President Shen Meng-Ru Leads NCKU Delegation to the U.S. for Global Talent Recruitment and Attends the NCKU Alumni Carnival
Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
Building National Cheng Kung University into one of the world’s most trusted academic brands is a shared mission for all faculty, students, and alums. Recruiting outstanding international talent is a key step toward becoming a leading global university and is central to strengthening NCKU’s faculty and research capacity.
President Meng-Ru Shen led an NCKU team to the United States for the NCKU Talent Meeting, where they met with potential recruits. The team also attended the 15th NCKU Alumni Carnival & Alumni Association of North America Biennial Meeting to present updates on the university and to share a video introduction, further deepening the university’s ties with alums from around the world.
NCKU Delegation led by President Meng-Ru Shen, with Global Alumni Association President Peter Chen, North America Alumni Foundation President Paul Hsu, North America Alumni Foundation Chairperson Christina Chen
President Leads Overseas Efforts to Recruit Global Talent
President Meng-Ru Shen places great importance on expanding NCKU’s international recruitment. Since 2024, he has personally traveled overseas to hold face-to-face talent meetings. The visit on October 23, 2025, marked his third recruitment trip to the United States. President Shen led a university administrative team to meet directly with outstanding professionals from around the world. These conversations showed NCKU’s strong commitment and sincerity in bringing exceptional scholars to the university. NCKU will continue its overseas talent recruitment efforts and plans to expand them to more countries and regions.
During the meetings, President Shen asked in detail about each scholar’s research focus and their interest in future collaboration or joining NCKU on-site. He hopes to attract more researchers with a global vision and strong academic potential to work together in building a university that values innovation, excellence, and sustainable development.
NCKU’s talent recruitment focuses on five major development areas: humanistic values, health and well-being, net-zero carbon goals, intelligent environmental control, and resilient disaster management.
NCKU’s Five Key Recruitment Areas Align With Emerging AI Technologies
NCKU’s talent recruitment focuses on five major development areas: humanistic values, health and well-being, net-zero carbon goals, intelligent environmental control, and resilient disaster management. These areas are closely linked with the latest AI technologies and explore crucial national security topics. The approach is interdisciplinary and forward-looking. It also reflects the principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and University Social Responsibility (USR). NCKU aims to address global challenges through research and innovation, as well as practical education, contributing to sustainable social development and human well-being.
In recent years, the university has actively supported interdisciplinary research and future-oriented scientific projects. Faculty and researchers are encouraged to work across fields and to bring their research beyond campus, supporting the idea of “industry presents the problems, academia provides the solutions.” In the future, NCKU will continue attracting outstanding scholars from all fields to return to Taiwan to build their careers. The university provides competitive compensation and strong research resources to strengthen Taiwan’s academic foundations and bring new energy to the research environment. NCKU warmly welcomes scholars dedicated to teaching and research to join the university and help create a more profound and impactful academic future.
The NCKU Delegation attends the 15th NCKU Alumni Carnival & Alumni Association of North America Biennial Meeting, presenting the “NCKU 99: Toward the Centennial” university report and video to strengthen the university’s connection with its alumni.
President Meng-Ru Shen Presents “NCKU 99: Toward the Centennial” University Report
On October 25, 2025, the NCKU team attended the 15th NCKU Alumni Carnival & Alumni Association of North America Biennial Meeting in Washington, D.C. A significant highlight of the event was the presentation of the “NCKU 99: Toward the Centennial” university report and video, aimed at strengthening the university’s connection with its alumni.
President Meng-Ru Shen and the delegation, including Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang, Senior Vice President Ping-Sheng Wu, Secretary General Wei-Cheng Lo, Office of Sustainability and Strategic Development Administrator Rwei-Ling Yu, and Vice President for General Affairs Jian-Hong Wu, delivered the report on the university’s current development and future strategies.
Concrete progress and plans in teaching, research, internationalization, alum engagement, campus development, and sustainability are presented to clearly communicate the university’s vision and major priorities for the coming years. This in-depth exchange helped alums gain a clearer picture of NCKU’s overall development roadmap. It also strengthened their sense of connection and identification with their alma mater, opening the door to future support and collaboration.
NCKU continues to receive strong public support, with local approval ratings around 88–90 from Tainan citizens.
