Alumni Contributions Propel New Teaching and Research Facility
In response to the increasing demands of student activities, teaching, research, and overall school development, NTNU has announced plans to construct a new multi-functional building. This facility will include classrooms, an international conference center, and student activity spaces, addressing the growing academic needs of the institution.
To expedite the construction process, alumni from across the country and around the world have rallied in support, contributing generously to the fundraising efforts. Their goal is to see the new academic base completed, fostering cross-disciplinary research and nurturing emerging talents.
Since transforming into a comprehensive university, NTNU has embraced diversification, with alumni achieving success across various fields. The university has introduced new departments to align with industry demands, enhancing its educational offerings. While preparing for its 100th anniversary in 2022, NTNU initiated plans for a new academic building for international education and research. This facility is designed to meet the needs of multifaceted interaction, open communication, smart management, and environmental sustainability.
NTNU currently spans four campuses: Heping, Gongguan, Linkou, and Luzhou. The Gongguan Campus, first established over 50 years ago, now confronts challenges due to the dispersed locations of its various departments and outdated facilities. This has necessitated the urgent construction of a new teaching and research building to accommodate the university's long-term development and expanding academic capacity.
The planned international teaching and research building will feature nine floors above ground and three below, encompassing a total floor area of approximately 5,300 square meters. It will serve multiple functions, including teaching, community activities, administration, and commercial spaces. The estimated project cost is NT$1.6 billion. This new facility aims to provide ample space for teaching, research, international exchanges, and student activities. It will also act as a transitional space for future renovations and new constructions on the Gongguan campus.
Strategically located behind the administrative building and adjacent to the tennis court on the Gongguan campus, the L-shaped design of the new building will optimize natural lighting and create a comfortable environment. The design also allows for future expansion. To align with ESG environmental sustainability goals, the building will incorporate energy-saving features such as solar power generation and rainwater recycling systems, aiming for green building certification.
In pursuit of the NT$300 million fundraising target, NTNU has called on friends, alumni, and philanthropists to contribute. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Notably, distinguished alumnus Dr. Chiu-Shan Chen has donated USD 1 million through the NTNU Heritage Foundation of North America. Other prominent alumni, including Rock Hsu, Li-Cheng Yeh, and Dr. Yi-Fa Lee, have each contributed over NTD 10 million. The overwhelming generosity of these alumni aims to inspire further contributions to expedite the project's commencement.
Among the first alumni donors to answer the call are Yeou-Liang Tsai (Chemistry ‘63), Kun-huei Huang (Education ‘63), Tom Su (Mathematics ‘64), Chuan-kang Chiang (Science ‘65), Jin-Pyng Wang (Mathematics ‘65), George Lin (English ‘65), Tieh-Hsiung Tu (Health Education ‘65), Jun-Ming Huang (Biology ‘71), Cheng-Hsiung Chen (Chemistry ‘73), Su Huei-Jen (Biology ‘75), Wei-Sheng Liang (English ‘80), Fan-Sheng Pu (Math ‘90), Johnson Wang (Art 2005), Judy Wang (GF-EMBA 2018), Wu-Ben Cheng (EMBA 2022), Fu-Chun Wu (EMBA 2022), and Run-Ying Chen (EMBA 2023).
Support from the business community and various philanthropic organizations attests to NTNU’s recognized academic excellence and its successful collaborative efforts with industry. Contributions from notable figures such as Wen-huang Ju, Chairman of Shin Hsiung Natural Gas Inc., and Chuan-Hsin Teng, Chairman of Thin Chang Corporation, as well as donations from institutions like the Research Center for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy and the CTCI Foundation, affirm widespread community and industry support for the university's initiatives.
The initial conceptual planning for the international teaching and research building is complete. NTNU President Cheng-Chih Wu expressed gratitude for the success of ongoing fundraising efforts and hoped for continued support to realize the vision of a state-of-the-art academic facility. This new building is anticipated to enhance the university's engagement with industry and improve students' practical and employability skills.
Marking a milestone in NTNU's history, plans for the proposed international teaching and research building were officially launched during the university's centennial celebrations. Since the project's inception in 2021, the global NTNU community has generously contributed to fundraising activities, both online and offline. A symbol of the collective efforts of NTNU's worldwide alumni network, the new building promises to be a significant addition to the university's resources, supporting future generations of NTNU students and academic research.