NCKU, National Cheng Kung University - Stories & Perspectives

NCKU Hospital Transitions Leadership, Signals New Era of Innovation Prof. Jing-Wei Lee Steps Down; Prof. Keng-Fu Hsu Takes the Helm

2026-05-04

On May 1, 2026, National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKU Hospital) held an inauguration and handover ceremony at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), marking the transition from outgoing to incoming leadership. NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen (沈孟儒) officiated the ceremony, overseeing both the handover and the oath of office. Professor Keng-Fu Hsu (許耿福) officially assumed the role of NCKU Hospital Superintendent, receiving the official seal from his predecessor, Professor Jing-Wei Lee (李經維), before taking his oath. The ceremony marked a new chapter for both NCKU and NCKU Hospital as the institution’s leadership passed smoothly to a new generation.

NCKU Implements New Menstrual Leave Policy: up to two times per month, with each application limited to one day as a general principle to Support Student Well-being

2026-05-01

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has introduced a new menstrual leave policy effective today (April 30) to support students’ physical and mental well-being and promote a friendly campus environment. The new policy allows students to take menstrual leave twice per month, with one day granted each time, providing greater flexibility for rest and adjustment when needed.

Taiwan’s First: NCKU Geriatric Hospital Holds Grand Topping-Out Ceremony, Forging a New Healthcare Paradigm for a Super-Aged Society

2026-04-28

Marking a significant milestone in Taiwan’s integrated geriatric care, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Geriatric Hospital held a grand topping-out ceremony today on April 25. The event symbolizes the steady implementation of a “HITS” —Health, Integration, Technology, and ecoSystem—community integrated geriatric care model, poised to become a new paradigm in healthcare and caregiving for Taiwan’s super-aged society.

NCKU and UGA Synergize Interdisciplinary Research and Dual Degrees to Cultivate a Taiwan-France Scientific Ecosystem

2026-04-20

President Meng-Ru Shen of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) recently led a high-level delegation to Grenoble, the "Silicon Valley of Europe," to engage in a profound strategic alignment with Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA). This mission successfully established a comprehensive collaborative model bridging AI algorithms and clinical translation. By actively applying artificial intelligence to promote social health and wellbeing, NCKU has demonstrated a strategic synthesis of technological expertise and social responsibility, effectively projecting Taiwan’s smart healthcare expertise onto the global stage. This initiative serves as a concrete implementation of scientific strategic alliances within the macro-framework of Taiwan–France cooperation in science and technology.

【Video】National Cheng Kung University is a force that the nation and society can trust.

2026-03-25

Nobel Laureate Gregg Semenza Visits NCKU Unveiling Molecular Mysteries of Sustainable Life

2026-04-15

On the afternoon of April 14, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted the second session of its “NCKU Meets Nobel | Life Sciences × Sustainability: Insights for the Future” lecture series. The university welcomed Professor Gregg L. Semenza, the 2019 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to deliver a keynote address. In his keynote address titled “Life Cycles on Earth: Global and Personal,” Professor Semenza provided a microscopic molecular biology perspective on how oxygen-sensing mechanisms in cells are intrinsically linked to macroscopic global sustainability, prompting faculty and students to reflect on the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the environment.

【Phoenix Lecture】Nobel Laureate Svante Pääbo Visits NCKU to Share How Ancient DNA Reveals the Origins of Modern Humans

2026-03-24

Ancient-DNA pioneer Professor Svante Pääbo drew a capacity crowd to National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on 20 March, when he delivered the 2026 NCKU Phoenix Lecture in the International Conference Hall at the main library. In a talk titled “About the Origins of Modern Humans: Neandertals, Denisovans, and the Genetic Legacy of Humanity”, the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate outlined the breakthroughs that helped to open the field of ancient-DNA research. The lecture, followed by an academic discussion, attracted students and faculty from both within NCKU and beyond.

2009, Master, Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Ching-Lai Lu Distinguished Alumni of 2025

2025-03-11

Institute of Science Tokyo Delegation Visits NCKU to Deepen Semiconductor and Smart Medicine Collaboration

2026-03-19

Written by NCKU Office of Internation Affairs. Image credit to NCKU News Center

NCKU welcomes the Institute of Scie...

NCKU Researchers Achieve New Milestone in RNA Biology, Opening a New Chapter in Hypoxia Biology

2026-03-17

A research team at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has uncovered a new mechanism by which the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) rewires RNA metabolic pathways in the nucleus, revealing a previously unrecognized strategy used by cancer cells to adapt to hypoxia. The study, led by Dr. Pai-Sheng Chen from the Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology at NCKU, was published in the international journal Nucleic Acids Research. The new research reveals that HIF-1α, aside from serving as a transcription factor, can "rewire" RNA metabolic pathways within the nucleus.

National Cheng Kung University and Masaryk University Forge Strategic Partnership Agreement Focusing on Semiconductors, Cybersecurity, Biomedicine, and Sustainability

2026-02-13

Martin Bareš, Rector of Masaryk University (MUNI) in the Czech Republic, led a delegation to visit National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on February 10–11, 2026. During the visit, the two institutions signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement. Discussions focused on semiconductors, cybersecurity, biomedicine, and environmental sustainability. Both institutions are committed to launching pilot projects and gradually developing long-term, results-driven collaborations.

2026 THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings: NCKU Ranks First in Taiwan, Advances Social Responsibility and Strengthens Global Connections

2025-12-10

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) achieved an outstanding result in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, announced in November. NCKU ranked 35th in the world and first among the seven Taiwanese universities listed in the global top 200. NCKU Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang noted that as a comprehensive university with a full range of academic disciplines and a compact campus, NCKU has a natural advantage in promoting interdisciplinary research. Since President Meng-Ru Shen took office, interdisciplinary research has been set as one of the core directions for university development. He has repeatedly emphasized that the university must fulfill its social responsibilities and ensure that NCKU’s growth responds to national needs and contributes to society. This recognition shows that President Shen’s direction is on the right track. Moving forward, NCKU will continue to deepen its commitment to fulfilling its USR, respond to national and societal needs, and strengthen its international connections.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Svante Pääbo to Speak at NCKU Phoenix Lecture on March 20

2026-03-13

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) will host Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Svante Pääbo, winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and a pioneer in ancient DNA research, for the 2026 NCKU Phoenix Lecture on Friday, March 20, 2026. In his lecture, titled “About the Origins of Modern Humans: Neandertals, Denisovans, and the Genetic Legacy of Humanity,” Prof. Pääbo will share his groundbreaking research on ancient DNA. He will guide the audience through how scientists recover ancient DNA from fossils to trace the story of human origins, and explain how such research helps us understand the genetic characteristics of modern humans and even informs modern medical research.

NCKU Kicks Off "NCKU Meets Nobel" Series with Nobel Laureate Sir Christopher Pissarides on AI and the Future of Work

2025-12-10

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) launched the first lecture of its "NCKU Meets Nobel | AI × Sustainability: Insights for the Future" series on December 9th. The event featured a special keynote speech by the 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, Prof. Sir Christopher A. Pissarides.

Shinshu University Visits NCKU to Strengthen International USR Collaboration

2025-11-28

On November 21, Professor Soichiro Nakamura, President of Shinshu University, led a delegation of senior officials to visit National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). During the meeting, the two institutions initiated dialogues on University Social Responsibility (USR), development of the humanities, and transnational collaboration. The Shinshu University delegation expressed strong interest in NCKU’s USR model and its locally co-created initiatives, laying a solid foundation for future bilateral cooperation.