1. NCKU’s Centennial Vision: The Driving Force for Continuous Progress
President Shen opened by saying that NCKU has always followed two guiding ideas: the university’s progress should benefit the nation, and students should develop clear thinking, open minds, and practical abilities. These ideas have shaped NCKU since its early years, especially under founding president Wakatsuki Michitaka, who set the foundation for the university’s long-term direction. From responding to Taiwan’s early industrial needs for electrical engineering and science studies to contributing to fields such as national defense, urban development, and public health, NCKU has consistently grown alongside the country. Today, it is a comprehensive university with nine colleges, a complete medical system, and new schools including the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing and the Miin Wu School of Computing.
President Shen emphasized that NCKU is not only an academic institution but also a strong practitioner of social responsibility. Located in Tainan, a city that has transformed from a cultural center into a technology hub, NCKU plays a key role in local development. The university also has nearly 60 hectares of land in Shalun, which will support future innovation in both local construction and technological advancement, boosting a dual-core model with strong connections to the main campus.
Moreover, NCKU continues to receive strong public support, with local approval ratings around 88–90% from Tainan citizens. The university’s achievements are also recognized through independent national and international rankings, showing that NCKU is making contributions in the right direction.
President Shen highlighted four priority areas: education, research, industry-academia collaboration, and internationalization. He noted that “people” remain at the heart of the university. NCKU trains students in both technical and soft skills, including teamwork, empathy, resilience, aesthetic literacy, and AI literacy. The university has established comprehensive AI strategies for education and reviews the impact of AI on higher education every 3 months to keep teaching up to date. NCKU also leads many USR projects, from nutrition programs for rural children to forest and ocean monitoring, smart manufacturing, and food safety research. The university operates six low-Earth-orbit satellites, ranking 16th globally in terms of quantity, which provide essential data for Taiwan’s disaster prevention and environmental research.
Nearly three years into President Shen’s term, the campus has become not just a place for learning but also a shared public space for the city. Sustainability efforts, social responsibility, resource development, and alum engagement continue to grow. Through research, global cooperation, and AI education, NCKU aims to build a university that serves students, alums, and the city, and to carry its vision forward into the next century.
Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang reported on NCKU’s progress in research and international development.
2. Research and Global Strategy: Advancing World-Class Impact Through Innovation and Connection
Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang reported on NCKU’s progress in research and international development. He noted that research drives a university’s growth, and becoming a world-class institution requires foresight and innovation. Under President Shen’s leadership, NCKU has focused on interdisciplinary innovation, global partnerships, and social responsibility. In recent years, with strong alums and community support, the university launched major interdisciplinary projects in sustainability, competent health care, and the humanities, opening new avenues for integrated research. The projects spanned the scope of sustainable interdisciplinary collaborations, global connections of top research institutes, humanities and technology campus verification plans, to AI and humanities innovation and practical social implementations. NCKU’s research influence extends beyond the campus, addressing the needs of society and industry in the spirit of “industry presents the problems, academia provides the solutions.” The proportion of global collaboration has been as high as 37% in the past three years, and NCKU climbed to 203 in the QS World University Rankings, and also received four consecutive Global Views USR Awards. Looking ahead, NCKU plans to invest in forward-looking innovative research projects, recruit top global talent, and build stronger research capacity for cross-institute collaborations.
In internationalization, NCKU aims to become a hub for global academic cooperation under its 2026–2030 roadmap. Four strategies will guide this work: improving international mobility, strengthening support for international faculty and students, deepening global partnerships, and expanding overseas recruitment. Programs such as the INCEPTUS Project for overseas graduate studies, dual-degree partnerships with Purdue University, and the AI micro-program with AMD help create a truly international learning environment. Within the next five years, NCKU expects international doctoral students to make up half of its PhD population, with global mobility becoming a key engine for the university’s next stage of growth.
Secretary General Wei-Cheng Lo, who also serves as the Alumni Association Center Director, shared recent updates on NCKU’s development in school affairs.
3. Global Alumni Network: Shared Memories and a Common Root
Secretary General Wei-Cheng Lo, who also serves as the Alumni Association Center Director, mentioned that both he and his father are NCKU alumni. He described a long personal connection with the university, all starting from his father’s encouragement to enroll in NCKU. Over his 20 years of service at NCKU, he has seen the university grow continuously. Originally founded as a school with only three departments in its early years, NCKU has become a comprehensive university with around 23,000 students, nine colleges, and as many as 117 academic units, including the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing and the Miin Wu School of Computing. He noted that NCKU now has 50 alum associations worldwide. Over the past two years, the university has visited many chapters across Asia and America and has deeply felt the strength of alum support and their commitment to NCKU’s long-term development.
