【94th Anniversary】 Sharing Progress and Pride with Alma Mater: Alumni as a Solid Force for NCKU’s Sustainable Success-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

This year marks the 94th anniversary of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). Over the decades, NCKU has witnessed remarkable growth and nurtured 220,000 outstanding alumni. Recognizing alumni as the university’s most precious asset, President Meng-Ju Shen (沈孟儒) hosted the inaugural Alumni Gathering on November 9, personally leading the administrative team to share recent achievements in student support, green campus initiatives, campus planning, AI research, and international collaborations. President Shen expressed hope that alumni will continue to support their alma mater and serve as a strong foundation for NCKU’s progress and sustainable prosperity.

The “Reconnect with NCKU: Alumni Gathering” (成緣再聚．校友有約) took place at 3:30 PM in Cheng Kung Hall on the Guangfu Campus. President Shen emotionally opened the event, emphasizing that the university’s greatest strength lies in the support of its alumni. He highlighted recent alumni interactions, including contributions from the President of the NCKU Global Alumni Association and Chairman of Qisda Corporation, Chih-Hung Chen, who has long been involved in international affairs and university development; as well as four outstanding alumni—Hsin-Kun Peng (彭信坤), Ta-Kang Ma (馬大康), Shu-Tzu Chen (陳淑姿), and Jing-Lai Lu (盧鏡來)—who continue to contribute to NCKU through academia, technology, national finance, and institutional support. These examples represent just a fraction of NCKU’s extensive alumni network, demonstrating how alumni consistently give back to advance the university.

The founding president, Michitaka Wakatsuki (若槻道隆), set educational goals emphasizing social engagement and cultivating students with clear thinking, open-mindedness, and agility, while encouraging any progress to contribute to national growth. Over 94 years, NCKU has played a critical role in national academic support and talent cultivation, fulfilling its societal mission. The university maintains a high public favorability among Tainan residents, at 88–90%. NCKU has become a prominent academic brand, excelling in student recruitment preferences, peer evaluations among university leaders, and medical system quality. Its international academic standing has risen at twice the pace over the past three years compared to the prior eight years.

Looking ahead, President Shen outlined three major development directions:
 

1. Student-Centered Education – Cultivating both professional hard skills and soft skills in humanities and aesthetics, promoting cross-disciplinary curricula and life education to nurture empathetic, team-oriented, well-rounded talents.

 

2. Embracing the AI Era – Establishing AI-focused educational and research frameworks encompassing databases, computing power, cybersecurity, and intelligent applications.

 

3. Laying the Foundation for NCKU’s Centennial Development – Integrating research capabilities with industry, addressing national challenges in energy, climate resilience, cybersecurity, and technological autonomy, and continuing to serve as a key academic engine for Taiwan.

Following the opening, Dean of Student Affairs, Liang-Yi Hung (洪良宜), shared student support initiatives; Chief Administrative Officer, Chien-Hung Wu (吳建宏), highlighted green campus achievements over the past two years; Assistant Vice President, Ping-Sheng Wu (吳秉聲), presented the campus master plan; Vice President for International Affairs, Sun-Yuan Hsieh (謝孫源), discussed AI research; and Vice President, Shih-Wei Chang (張始偉), reported on international initiatives.

Student Affairs: Turning Support into Strength

Dean Liang-Yi Hung outlined NCKU’s vision of “Happiness through Shared Well-being,” promoting holistic education and a friendly campus environment to help students explore, plan their futures, and develop career paths within a safe, supportive, and diverse environment.

To help freshmen adapt, NCKU has established the “Freshman Support Office” and launched on-campus orientation missions, guiding students to discover campus resources and learning directions. Safety and a friendly environment include night escort services, gender-friendly restrooms, and the Campus Safety Center. Dormitory improvements include the addition of Dongning Dormitory, achieving a bed occupancy rate above 95%. Financially disadvantaged students receive living subsidies, secure study programs, accommodation aid, and meal assistance. Since 2024, night counseling and psychological adjustment leave have been implemented, achieving a counselor-to-student ratio of 1:886, surpassing the national standard of 1:900.

NCKU hosts 179 student clubs and promotes a vibrant campus life. During the 94th anniversary, the “Mixed Team Relay” attracted over 1,600 faculty, staff, and students forming 80 teams, strengthening campus connections through sports. Future career exploration and cross-disciplinary development are supported through industry links, alumni sharing, career systems, and workplace internships.

Green Campus: Centuries-Old Banyans and Seasonal Beauty

Chief Administrative Officer Chien-Hung Wu, an alumnus, shared achievements in campus landscaping. NCKU originated as a science and engineering school, historically planting primarily trees. To develop a park-like campus, seasonal flowering trees have been planted: Formosan golden rain trees in winter, fragrant maples in autumn, and phoenix flowers in summer. Christmas tree displays continue each winter.

