National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has been awarded Taiwan’s 2025 National Sustainable Development Award in the Education Category by the Executive Yuan, recognizing the university’s long-term commitment and comprehensiveachievements across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions. This accolade underscores the pivotal role and leadership of higher education institutions in advancing national sustainability goals. Organized by the National Council for Sustainable Development under the Executive Yuan, the award honors exemplary institutions that demonstrate balanced progress across the economic, social, and environmental pillars, and is widely regarded as one of Taiwan’s most prestigious accolades in the field of sustainable development.

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) launched the first lecture of its "NCKU Meets Nobel | AI × Sustainability: Insights for the Future" series on December 9th. The event featured a special keynote speech by the 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, Prof. Sir Christopher A. Pissarides.
Professor Pissarides addressed an audience of faculty, students, and scholars with his lecture titled “AI and the Future of Work and Wellbeing,” sharing profound insights on how global labor market must adapt to the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) achieved an outstanding result in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, announced in November. NCKU ranked 35th in the world and first among the seven Taiwanese universities listed in the global top 200. NCKU Executive Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang noted that as a comprehensive university with a full range of academic disciplines and a compact campus, NCKU has a natural advantage in promoting interdisciplinary research. Since President Meng-Ru Shen took office, interdisciplinary research has been set as one of the core directions for university development. He has repeatedly emphasized that the university must fulfill its social responsibilities and ensure that NCKU’s growth responds to national needs and contributes to society. This recognition shows that President Shen’s direction is on the right track. Moving forward, NCKU will continue to deepen its commitment to fulfilling its USR, respond to national and societal needs, and strengthen its international connections.

On November 20, 2025, Times Higher Education (THE) and the international fellowship program “Schmidt Science Fellows” announced the 2026 Interdisciplinary Science Rankings. National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) placed 35th in the world and first in Taiwan. This outstanding achievement underscores NCKU’s strong foundation in promoting cross-college collaboration, integrating research capacity, and cultivating talent. It also demonstrates the university’s growing international recognition in interdisciplinary research.