Lo also shared recent updates, including the establishment of the new Office of Sustainable Strategy Development in August this year, which places sustainability at the center of university governance. He guided alumni through memories of historic campus landmarks, from the Ge-Chi Hall that held the “Black Friday” exams, old cinema that has now been revamped into the Computer & Network Center, to beloved dining spots and the former administrative building, now being renovated as the NCKU Museum, to the Atelier Future (former library) and the current library (former track field). These locations reflect the university’s growth and collective identity. As NCKU approaches its centennial, Secretary General Lo emphasized that the “NCKU spirit” lives on through its global alumni. Their shared effort will continue to shine across Tainan, Taiwan, and the world.
Vice President for General Affairs Jian-Hong Wu shared the university’s recent progress toward building a greener, safer campus.
4. Aesthetics in a Green and Safe Campus
Vice President for General Affairs, Director Jian-Hong Wu, also an NCKU alumnus, shared the university’s recent progress in building a greener, safer campus, with strong alum support. NCKU has carried out professional conservation work on its century-old banyan trees. Certified arborists from across Taiwan were invited to ensure its safety and healthy long-term growth.
Because the campus is located in the center of Tainan and crossed by several city roads, NCKU plans its campus with the idea of an open space shared with the city. Through greening projects, the university has planted Taiwanese flamegold rain trees, cassia trees, cherry trees, and other seasonal species so people can enjoy different flowers throughout the year. In the central parts of the campuses, native plants are used to preserve local ecology and the land's memory.
NCKU also redesigned the green corridor between Cheng-Kung and Kuang-Fu campuses, as well as the lawn south of the library. Flowers are planted according to the season. Recently, the lawn was filled with zinnias, symbolizing “continuous progress,” expressing good wishes for the university’s future and for alumni in their careers.
Senior Vice President Ping-Sheng Wu outlined the university’s campus planning and emphasized NCKU’s centennial vision to carry values and drive innovation.
5. NCKU and Shalun Campus: A Centennial Blueprint for Urban Coexistence
Senior Vice President Ping-Sheng Wu, an alumnus of the Department of Architecture, outlined the university’s campus planning and emphasized NCKU’s centennial vision to carry values and drive innovation. Carrying values refers not only to preserving historical buildings and cultural assets, but also to sustaining academic traditions, the spirit of faculty and students, and connections with the local community. Driving innovation means continuing to advance research, teaching, and social engagement to meet contemporary challenges.
NCKU aims to become a knowledge hub that guides urban transformation and supports national development. Rooted in Tainan, a city shaped by both culture and technology, the university seeks to extend its influence to the city and the nation. Its cultural plans focus on strengthening heritage preservation and adaptive reuse, its industrial initiatives promote technological advancement through innovative research and cross-disciplinary collaboration, and its social efforts foster humanistic values and civic participation through education.
NCKU’s campus development is guided by four goals: cultural heritage, technological innovation, sustainability, and public health leadership.
1. Main Campus:
The main campus will focus on integrating the humanities, social sciences, and intelligent technologies. While preserving and revitalizing cultural assets, it will deepen exchanges with Tainan, creating a hub where cultural vitality and innovative technology converge. This campus will remain the core of talent development and serve as a pivot point for urban co-living and social innovation.
2. An-Nan Campus:
Positioned as a testbed for sustainability and the energy transition, the An-Nan campus will directly address Taiwan’s climate change challenges and its net-zero goals. It will combine biotechnology, renewable energy, and marine research to establish a carbon-neutral technology demonstration site, including the Marine Biology and Cetacean Research Center. The campus aims to become a national model for environmental conservation and energy transition.
3. Kuei-Jen Campus:
The Kuei-Jen campus will specialize in advanced engineering and high-tech experiments, linking national strategic industries with emerging technologies. Through industry-academia collaboration and international research partnerships, Kuei-Jen Campus will become a driving force for next-generation innovation in Taiwan. It will also preserve historical archives and industrial heritage, ensuring that innovation is grounded in accumulated knowledge.
4. Shalun Campus:
The Shalun campus will focus on innovative healthcare and digital governance, integrating medicine, information technology, and AI. It aims to build a bright health innovation cluster and develop digital governance models that can be extended to cities and society. Responding to Taiwan’s aging population, declining birth rates, and growing need for digital public services, Shalun is set to become a leading hub for medical innovation and digital service development in southern Taiwan.
Rwei-Ling Yu, Administrator of the Office of Sustainable Strategy Development, mentioned that NCKU has published a quarterly digital Newsletter to highlight campus achievements and research updates.
