National Tsing Hua University:Past, Present, Future

Frank Hsia-San Shu

Presentation to Faculty Senate

10 January 2006

Goals and Objectives• Make NTHU a great, well balanced,

research university: 20/20 vision– Nurture human talent.– Develop and implement long-range

plans.– Introduce effective system of self-

governance.– Build and maintain the needed

infrastructure.– Connect to the international

community.• First, need to change the academic

system• Second, need to increase the budget

Statistical Change in 4 Years

2002 2006

Undergrad+grad

4500 + 4000

5100 + 5600

Faculty 500 570

Total budget 2.9 billion 5.0 billion

NSC grant overhead

6% 13%

(15% 2007)

Campus land (hect.)

100 106+28+40

Highlights of Past 4 Years• 2002: 20/20 vision: 5 & 10 year roadmaps• 2002: MoE to fund 50% LRC (Macronix Bldg)• 2002: Formation of UST• 2003: New faculty recruitment system• 2003: 33 NTHU professorships• 2003: Discussions with UCB over collaboration• 2004: Discussions with NCTU over merger• 2004: Plans approved for I-Lan science park• 2005: Signed agreement with Hsinchu County

for 2nd campus in Jhudong• 2005: Discussions with UCSD over collaboration• 2005: Passage of 1st yr of 5 yr/50 billion project• 2005: Discussions with HEU over possible

merger• 2005: Passage of Revised University

Regulations

NTHU

NCTU

Escher: Drawing Hands

Long-Range Planning

• Develop 5 and 10 year roadmaps: – Academic Plan – Campus Development Plan

• Review, priority setting, implementation: – Departments or equivalents (19) and graduate institutes (13)

provide discipline expertise.– Colleges or equivalent (8) review for relative quality in different

but related disciplines. – University (1) implements priorities on basis of absolute quality

and programmatic balance.

Building the Infrastructure• Under construction or advanced

planning: – Technology Management Building (summer

2006)– Third Guest House (summer 2006)– Learning Resource Center/Library (2009?)

• High-priority renovations– Additional space for EECS– Additional space for NCTS

• New projects:– East Garden Faculty Housing (140 units)– Two New Student Dormitories (1000 beds)– Tsing Hua Labs– General Classroom Building– Innovation Incubation Center (BOT)– Taipei Alumni House (BOT)

10 yr – 120 Billion NTDWorld-Class Universities Initiative

• Government inducement for NTHU/NCTU merger• 5 Year Plan:

– Pass letter of intent 1st year– 3.5 billion NTD per year– Pass merger agreement in 5th year

• Yes vote at NTHU; no vote at NCTU (twice)• NTHU submitted on own, along with 27 other univ.• Committee evaluation:

– NTHU proposal best– NTHU performance best– NTHU method of selection presidents best– NTHU only university capable of competing with NTU

• 1st recommendation: 3.0 billion per yr each to NTHU and NTU (indicator of outside academic esteem for NTHU)

• MOE decision: NTU 3.0, NCKU 1.7, NTHU 1.0, NCTU 0.8 billion

• Reasons: NTHU scope too small, north-south equity

New Opportunity:Possible Merger with HEU

• 2 billion NTD over 5 years• 10 years integration period• 1000 faculty members in 10 years (new money, not new lines)• Associated high, middle, and grade

schools?• Proposal

– Vision for integrated school (NTHU)– Process for merger

• Formed joint committee• Separate SWOT teams• Desirability for quick action

500051505305

54645628

59656323

6702

7105

7531

7983

5000

5500

6000

6500

7000

7500

8000

94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104學年度

大學招收人數

Pros• Combined university can become a well-rounded general

purpose university– Supplement strengths in three areas where NTHU is under-

staffed:• Education• Fine Arts, Music, & Design• Physical education

– Add new fields that are currently missing altogether• Greater diversity of student body• Lead example of how to solve Taiwan’s crisis of too many

universities• Increased management efficiencies

– Smaller total administration– Larger total budget for library, central computing & networking,

etc.• Satisfy size criterion researched by R & D Division• High-profile chance to promote teaching excellence and

service to community

Cons

• Different school cultures, traditions, & system (10 yr integration plan)• Dilution of NTHU quality in research (10 yr moratorium in evaluations)• Three campus locations (Busing between campuses, switch of functions)• Financial & personnel costs of physical merger (Mo

E supplement)• Potential objections by alumni (College name for HEU)• Other potential partners for merger with HEU (Do not delay decision-making)

IntensiveInternational Collaboration

• Physical presence at UCSD & UCB• Faculty fulfill teaching duties by long-di

stance teaching• Joint PhD program • Undergraduate summer session• AS has budgeted monies for 2006• UST representing 12 research universi

ties– MoE supports students (proposal)– NSC supports faculty (proposal)

Future Changes:Faculty Performance Incentives

• Professorial salaries: merit increases through– Research– Teaching– Service

• Start-up funds

• Subsidized housing

Proposal to MoE:Faculty Ladder System

Assist. Prof. Assoc.Prof. Full Prof.

I I* I**

II II II

III* III III

IV IV** IV

V V

VI

VII

VIII

Above Scale

Future Changes: Student Life

• Admissions reform– College: admission by uni

versity not depts– Graduate school: admissi

on by institutes

• Curriculum reform– Declaration of major at en

d of second year– More learning, less teachi

ng– More research experience,

starting at college level

Parting Words

• NTHU can become a great university in twenty years if everyone works toward a common purpose

• Executive yuan & MoE are supportive of our aspirations• Legislators of all political parties are supportive of goals o

f 5 yr-50 billion initiative– Must hear one voice– Must see real accomplishment and no waste

• Most important objective is to ensure continued supplemental funding into indefinite future

• I will continue to help from the United States• Farewell & warmest wishes for a bright future!

Thank you everyone for your support and help the last 4 years!