Taiwan President Commends Technology Research Milestone at NTNU
Taiwan President Ing-Wen Tsai attended the official launch of National Taiwan Normal University’s tenth College on October 4. Present at the unveiling ceremony of the College of Industry-Academia Innovation (CIAI) at NTNU were Minister of Education Wen-Chung Pan, NTNU President Cheng-Chih Wu, Chairman of NTNU Alumni Association Sheng-Hsiung Hsu, Honorary Chairman Jin-Pyng Wang, and business leaders from 12 enterprise partners in the program's inaugural year, including Chant Oil Co. Ltd., E Ink Realtek Semiconductor, Konglin Construction and Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Coretronic Corp., Leadtek Research Inc., AU Corp., AcBel Polytech Inc., and EZ-AI Corp.
In her congratulatory remarks, President Tsai expressed her hopes that this milestone for NTNU’s long-established progress in technological research would elevate industry-academia collaboration to produce breakthroughs in sustainable technology. She lauded NTNU's proactive response to emerging global industrial trends with the establishment of two research institutes dedicated respectively to Artificial Intelligence and Green Energy Technology, pivotal sectors of the technology industry. 'The merging of academia and industry resources in a dynamic and innovative partnership will aggregate resources and cultivate talents for cutting-edge technologies,' Tsai said. 'CIAI sets a benchmark for industry-academia research cooperation that will empower Taiwan's next generation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and further enhance the nation's global competitiveness.'
In the global furor surrounding artificial intelligence, President Tsai said, AI is not only revolutionizing industrial paradigms but also redefining human values. 'A humanistic heart and a technological mind are paramount in the future trajectory of AI,' she said, expressing her confidence in NTNU's strong educational foundation in the humanities to cultivate the proper mindset for evolving AI industrial applications.
Visionary talents are also needed in the green energy sector. 'On the green energy front, the global consensus is to transition to net-zero by 2050. We are both determined and obligated to achieve this goal. In the future, smart grids, energy storage, and conservation technologies will play a crucial role in the development of Taiwanese industry's green supply chains,' Tsai affirmed.
NTNU President Cheng-Chih Wu reflected on the integral role NTNU has served since its inception to advance Taiwan. 'Since 1946, NTNU has been dedicated to producing outstanding secondary school educators whose influence led their students to become significant contributors to Taiwan’s societal, democratic, and economic development. With NTNU’s transformation into a comprehensive university in 1994, we have continued to equip our graduates with a diverse array of opportunities to serve society and contribute to the nation’s growth,' Wu stated.
NTNU holds an advantage for internationalization and interdisciplinary integration among Taiwan universities, Wu emphasized. Chosen as one of four benchmark universities for the Ministry of Education's bilingual initiative in 2021, the university has reformed its curricula, streamlined program course requirements, increased accessibility for achieving double majors and minors, promoted intercollegiate coursework within the National Taiwan University System (comprising NTU, NTUST, and NTNU), and encouraged students to pursue dual degrees abroad. 'In addition to their degree specialization, we wanted to equip students with interdisciplinary and international competitive advantages,' he said.
NTNU has also leveraged the interdisciplinary synergies of the Colleges of Technology and Engineering, Science, and Humanities and Social Sciences in conjunction with government support and enterprise collaboration to establish the College of Industry-Academia Innovation in response to national policy priorities. Wu elaborated, 'The tripartite mechanisms that facilitate cooperation between academia, government, and industry will enable students to better understand real-world needs and become more competitive in the job market as well as gain capabilities to address national issues.' Both institutes within CIAI offer master’s and doctoral programs that are also open to international students, who can apply online at https://bds.oia.ntnu.edu.tw/bds/en/apply.
In closing, President Wu thanked the 12 leading corporations involved in creating NTNU’s newest college. 'Beyond investing capital and resources, you've provided valuable time and insights with our faculty so that NTNU and the nation can cultivate the next generation of talent. In doing so, you are at the frontlines of safeguarding the future of Taiwan.” Wu reiterated that the faculty and students at NTNU will continue to work towards objectives set for CIAI, and encourages additional corporate support and national grants to ensure success for all.