NTHU Launches College of Sustainability to Cultivate Interdisciplinary "Green Talent"
National Tsing Hua University officially inaugurated its College of Sustainability on May 23, witnessed by President Lai Ching-te, Minister of Environment Dr. Peng Chi-Ming, and Chairman of the National Science and Technology Council Dr. Wu Cheng-Wen. As the first sustainability college in Taiwan centered on interdisciplinary integration, it aims to cultivate key “green talent” who will lead the nation toward net-zero emissions by 2050, injecting academic momentum into Taiwan’s sustainable development strategy.
In his speech at the unveiling ceremony, President Weiyuan John Kao emphasized that the college is uniquely positioned to address challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through cross-disciplinary technologies. It will nurture the sustainability professionals Taiwan needs in areas such as carbon trading, net-zero transition, and green finance—broadening our international outlook and impact. “Together, let us advance toward a sustainable NTHU, a sustainable Taiwan, and a sustainable future,” he said.
“I believe that in the near future, ‘sustainability’ will become, like ‘semiconductors,’ a defining brand of both NTHU and Taiwan,” President Kao added. He also extended his gratitude to President Lai and Minister Peng for their strong support and contributions to the college.
Dean Fan Chien-Te, the inaugural dean of NTHU’s 13th college, stressed that sustainability is a multifaceted issue that cannot be addressed by a single discipline. The new college will work closely with other NTHU colleges in science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences to promote forward-looking, interdisciplinary, inter-university, and international research. It will also explore innovative public-private partnerships to tackle diverse global challenges.
Dean Fan noted that all sustainable development actions must be grounded in sound scientific understanding, aligning with NTHU’s strengths in basic science. The college will focus on critical research areas to provide a robust scientific foundation for sustainability initiatives. It will also equip students with the ability to understand and respond to geopolitical challenges, including natural disasters driven by climate change, food crises, resource conflicts, and geoeconomic risks.
The College of Sustainability has submitted applications to the Ministry of Education to establish a “Master’s Program in Sustainable Technology” (at the Nanda campus) and an “Institute of Sustainable Management and Climate Policy” (at the Kaohsiung campus), with plans to begin enrollment in the 2026 academic year. Future offerings will include interdisciplinary credit programs for current students, micro-courses for industry professionals, and training programs in collaboration with government agencies—forming a comprehensive and diverse talent development system.
Witnessed by Minister Peng Chi-Ming, NTHU also signed a Letter of Intent for Sustainable Development Partnership with seven companies: ASE Group, UMC, Delta Electronics, ADATA Technology, China Steel, Swancor Holding, and Alchip Technologies. This partnership demonstrates a strong commitment to jointly advancing industrial green growth and achieving net-zero goals.
[May 23, 2025 | Office of the Secretariat, NTHU]