National Cheng Kung University is a research-oriented university located in the East District, Tainan, Taiwan. Notably, it is among the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in Taiwan highly reputed in the fields of medicine, management, engineering, science, planning, and design. The university is named after Koxinga who was a Chinese military leader responsible for driving the Dutch colonists from Taiwan and founding the Tungning Kingdom. National Cheng Kung University was established in January 1931 under the Japanese rule and was initially known as the Tainan Technical College. Barely a decade later, in 1942, it was renamed and again renamed to the Taiwan Provincial Tainan Junior College of Technology in March 1946. In October of the same year, the institution further underwent a name change and was now known as Taiwan Provincial College of Engineering. The institution was among the three existing colleges when the central government of the Republic of China moved to Taiwan in 1949. Consequently, in 1956, it was elevated to the level of a provincial university. Later on in the year 1971, it experienced a further upgrade to be a national university and acquired the name National Cheng Kung University.

The university has continually remained to be a hub for academic excellence. According to the World University Rankings, the National Cheng Kung University has been ranked position 224 worldwide. Additionally, the University ranks number 39 across Asia as recorded by the QS World University Rankings. The university also has a remarkable review when it comes to individual disciplines on offer. For instance in 2014, the U.S News and World Report had the institution ranked position 22 as the Best Global University Engineering and Computer Science. Further, its Architectural department is positioned above the top 100 in the world. Similarly, the QS World University Rankings and Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities ranked the university among the second or third position among all the universities in Taiwan. National Cheng Kung University has a student population of roughly 22,000. These students are spread across 9 colleges and 40 departments run by the institution. Among them, about 11,840 are undergraduates while 10,392 are postgraduates.

The nine colleges are College of Liberal Arts, College of Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Engineering & Computer Science, College of Management, College of Social Science, College of Planning & Design, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, College of Medicine.

The associated departments to these colleges are as follows:

Departments of Chinese Literature

Foreign Languages and Literature

Taiwanese Literature and History.

Other departments include but are not limited to:

Civil Engineering

Aeronautics and Astronautics

Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering

System and Naval Mechatronics Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Business Administration

Political Science

Public Health

Dentistry

Sustainability and Research

The National Cheng Kung University has continued to enhance research aided by the presence of 82 graduate institutes and 55 research centres. Specifically, the Y.S Sun Green Building Research Center was opened on January 12, 2011. This facility is first green educational centre in the world. Additionally, it is Taiwan’s first building which is zero carbon. The research facility spans an area of 4,800 metres squared and cost less than a fifth of its original budget.This was occasioned by the usage of natural ventilation, reduction in the size of the windows, limited use of power, as well as the use of efficient lighting which cumulatively contribute to the building’s carbon neutrality.

To further empower research accordingly, the Research and Services Headquarter (RSH) is an institution formed in the year 1996 which works to connect technology transfer, business incubation as well as safeguarding the intellectual property. Additionally, it is entrusted to boost industry cooperation and innovation in the university. It acts as a neutral point for understanding researches, services, and business demands. The academic staff totals to about 1,423 thus ensuring that the student faculty ratio is at an optimum. On the other hand, there exists quite a number of extra-curricular activities which students can partake in. For instance, there are educational related clubs where students hold symposiums and fairs in a competition. Sporting activities are also experienced e.g. soccer playing, athletic activities, and various track events. National Cheng Kung University also has an ultra-modern library which serves as a source of information both educational and for leisure activities. The Foreign Language Centre also provides an exemplary platform from where new languages may be learnt and practised both for fun and educative purposes.

Fraternity

Ideally, there exists a lot of opportunities for international students who join the National Cheng Kung University fraternity, apart from being members of a world-class research institute they get an opportunity to experience diverse cultures and traditions. The opportunity to interact with other individuals from other parts of the world also features prominently in the benefits of attending National Cheng Kung University as there is increased exposure and establishment of career contacts as well as making new friends. Employment opportunities in the form of periodical contracts and freelancing positions are a very common occurrence also as well as internship opportunities. Similarly, international students may indulge in volunteering activities both in the university and outside. Noteworthy, these volunteering services may further degenerate into full-time employment opportunities. Finally, the wide range of programs available guarantees that a student only takes what they most fancy and in line with their career goals thus no specific program which may be recommended. This is entirely dependent on an individual’s abilities and preference.

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