National Taiwan University
Encyclopedia
National Taiwan University (NTU; 國立臺灣大學) is a national
co-educational university located in Taipei
, Republic of China (Taiwan)
. In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" (台大). Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan, occupying a total of 345,830,000 square meters. Currently the University consists of 11 colleges, 54 departments, 96 graduate institutes and 4 research centers and offers diplomas in over 100 fields of study.
NTU is a top-ranked university in Taiwan and placed among the best 95 universities in the world by several well-reputed rankings (HEEACT, THE-QS World University Rankings 2009, Global University Ranking 2009, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities
). In 2011, it was ranked 87th in the world by QS World University Rankings
and 21st in the QS Asian University Rankings.
NTU was founded in 1928 by the Japanese during the Japanese colonial era
and was then known as the Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University. After World War II and Taiwan's retrocession to Chinese sovereignty, the Republic of China
government resumed the administration of Taihoku University and reorganized and renamed it National Taiwan University on November 15, 1945.
NTU has strong ties with the Academia Sinica
. NTU admits students based solely on merit, regardless of their race, religion, or gender. The female-to-male ratio among the undergraduate population is about 0.9:1.
Many influential individuals in Taiwanese society received their education at NTU, including government officials in both pan-blue
and pan-green
camps. The university also produced one Nobel prize
laureate, Lee Yuan-tseh (Nobel Prize in Chemistry
, 1986), the first Taiwanese to receive the prize.
in 1928 as a member of the imperial university system
administered by the Empire of Japan
.
The school's first president was Taira Shidehara. The Taihoku Imperial University began with a College of Liberal Arts and Law and a College of Science and Agriculture serving 60 students. The university was intended mainly for Japanese nationals; few Taiwanese students were admitted. The College of Medicine and the College of Engineering were added in 1936 and 1943, respectively. After World War II
the incoming Republic of China
government reorganized the school as an institution for Chinese-speaking students. The school was renamed the National Taiwan University on 15 November 1945 and Lo Tsung-lo
was appointed as its president.
Today, the National Taiwan University serves nearly 30,000 students through 11 colleges, 54 departments, and 96 graduate institutes (which offer 96 master's programs and 83 doctoral programs). A new library, built in 1998, now contains over 3 million volumes. In 2010, the university is scheduled to merge with the National Taipei University of Education
, the city's oldest institution of higher learning.
with the figure of the plum blossom, the blue-and-white background and the thunder-and-cloud line pattern combine the spiritual
ideals of the nation and its cultural
tradition
s, as well as those of all members of the university community.
, master's degree
, and doctorate degree in many disciplines.
Students are given the flexibility to select courses offered by any colleges; however, compulsory subjects designated for each major needs to be completed to be awarded a degree. A student must declare a major during college application, some majors are more competitive than others and require a higher national examination score.
Traditionally, medicine
, electrical engineering
, and law
are the three most selective majors. Most majors take four years to complete while the medical degree takes seven years to finish.
NTU requires most of its undergraduate students to take a mandatory core curriculum
, comprising Chinese, freshman English, physical education, and public service. The medical school in addition dictates each of its students to take philosophy
and sociology
classes as well as seminars in ethics
and thanatology
. Military training is no longer an obligatory course for males, but it is a prerequisite if the student plans to be an officer during his mandatory military service.
The president heads the university. Each college is headed by a dean, and each department by a chairman. Students elect their own representatives each year to attend administrative meetings.
The colleges in NTU are:
The International Chinese Language Program (ICLP)
, founded by Stanford University
, is located at National Taiwan University.
The Global MBA program at NTU is recognized as one of the top business programs in Asia. Graduates have been recruited for premier jobs in Taiwan, China, and Singapore. The program has an acceptance rate of slightly under 10%(1000+ applicants yearly). The Global MBA student body is led by Global MBA Student Council, whom coordinate and promote the activities of student body to ensure a well rounded MBA experience.
region (including New Taipei City) and two additional campuses in Nantou County
, amounting to nearly 1% of the total area of the Taiwan
island. The University governs farms, forests, and hospitals for educational and research purposes.
The main campus (interactive map) is situated in Taipei's Daan district near Gongguan, where most college department buildings and all the administrative buildings are located. Notable exceptions are the College of Law, the College of Social Science, and the College of Medicine, which are located near the Presidential Building
.
The six campuses are:
Presidents of National Taiwan University:
National university
A national university is generally a university created or run by a government, but which at the same time operates autonomously without direct oversight or control by the state. Some national universities are closely associated with national cultural or political aspirations...
co-educational university located in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" (台大). Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan, occupying a total of 345,830,000 square meters. Currently the University consists of 11 colleges, 54 departments, 96 graduate institutes and 4 research centers and offers diplomas in over 100 fields of study.
NTU is a top-ranked university in Taiwan and placed among the best 95 universities in the world by several well-reputed rankings (HEEACT, THE-QS World University Rankings 2009, Global University Ranking 2009, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities
Webometrics Ranking of World Universities
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, also known as Ranking Web of World Universities, is ranking system for the world's universities based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of the Web contents and the visibility and impact of these web publications...