The university also preserves century-old trees with historical significance. Last year, professional tree climbers and horticultural teams pruned landmark banyans, using educational materials to inform students and the public of proper tree care. Following the July typhoon, these banyans remain healthy. NCKU aims to make the campus a park-like space for visitors to enjoy and invited alumni to return to see the improvements.

Campus Master Plan: Guiding Urban Transformation and National Development

Assistant Vice President Ping-Sheng Wu, an alumnus of the Department of Architecture (Class of 1984), reported on campus planning. NCKU emphasizes “Value-Driven Innovation” to create a knowledge hub guiding urban transformation and national development. Since its founding, the university has contributed to Southern Taiwan’s industrial talent development. The Guei-Ren and Shalun campuses are central to integrating semiconductor and science parks in Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung, positioning NCKU as a core academic and research hub.

Main Campus: “Urban Harmony & Humanistic Axis” – connecting talent mobility corridors and fostering arts and creativity. With the 2026 railway underground project, Guangfu Campus links Tainan Park and nearby neighborhoods, creating a “talent mobility nexus” and vibrant cultural spaces hosting over 50 exhibitions, lectures, and performances annually, engaging more than 10,000 participants.

Annan Campus: “Ecological Ark – Sustainable Environment & Net-Zero Transition” – adjacent to Tainan Technology Industrial Park and Taijiang National Park, hosting the Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Marine Biology, and Cetacean Research Center. Future plans include microgrids, ecological retention ponds, rare bird habitats, and marine education centers to support environmental sustainability and climate action.

Guei-Ren Campus: “Advanced Engineering & Technology Experiments” – focusing on aerospace technology, the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (Tainan Lab), and the Ministry of the Interior’s Building Research Institute. This campus integrates advanced engineering and aerospace research, fostering cross-disciplinary experimentation and technology transfer.

Shalun Campus: “Healthcare, Medical Care & Digital Governance” – developing a smart healthcare cluster and innovative digital governance systems, supporting both peacetime and emergency scenarios with a resilient medical ecosystem.

AI Strategy and Development

Vice President for International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh highlighted NCKU’s active AI strategy, aiming to become a leading AI research university. The university has developed AI databases, data privacy protocols, computing power, cybersecurity measures, and educational programs, forming a comprehensive AI ecosystem. The Computer and Network Center coordinates AI platform and data governance, promoting AI integration across teaching and research, with initiatives including: smart HR Q&A, AI search services for the Office of International Affairs, AI tool adoption in teaching, AI campus mentorship, and AI-enabled campus management. NCKU also hosts AI and higher education forums to enhance faculty and student AI competencies.

AI research emphasizes “Science & Technology × Humanistic Care,” with 31% of cross-disciplinary sustainability projects and 42% of leap-forward sustainability projects incorporating AI. Highlights include the globally pioneering Human-AI Interaction (HAI) mechanism for multimedia verification and the QWalk wearable system for Parkinson’s disease, combining Wi-Fi gait detection with personalized multimodal stimuli to improve mobility control.

The AI Service Center and AI Service Hub connect internal research teams with external enterprises and startups, assessing AI needs, facilitating technology adoption, and cultivating talent. Collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs fosters practical AI talent, accelerating industrial innovation and transformation.

Promoting Academic Exchange and International Competitiveness

Vice President Shih-Wei Chang shared recent achievements in NCKU’s global reputation, research layout, and international education collaborations. NCKU strengthens partnerships with world-class universities, focusing on global challenges to enhance academic and talent development. QS World University Rankings have approached 150, with Taiwan’s top score in cross-disciplinary research input (global rank 43). NCKU ranked first in Taiwan for world university impact for five consecutive years (2020–2024), and top in internationalization according to local surveys.

NCKU’s internationalization strategy emphasizes collaboration with renowned universities and globalized domestic enterprises, implemented in three phases: 1) Enhancing PI-to-PI international collaboration, 2) Promoting joint degrees, co-appointed faculty, and research co-creation with universities such as Tsukuba, Kyoto, and Grenoble Alpes, 3) Focusing on global key issues to strengthen academic influence. Strategic partnerships with domestic and international enterprises advance research and student career competitiveness.

Founded in 1931, NCKU’s alumni network spans Taiwan and the world. The university has 50 alumni associations, including the first, the Hong Kong Alumni Association (1960), and the largest overseas, the Malaysia Alumni Association (1972), supporting enrollment each year. The newest, established in 2024, is the Greater Austin NCKU Alumni Association in Texas, USA. President Shen attends alumni events whenever possible, sending greetings if unable to attend in person.