6. NCKU’s Sustainability Development: Cross-Unit Collaboration, Resource Connections, and a Human-Centered Digital Future
Over the past five years, NCKU’s reputation for sustainability has continued to rise, consistently ranking at the top of the Global Views’ industry evaluations. In 2025, the university established the Office of Sustainable Strategy Development, demonstrating its commitment to long-term sustainable development. Rwei-Ling Yu, Administrator of the Office of Sustainable Strategy Development, noted that the office works closely with units across campus to coordinate efforts in all areas of sustainability. Since 2024, NCKU has published a quarterly digital Newsletter to highlight campus achievements and research updates. The most recent issue covered the International Advisory Board meeting and USR initiatives, including disaster-relief support and educational outreach in Tainan. The Newsletter also strengthens alum connections by encouraging profile updates and engaging students and graduates through digital platforms, supporting the university’s vision for sustainable talent development.
Through fundraising and resource integration, NCKU continues to support campus infrastructure, faculty recruitment, teaching innovation, and research. The administrative team has met and surpassed its annual fundraising goals, with plans to aim even higher this year. Campus events also help build community, such as last year’s first Christmas tree lighting, which drew strong participation from students and alums. A new Christmas program is planned this year, reflecting the close ties between NCKU and the city of Tainan.
President Shen emphasized that over the past three years, NCKU has advanced cross-disciplinary collaboration and campus development to make the university a shared public space for both the academic community and the city. From green campus initiatives to social responsibility, fundraising, and alum engagement, NCKU continues to demonstrate its dedication to meaningful societal contribution. Strengthened research and international collaboration, together with AI education and interdisciplinary training, aim to prepare students for the future. President Shen reiterated that these efforts are part of shaping NCKU into a home for students, alums, and the wider community. This institution makes its nation proud and leads the next generation with its centennial vision.
Alumnus Peter Chen, Chairman & CEO of Qisda Corporation, spoke on “Business Opportunities in Biotech and Healthcare Innovation through Data and AI.”
Alumnus Yang-Ming Geng, Chairman of Amazing Cruises and Travel, discussed “Sustainable Trends in the International Cruise Industry.”
Alumnus Kuo-Ching Huang, Chairman of Pyramid Systems, shared “From Zero to One: Success Strategies for Entrepreneurship and Business in the U.S.”
At the NCKU Alumni Carnival, several awards were presented, including the NCKU North America Alumni Foundation’s Outstanding Alumni Award and the Unsung Heroes Award, the Dr. Arthur H. Wu Memorial Scholarship, and the President Chao Nee Memorial Scholarship. Three alums. Three alumni also gave talks on industry trends and innovation opportunities: Peter Chen (Electrical Engineering, 1985), Chairman & CEO of Qisda Corporation and President of the NCKU Global Alumni Association, spoke on “Business Opportunities in Biotech and Healthcare Innovation through Data and AI.” Yang-Ming Geng (Transportation & Communication, 1977; Civil, 1979), Chairman of Amazing Cruises and Travel and President of the New York Alumni Association, discussed “Sustainable Trends in the International Cruise Industry.” Kuo-Ching Huang (Business Management, 1982), Principal, Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board at Pyramid Systems, Inc., shared “From Zero to One: Success Strategies for Entrepreneurship and Business in the U.S.”
The 15th NCKU Alumni Carnival, hosted by the Alumni Association of Washington D.C., took place from October 24 to 26, 2025.
The 15th NCKU Alumni Carnival & Alumni Association of North America Biennial Meeting
The NCKU Alumni Carnival is a key gathering for alums worldwide. It strengthens connections among alums and enables wide-ranging exchanges across culture, education, and business. The 15th Carnival, hosted by the Alumni Association of Washington D.C., took place from October 24 to 26, 2025. The program included a welcome banquet, award ceremony, keynote talks, workshops, gala dinner, and cruise tours, offering alums and their families a chance to reconnect and relive fond memories with old friends.
Today, NCKU is not just about nostalgia. It is a vision for the future. From AI, quantum technology, and big data to sustainability and innovative education, NCKU is building the next century of excellence. Its core belief remains: believe to see, see to achieve. The brightest moments in life at NCKU continue to shine in all alums’s stories, whether they are located in the D.C., Taiwan, or anywhere in the world. NCKU alums around the world carry this spirit forward, reconnecting with their shared history while advancing together toward the future.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2025-11-08