2025.0214
NTNU Recognized in 2025 University Guide as Leader in Bilingual Education and Industry Collaboration
As the 2025 university entrance season approaches, 1111 Job Bank published a special edition of the 2025 University Guide in January. The Introduction to Top Universities series explores the distinctive qualities of various institutions, introducing NTNU under the banner "Industry Connections × Interdisciplinary Learning, Global Engagement × Bilingual Education." The guide highlights the university’s core strengths and educational philosophy as NTNU moves toward a more dynamic and innovative future.
The annual guide published by 1111 Job Bank aims to help students make well-informed decisions about their higher education options while encouraging them to explore the vast opportunities ahead. The full text of the section on NTNU is as follows:
Industry Connections × Interdisciplinary Learning, Global Engagement × Bilingual Education
National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) is a leading comprehensive institution with a rich history. Founded in 1922 as Taihoku Higher School —then Taiwan’s only elite college preparatory school—NTNU later evolved into Taiwan Provincial Normal College and subsequently Taiwan Provincial Normal University. Following the liberalization of teacher education policies in 1994, NTNU successfully adapted to new educational demands. Today, the university comprises 10 colleges: Education, Liberal Arts, Science, Arts, Technology and Engineering, Sports and Recreation, Music, International and Social Sciences, Management, and Interdisciplinary Technology and Innovation Research. With a student body exceeding 10,000, NTNU has grown into a diverse, multidisciplinary university.
In recent years, NTNU has expanded its international outreach, leveraging its strengths across science, technology, engineering, and the humanities. The university has also strengthened industry partnerships, collaborating with global tech leaders such as NVIDIA and Gigabyte Technology to establish Taiwan’s first Metaverse Motion Capture Lab, exploring advance AI-driven interdisciplinary applications. Additionally, NTNU partners with TSMC on a Semiconductor Program designed to cultivate talent for the high-tech sector. These efforts have contributed to NTNU’s rise in the 2024 Most Favored Universities by Enterprises rankings, where it climbed to 8th place.
“University Path” + Five-Star Dormitories: Convenient Commuting and Affordable Housing
NTNU operates across three campuses: Heping Campus, Gongguan Campus, and Linkou Campus. Located in the heart of Da’an District, Taipei City, Heping Campus offers easy access to courses at all three universities within the National Taiwan University System (NTU, NTNU, and NTUST). Additionally, its proximity to the Longquan commercial district provides students with a wide range of dining options.
With over 60,000 students in the NTU System and nearly 100,000 cross-registered course enrollments, students can pursue double majors and minors across the three universities. To support increasing inter-university mobility, NTU, NTNU, and NTUST, in collaboration with the Taipei City Government, have developed the "University Path"—a dedicated bike lane that encourages students and faculty to commute by bicycle while enhancing the university town atmosphere.
Beyond commuting, NTNU has also prioritized student housing, addressing one of students' most pressing concerns. The university has invested 1.7 billion NTD to build a second student dormitory on the Gongguan Campus. This 18-story facility, located along the Xindian River, offers scenic riverside views and approximately 3,000 beds. With this expansion, the student housing rate will rise from 65% to 95%, ensuring that both international students and those from outside Taipei have access to affordable accommodation in the city.
A Century-Old Institution with a Free-Spirited and Vibrant Campus Life, Offering Diverse Cultural Experiences
Defying the conventional image of a century-old institution, NTNU fosters a dynamic and open academic environment. Every early summer, the university hosts two signature events: the Sports Show and the Watermelon Festival.
The Sports Show, co-organized by the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences and the Department of Sport and Kinesiology, combines traditional sports—such as soccer and gymnastics—with sound, lighting, color, and creative elements. The event draws large crowds each year, with tickets in high demand and spectators lining up well in advance to secure admission.
The Watermelon Festival playfully transliterates the English word watermelon as the Chinese words for my beauty, using the fruit as a symbolic expression of emotions—red watermelons represent love, while yellow watermelons signify friendship. The festival also features a watermelon-eating contest and a variety of interactive activities – a favorite college memory for many students.
Additionally, NTNU’s Humanities Festival encourages students to explore creative pursuits and apply humanistic knowledge to daily life. In recent years, the event has expanded to include film screenings and concerts.
