On April 7, 2026, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) welcomed a delegation from the University of North Texas (UNT). Led by Dr. Michael McPherson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the delegation made its first visit to NCKU, accompanied by three team members. Senior representatives from both universities attended the meeting, where discussions focused on key areas including engineering, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, smart manufacturing, and systems integration. Both sides explored opportunities to further strengthen collaboration through dual degree programs, student exchanges, research partnerships, and industry–academia linkages, emphasizing a strategic approach and tangible outcomes. The meeting was conducted in a warm and productive atmosphere, successfully establishing a solid foundation for collaboration and fostering a shared vision for deeper institutional partnership.

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) held an Honorary Doctorate Conferral Ceremony on March 25, awarding an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture to Joshua Jih Pan, Founder and Principal Architect of JJP Architects and Planners. Honorary Doctorates in Engineering were conferred upon Pierre Chen, Founder and Chairman of YAGEO Corporation, and Yung-Pei (Y.P.) Chyn, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The degrees were awarded in recognition of the three alumni’s outstanding achievements in the fields of architecture and technology, as well as their profound contributions to the nation and society. Hosted by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, the grand ceremony was attended by numerous distinguished guests.

Ancient-DNA pioneer Professor Svante Pääbo drew a capacity crowd to National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) on 20 March, when he delivered the 2026 NCKU Phoenix Lecture in the International Conference Hall at the main library. In a talk titled “About the Origins of Modern Humans: Neandertals, Denisovans, and the Genetic Legacy of Humanity”, the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate outlined the breakthroughs that helped to open the field of ancient-DNA research. The lecture, followed by an academic discussion, attracted students and faculty from both within NCKU and beyond.

On March 17, the Fulbright Taiwan (Foundation for Scholarly Exchange) led a delegation of International Education Administrators (IEA) from 16 prestigious U.S. universities to visit National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). The delegation included representatives from Pennsylvania State University, Rice University, Emory University, the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University, and several other state universities. This meeting focused on three core areas—Medicine, Science, and Huayu (Mandarin) education—aiming to deepen U.S. higher education administrators’ understanding of Taiwan’s academic environment and foster stronger collaborative opportunities between the USA and Taiwan.