Cultivating Comprehensive Education and Broad Scope of Career Options
As the 2024 university application season approaches, 1111 Job Bank has launched an online “2024 University Admissions Guide” in January, tailored to address the challenges posed by a declining birthrate and offering strategies for universities to distinguish themselves. A highlight of the guide is the 'Elite Universities' section, where NTNU is celebrated as a leader in interdisciplinary education, offering students unparalleled career opportunities. An insightful interview with NTNU's President, Cheng-Chih Wu, further illuminates the university's distinctiveness, its mission, and its dedication to fostering a dynamic and innovative future.
The guide is designed to empower students with the knowledge to make well-informed decisions about their educational journey, encouraging them to explore a wide array of future possibilities.
A translation of the article follows:
NTNU Leads Taiwan in Multi-Disciplinary Education
Explore Boundless Career Options at a Comprehensive University
By Chen Shih-Xu
NTNU distinguishes itself among Taiwan's elite universities with its unique fusion of outstanding education, sports, music, humanities, and arts. Facing a declining birthrate and the commonality of educational science majors at many universities, NTNU's President Cheng-Chih Wu has embraced an interdisciplinary approach to cultivate future leaders. 'Choosing NTNU opens up a world of career opportunities beyond just teaching,' asserts President Wu.
Wu highlights NTNU's legacy as one of Taiwan's four original universities and its reputation as a top choice for students from less affluent backgrounds aiming for stable teaching careers. This legacy is mirrored in its contemporary acclaim in both the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, where NTNU consistently leads in education sciences, maintaining its status as the preferred institution for aspiring educators across all levels.
NTNU’s impact extends into music, sports and the arts, boasting alumni like tennis icon Rendy Yen-hsun Lu, all-star pitcher and baseball coach Chang-Heng Hsieh, professional basketball player Shou-Cheng Ho, the “Asian Elvis” of gymnastics - Tang Chia-Hung, and “Butterfly King” swimmer Eddie Wang. The university has also excelled in the UBA, UFA, and UVL as a multiple crown winner in each of the sports. President Wu emphasizes the university’s holistic educational approach that balances athletic prowess with academic achievement.
Similarly, NTNU’s Departments of Music and Fine Arts leverage the comprehensive university setting to offer diverse learning experiences, producing celebrated talents such as NTNU alumnae actor-musician Shara Lin, and violin goddess Mia Wang.
To promote music appreciation and provide a platform for emerging composers, the Department of Music and the NTNU Library have launched a music series, “Cultural Collective,” with performances every Wednesday at noon. A “Cultural Collective – President’s Award” further encourages faculty and student participation.
This dedication to excellence in sports science and music underscores NTNU's unparalleled position in Taiwan's educational scene, a success President Wu attributes to the alumni's achievements. 'A university's true quality is measured by its community's collective successes and societal contributions,' he states.
This academic year, NTNU spearheaded the creation of a Taiwanese version of the NCAA Basketball home and away game system, breaking from the traditional single-venue format of the UBA league. The National Chengchi University, National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Arts, and National Taiwan University of Science have collaborated to launch this initiative. President Wu’s vision behind this effort is to enhance students' connection to and pride in their schools. “Whether win or lose, students and alumni can show their fervent support for their teams on home ground,” he says. “The initiative was inspired by the success of the NCAA in the United States, where sports become an integral part of the university experience, contributing significantly to campus life and alumni engagement.”
NTNU has solidified its status as a comprehensive university, presenting a wide-ranging curriculum that opens numerous career pathways for its graduates. Remarkably, only about 15 percent of its graduates currently pursue careers in teaching, underscoring the varied opportunities NTNU alumni have across different sectors of society and the economy.
Under the stewardship of President Wu, NTNU has prioritized internationalization, fostering industry-academia partnerships, and promoting interdisciplinary studies to cultivate talents who can compete on a global stage. With international students making up over 11 percent of its population and its recognition as a leading institution for Chinese language education, NTNU has earned the title of a Bilingual Benchmark University by the Ministry of Education.
The university's commitment to meeting industry demands is evident in the creation of the College of Industry-Academia Collaboration, which includes graduate institutes focused on AI, green energy, and semiconductor technology. Furthermore, the College of Management, encompassing the Department of Business Management, the Institute of Global Management and Strategy, and EMBA programs, has secured AACSB accreditation, placing it among the top 6 percent of business schools worldwide.
The university's broad academic offerings are further expanded with the College of Science, which encompasses Departments of Math, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, and Biology, etc. And the College of International Studies and Social Sciences offers degree courses through the Departments in Chinese as a Second Language, East Asian Studies, Mass Communications, and Graduate Institutes in International Human Resource Development. Social Work, and European Cultures and Tourism.
Since 2019, NTNU has further embraced interdisciplinary learning by streamlining the process for enrolling in double majors and minors, encouraging a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to education.
NTNU not only facilitates undergraduate majors but also offers opportunities for interdisciplinary study and international competitiveness. By integrating the humanities, athletics, and education, NTNU empowers students to unlock their full potential. President Wu inspires students with a call to action: “Choose NTNU and realize a unique version of yourself.”
(A link to the original article: https://university.1111.com.tw/news.asp?sub=null&content_id=154700)