). In 2011, it was ranked 87th in the world by QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....
and 21st in the QS Asian University Rankings.
NTU was founded in 1928 by the Japanese during the Japanese colonial era
Taiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
and was then known as the Taihoku (Taipei) Imperial University. After World War II and Taiwan's retrocession to Chinese sovereignty, the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government resumed the administration of Taihoku University and reorganized and renamed it National Taiwan University on November 15, 1945.
NTU has strong ties with the Academia Sinica
Academia Sinica
The Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
. NTU admits students based solely on merit, regardless of their race, religion, or gender. The female-to-male ratio among the undergraduate population is about 0.9:1.
Many influential individuals in Taiwanese society received their education at NTU, including government officials in both pan-blue
Pan-Blue Coalition
The Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
and pan-green
Pan-Green Coalition
The Pan-Green Coalition or Pan-Green Camp, is an informal political alliance of the Republic of China, commonly known as "Taiwan", consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party , Taiwan Solidarity Union , and the minor Taiwan Independence Party...
camps. The university also produced one Nobel prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate, Lee Yuan-tseh (Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists in the various fields of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, awarded for outstanding contributions in chemistry, physics, literature,...
, 1986), the first Taiwanese to receive the prize.
History
National Taiwan University has its origins in the Taihoku Imperial University (台北帝國大學, Taihoku Teikoku Daigaku) founded by Taiwan's Japanese colonial governmentTaiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
in 1928 as a member of the imperial university system
Imperial university
-France:Imperial University or University of France refers to the French university re-organisation initiated by Napoleon.-Japan:...
administered by the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
.
The school's first president was Taira Shidehara. The Taihoku Imperial University began with a College of Liberal Arts and Law and a College of Science and Agriculture serving 60 students. The university was intended mainly for Japanese nationals; few Taiwanese students were admitted. The College of Medicine and the College of Engineering were added in 1936 and 1943, respectively. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the incoming Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government reorganized the school as an institution for Chinese-speaking students. The school was renamed the National Taiwan University on 15 November 1945 and Lo Tsung-lo
Lo Tsung-lo
Lo Tsung-lo , was a Chinese botanist and plant physiologist. Lo was a main founder of modern plant physiology in China. He was the first President of the National Taiwan University .-Biography:Luo was born in Huangyan, Zhejiang Province on 2 Aug 1898. Lo's father was a merchant...
was appointed as its president.
Today, the National Taiwan University serves nearly 30,000 students through 11 colleges, 54 departments, and 96 graduate institutes (which offer 96 master's programs and 83 doctoral programs). A new library, built in 1998, now contains over 3 million volumes. In 2010, the university is scheduled to merge with the National Taipei University of Education
National Taipei University of Education
National Taipei University of Education is a university located in Taipei, Taiwan that predominantly focuses on teacher training...
, the city's oldest institution of higher learning.
University emblem
The emblemEmblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
with the figure of the plum blossom, the blue-and-white background and the thunder-and-cloud line pattern combine the spiritual
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
ideals of the nation and its cultural
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
s, as well as those of all members of the university community.
- The University Motto: "Integrity, Diligence, Patriotism and Philanthropy," the cornerstone of NTU philosophy and personal comportment;
- The Fu Bell: A reminder of discipline and enlightenment; and
- The University Tree: The royal palm as a symbol of growth and nurture, broad vision and steadfast willpower.
Academics
NTU offers the bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, and doctorate degree in many disciplines.
Students are given the flexibility to select courses offered by any colleges; however, compulsory subjects designated for each major needs to be completed to be awarded a degree. A student must declare a major during college application, some majors are more competitive than others and require a higher national examination score.
Traditionally, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
are the three most selective majors. Most majors take four years to complete while the medical degree takes seven years to finish.
NTU requires most of its undergraduate students to take a mandatory core curriculum
Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum was originally developed as the main curriculum used by Columbia University's Columbia College. It began in 1919 with "Contemporary Civilization," about the origins of western civilization. It became the framework for many similar educational models throughout the United States...
, comprising Chinese, freshman English, physical education, and public service. The medical school in addition dictates each of its students to take philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
classes as well as seminars in ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and thanatology
Thanatology
Thanatology is the scientific study of death. It investigates the mechanisms and forensic aspects of death, such as bodily changes that accompany death and the post-mortem period, as well as wider social aspects related to death. It is primarily an interdisciplinary study offered as a course of...
. Military training is no longer an obligatory course for males, but it is a prerequisite if the student plans to be an officer during his mandatory military service.
Organization
The colleges in NTU are:
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Science
- College of Social Science
- College of Medicine
- College of Engineering
- College of Bio-resource and Agriculture
- College of Management
- College of Public Health
- College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- College of Law
- College of Life Science
- School of Dentistry
- School of Pharmacy
The International Chinese Language Program (ICLP)
International Chinese Language Program
The International Chinese Language Program is one of the world's premier institutions for intensive training in formal Mandarin, Taiwanese, Classical Chinese, and other Chinese languages...
, founded by Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, is located at National Taiwan University.
