National Cheng Kung University successfully concluded its 2026 International Summer School Programs at the end of August, welcoming more than 150 exceptional students and scholars from around the globe to NCKU's campus for a summer of full academic engagement and cultural exchange.

College of Medicine: International Summer School Final Presentations and Closing Ceremony.
 

Hosted across five of NCKU’s prominent colleges: College of Medicine, Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing (AISSM), College of Planning and Design, College of Social Sciences, and College of Management, the intensive summer programs offered a dynamic platform for cross-disciplinary learning and cutting-edge research addressing critical global issues such as rapid population aging, precision healthcare, and sustainable urban living.

Students from NCKU and Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) meet and connect.

The summer curriculum delivered rigorous, practice-oriented coursework across multiple disciplines, showcasing NCKU's core research strengths. The College of Medicine led a two-week program focused on precision geriatric care, combining lectures on Taiwan's long-term care policies, health-tech applications in disability prevention and delay, and integrative Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In the high-tech sector, AISSM delivered professional lectures and software-based lab exercises across three specialized programs: IC Design, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, and Semiconductor Packaging and Testing.

Students interact with the instructor during a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) class.

Collaborative workshops and empirical research formed another cornerstone of the academic framework. The College of Planning and Design held the "Green Living for the Super-Aged Society" workshop with partner universities from Japan and Thailand, combining AI digital tools with field research to propose age-friendly community solutions along the North Tainan Railway Parkway. Concurrently, the Department of Psychology hosted the five-day IBRO Taiwan Summer School 2026, guiding students through computational approaches to the mind via lectures, computer workshops, MRI facility visits, and collaborative research proposals. Furthermore, the NCKU Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) and the College of Management joined forces with Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and industry mentors, guiding cross-cultural student teams through design thinking and fieldwork to turn eldercare pain points into commercially viable, high-impact innovations.

NCKU Department of Psychology leads students on a tour of the Mind Research and Imaging Center.

NCKU USR 2026 International Forum: Exploring green living, sustainability, well-being & social connectivity across cultural contexts.

Complementing their academic studies, participants engaged in a wide variety of field trips, industry tours, and cultural activities designed to offer deep insights into Taiwanese heritage and local community practice. Students conducted site visits to the NCKU MRI Center, the NCKU Hospital Douliu Branch, and local long-term care stations, alongside industry visits to semiconductor leader ASML and local green enterprises such as Chi Mei Frozen Food and I-chin Bedding. Cultural immersion included hands-on workshops in Tai Chi, traditional Sword Lion painting, and TCM techniques such as acupuncture and cupping. Participants also explored Tainan’s historic neighborhoods, including the Changsheng and Baixue Villages, where they interacted directly with senior residents through intergenerational activities, and visited iconic cultural spots such as Anping Old Fort, Luermen Matsu Temple, Yuguang Island, and the Sicao Green Tunnel.

Students visit local long-term care stations and conduct industry tours as part of the summer school programs.

By integrating domain expertise across its colleges, NCKU continues to serve as a vital hub for global education and talent development. The Summer School Programs offered international participants firsthand experience of Taiwanese academic excellence and local culture, inspiring interest in pursuing long-term degree programs at the university. NCKU looks forward to expanding its international academic networks and hosting future cohorts in the coming years.