The NTNU Music Festival, a collaboration among departments within the College of Music, provides an immersive auditory and visual experience, bringing faculty, students, and local residents together through music.
Another major event, the NTNU Arts Festival, highlights student creativity. The 2024 edition featured a cultural and creative market, portrait sketching, and spray painting, showcasing the artistic talents of students from the College of Arts.
President Wu Leads NTNU to Bilingual Benchmark Status in 2024
NTNU has achieved a high level of internationalization. Since the 2021 academic year, it has been recognized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a key institution for bilingual education development. President Cheng-Chih Wu has personally overseen the Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent (BEST) Program, and after three years of dedicated effort, NTNU successfully advanced in 2024 to become a Benchmark University for the MOE’s Bilingual Education for Students in Higher Education Program.
NTNU has achieved a high level of internationalization. Since the 2021 academic year, it has been recognized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a key institution for bilingual education development. President Cheng-Chih Wu has personally overseen the Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent (BEST) Program, and after three years of dedicated effort, NTNU successfully advanced in 2024 to become a Benchmark University for the MOE’s Bilingual Education for Students in Higher Education Program.
The BEST Program requires all undergraduate departments to offer at least 18 credits of English-Medium Instruction (EMI) courses, with a total of 886 EMI courses available across the university. Nearly 70% of graduate programs offer fully English-taught degree programs (GPE), and in the 2023 academic year, four fully English-taught undergraduate degree programs (UPE) were approved, providing students with diverse academic pathways.
The Center for Academic Literacy, often affectionately referred to as the NTNU Café, provides one-on-one writing and speaking consultations through resident English language consultants, offering an average of over 80 consultation hours per week—the highest in the nation. Additionally, NTNU enrolls the highest number of international degree-seeking students and Mandarin Training Center students in the country, further enriching its bilingual learning environment.
President Wu emphasized that "internationalization" does not mean transforming NTNU into an entirely English-speaking institution. Instead, the goal is to create a welcoming environment that helps foreign students integrate into campus life while also learning Taiwan’s language and culture. At the same time, Taiwanese students benefit by expanding their global perspective through meaningful interactions with international peers.
Future-Ready Education: Industry Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Learning
Building a talent pool through interdisciplinary learning! In 2023, NTNU, with joint sponsorship from 12 companies and the National Development Fund, established the College of Interdisciplinary Industry Innovation, which includes two graduate institutes: AI Interdisciplinary Application and Green Energy Technology and Sustainable Governance.
Building a talent pool through interdisciplinary learning! In 2023, NTNU, with joint sponsorship from 12 companies and the National Development Fund, established the College of Interdisciplinary Industry Innovation, which includes two graduate institutes: AI Interdisciplinary Application and Green Energy Technology and Sustainable Governance.
In 2024, NTNU collaborated with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) to establish the Semiconductor Credit Program. Students in this program not only have access to specialized courses but can also participate in TSMC industry mentor-led classes. By completing at least 15 designated courses, students are guaranteed an interview opportunity. Additionally, NTNU has partnered with NVIDIA and Gigabyte Technology to create Taiwan’s first metaverse motion capture lab, integrating AI and performing arts into content creation. NTNU has also launched an 8-credit "Metaverse Technology Virtual Influencer Micro-Program", teaching students how to create digital technology art.
Keeping pace with industry demands, in the 2023 academic year, NTNU introduced new teaching content tailored to workforce needs, including seven specialized credit programs in Technological Teaching Industry, Metaverse Narrative, Scientific Computing and Interdisciplinary EMI, Business Analytics, ESG Sustainable Management, Strength and Conditioning Training, and Hakka Language and Culture. With these additions, NTNU now offers a total of 55 specialized programs, available to both Master’s and Doctoral students.
To enhance learning flexibility, NTNU has also expanded its summer courses, offering nearly 60 eight-week courses across engineering, science, social sciences, and humanities. Most students are exempt from credit fees for these courses.
President Wu emphasized that interdisciplinary and innovative talent is essential in today’s era. NTNU aims to establish a collaborative mechanism between academia and industry, forging stronger connections between the university and enterprises. By working hand in hand with industry, NTNU strives to infuse greater vitality and momentum into the technological advancements of the next generation.