology Field Verification Program and the Humanities Innovation and Social Implementation Program, NCKU has advanced sustainable governance and social responsibility in practice. Its accomplishments in sustainability governance and net-zero transition have earned recognition from the 2025 National Sustainable Development Award (Education Category), the 2026 CommonWealth University Citizenship Award, and first prize in the Sustainable Curriculum category at the 7th Global Views Monthly USR Awards in 2026 — underscoring the university's excellence in sustainable development.
In 2026, NCKU also launched an SDG Keywords Workshop to help faculty and researchers align their work with sustainability goals.
International Advancement Program: 7th International Workshop on GNSS Radio Occultation (2025).
NCKU's gains in Employment Outcomes reflect its long-standing emphasis on talent cultivation and industry-academia collaboration. Through curriculum innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and diverse industry partnership mechanisms, the university has strengthened students' practical skills and workplace competitiveness.
Cross-institutional collaborative research programs have further bridged academic research and industry needs, enhancing the applied value and social impact of research outcomes while expanding career development opportunities for students.
These efforts in talent cultivation have earned consistent recognition from employers, with NCKU ranked first in the Global Views Monthly survey of employers' most preferred university graduates for 12 consecutive years.
As global competition in higher education intensifies, NCKU will continue building on its strengths while integrating interdisciplinary expertise, identifying emerging international priorities, and expanding its global partnerships — fulfilling its mission as a university by producing research of strong impact and international standing.
Chuan-Pu Liu, Vice President for Research and Development, said NCKU is ready to take on pressing challenges including net-zero carbon reduction, smart healthcare, advanced AI, resilient disaster prevention, and humanistic governance. The university will deepen its collaboration with world-leading teams through cross-border, interdisciplinary research, using scholarly excellence as the engine of internationalization and the cornerstone of its long-term sustainable development.
Cross-institutional collaborative research programs have further bridged academic research and industry needs, enhancing the applied value and social impact of research outcomes while expanding career development opportunities for students.
These efforts in talent cultivation have earned consistent recognition from employers, with NCKU ranked first in the Global Views Monthly survey of employers' most preferred university graduates for 12 consecutive years.
As global competition in higher education intensifies, NCKU will continue building on its strengths while integrating interdisciplinary expertise, identifying emerging international priorities, and expanding its global partnerships — fulfilling its mission as a university by producing research of strong impact and international standing.
Chuan-Pu Liu, Vice President for Research and Development, said NCKU is ready to take on pressing challenges including net-zero carbon reduction, smart healthcare, advanced AI, resilient disaster prevention, and humanistic governance. The university will deepen its collaboration with world-leading teams through cross-border, interdisciplinary research, using scholarly excellence as the engine of internationalization and the cornerstone of its long-term sustainable development.
QS World University Rankings 2027（Taken from the Internet）.The QS World University Rankings covers indicators including academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact, internationalization, employment outcomes, and sustainability, reflecting a university’s overall competitiveness and global visibility. Moving forward, NCKU will continue to deepen interdisciplinary research, expand international engagement, strengthen talent cultivation, and advance sustainable governance to support the university’s steady development.
QS World University Rankings 2027
QS World University Rankings 2027
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-06-18
Date: 2026-06-18
