NCKU-Purdue Dual Degree Program Students Visit Purdue University for Summer Exchange in 2024-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

The NCKU-Purdue Dual Degree Program has organized a specialized summer course at Purdue University for the third consecutive year. This year, the program was led by Professor Chih-Hsing Liu, Associate Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). On June 29, Professor Liu and a group of 22 freshman students traveled to Purdue University in the United States to participate in a joint short-term intensive course organized by both universities.
 
The NCKU students attended a two-week intensive course at Purdue University from June 29 to July 14. The curriculum included professional intensive courses provided by Purdue's College of Engineering and visits to laboratories in the Departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering. Additionally, the students experienced local cultural events, such as the U.S. Independence Day celebrations. They also had the opportunity to engage in cross-cultural exchanges with South Korean university students who were attending similar summer courses at Purdue. The students participated in a series of workshops designed to cultivate cross-cultural engineering skills, where they learned how to communicate and understand the needs of clients from different cultural backgrounds, and brainstormed solutions to problems from an engineering perspective. The activities were well-received and highly anticipated.


To help the students quickly acclimate to campus life and familiarize themselves with Purdue University’s faculty, a Welcome Reception was held on July 1. Faculty members from various departments attended, including Prof. William Crossley, Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Prof. Gregory Blaisdell, Associate Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Prof. Eckhard Groll, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; Prof. Beth Heth, Associate Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; Prof. Chih-Chun Wang, newly appointed Associate Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Prof. Jun Chen from the Department of Mechanical Engineering; Ms. Xiaomin Qian, Advisor; LouAnna Eichrodt, and Ms. Angela Rainwater, Advisor for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The Purdue faculty generously shared their expertise in research and provided valuable advice on planning for graduate studies. The interactions between the faculty and students from both universities were enthusiastic and lively.


The NCKU-Purdue Dual Degree Program has now entered its fourth year of operation, and the program’s structure has become increasingly well-established. Through the annual intensive courses taught by Purdue professors, summer intensive courses at Purdue University, and Purdue’s online engineering courses, the program systematically introduces students to American higher education and cross-cultural learning environments. This gradual immersion allows students to absorb top-tier educational resources, enhancing their cultural inclusivity and international perspective. The ultimate goal is to nurture interdisciplinary, high-level engineering talent capable of addressing global challenges.


The NCKU-Purdue Dual Degree Program in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Information Engineering was approved by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and began admitting students in the 2020 academic year. The program is designed for students to study at NCKU from their freshman to junior years, followed by a fourth year at Purdue University. Students who fulfill NCKU's graduation requirements and are accepted into a master's program at Purdue’s partnering departments can obtain a bachelor’s degree from NCKU and a master’s degree from Purdue University within as little as five years.


Purdue University is a renowned public research university in the United States, particularly known for its engineering and agricultural sciences programs. Its College of Engineering consistently ranks among the top 10 in the nation, and Purdue is often referred to as the "cradle of American astronauts." It is one of the world's leading engineering schools. In 1952, NCKU and Purdue University established an international research collaboration that lasted 14 years, contributing significantly to Taiwan's industrial talent development and marking a crucial step in NCKU's transformation into a world-class university.