GMBA (Global MBA)
The Global M.B.A. program is an AACSB accredited international business management masters program that is conducted in English. With a 50/50 mix of international and local students, the program integrates academic and cultural knowledge and real-life practices of the Eastern and Western world. Students in the program have the opportunity for real life joint consulting projects partnering with top business schools such as University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School. Core classes include Marketing Management, Organizational Behavior, Financial Management, Managerial Economics, Information Management and Managerial Accounting.The Global MBA program at NTU is recognized as one of the top business programs in Asia. Graduates have been recruited for premier jobs in Taiwan, China, and Singapore. The program has an acceptance rate of slightly under 10%(1000+ applicants yearly). The Global MBA student body is led by Global MBA Student Council, whom coordinate and promote the activities of student body to ensure a well rounded MBA experience.
Campus
The University has six campuses in the greater TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
region (including New Taipei City) and two additional campuses in Nantou County
Nantou County
Nantou County is the second largest county of Taiwan. It is also the only landlocked county in Taiwan. Its name derives from the Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word Ramtau. Nantou County is officially administered as a county of Taiwan....
, amounting to nearly 1% of the total area of the Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
island. The University governs farms, forests, and hospitals for educational and research purposes.
The main campus (interactive map) is situated in Taipei's Daan district near Gongguan, where most college department buildings and all the administrative buildings are located. Notable exceptions are the College of Law, the College of Social Science, and the College of Medicine, which are located near the Presidential Building
Presidential Building (Taiwan)
The Presidential Office Building houses the Office of the President of the Republic of China. The building, located in the Zhongzheng District in the national capital of Taipei, Republic of China, was designed by architect Uheiji Nagano during the period of Japanese rule of Taiwan . The structure...
.
The six campuses are:
- Main Campus (No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Taiwan)
- College of Law, Social Sciences and Public Health (No.21, XuZhou Road, Taipei, Taiwan)
- College of Medicine (No. 1, Sec.1, RenAi Road, Taipei, Taiwan)
- University Hospital (No. 7, ZhongShan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan)
- University Farm (No.7, Jiu-kuang Road, Xindian, New Taipei, Taiwan)
- Wenshan Botanical Garden (No.4, Lei-kung Po, Geh-tou Tsun, Shiding, New Taipei, Taiwan)
Research Stations
The three research stations are:- Highland Farm (No.136, Jen-heh Road, Ta-tung Tsun, Jen-ai, Nan-tou County, Taiwan
- Experimental Forest
- Department of Forestry (No. 12, Sec.1, Chien-shan Road, Shiang-shan, Nan-tou County, Taiwan)
University Presidents
Presidents of Taihoku Imperial University:- Taira Shidehara (幣原坦): March 1928-September 1937
- Sadanori Mita (三田定則): September 1937-April 1941
- Masatsugu Ando (安藤正次): April 1941-March 1945
- Kazuo Ando (安藤一雄): March 1945-August 1945
Presidents of National Taiwan University:
- Lo Tsung-loLo Tsung-loLo Tsung-lo , was a Chinese botanist and plant physiologist. Lo was a main founder of modern plant physiology in China. He was the first President of the National Taiwan University .-Biography:Luo was born in Huangyan, Zhejiang Province on 2 Aug 1898. Lo's father was a merchant...
(羅宗洛): August 1945-July 1946 - Lu Chih-houngLu Chih-houngLu Chih-houng , courtesy name Youhai , was a Chinese educator, metallographist, material sicientist and engineer.-Biography:...
(陸志鴻): August 1946-May 1948 - Chuang Chang-kung (莊長恭): June 1948-December 1948
- Fu Szu-nien (傅斯年): January 1949-December 1950
- Shen Kang-po (沈剛伯): December 1950-January 1951
- Chien Szu-liang (錢思亮): January 1951-May 1970
- Yen Cheng-hsing (閻振興): June 1970-July 1981
- Yu Chao-Chung (虞兆中): August 1981-July 1984
- Sun Chen (孫震): August 1984-February 1993
- Kou Guang-hsiung (郭光雄): March 1993-July 1993
- Chen Wei-Jao (陳維昭): August 1993-June 2005
- Lee Si-ChenLee Si-ChenLee, Si-Chen , is a Taiwanese engineer specializing in semiconductors, a researcher in amorphous silicon in the early development in Taiwan, and a IEEE Fellow...
(李嗣涔): August 2005-
Alumni
NTU alumni are influential in the politics of Taiwan as well as in academics.See also
- National Taiwan University HospitalNational Taiwan University HospitalNational Taiwan University Hospital started operations under Japanese rule in Dadaocheng on June 18, 1895, and moved to its present location in 1898. The Hospital was later annexed to the Medical School of Taipei Imperial University and renamed Taipei Imperial University Medical School Affiliated...
- List of universities in Taiwan
- Education in the Republic of ChinaEducation in the Republic of ChinaThe educational system in Taiwan is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education of Republic of China . The system in the ROC produces pupils with some of the highest test scores in the world, especially in mathematics and science. It has been criticised for placing excessive pressure on...