In keeping with Taiwan’s national talent development strategy and industry demand, NTU demonstrated its commitment to social responsibility as Taiwan’s premier academic institution, with the unveiling of the International School of Politics and Economics (ISPE) at its Downtown Campus on May 6, 2024. The ceremony also inaugurated the redevelopment plan of the campus.
The event drew national dignitaries such as President Ing-Wen Tsai, Minister of the National Development Council Ming-Hsin Kung, Minister of Education Wen-Chung Pan, along with representatives of seven enterprises that staunchly support the new School’s establishment and operations—Fubon Group, Cathay Financial Holdings, Missioncare, YAGEO Corporation, Hua Nan Commercial Bank, SinoPac Holdings, and TSMC.
ISPE is the second research institute established by NTU under the “Act for National Key Fields Industry-University Cooperation and Skilled Personnel Training,” following the “Graduate School of Advanced Technology.” It will also be the first research institute in Taiwan with a strategic focus on politics and economics, as well as NTU’s first research institute where all courses are conducted in English. Aspiring to be “a training hub for top interdisciplinary talents in politics and economics” and “a nexus for collaboration and exchange among political and economic think tanks, ISPE is designed to nurture global-minded leaders who anticipate industry trends and geopolitical developments.
NTU President Chen indicated that Taiwan needs a new generation of talent in politics, economics, and global finance. On top of the expertise in those fields, aspects like technological proficiency, environmental awareness, cultural and historical knowledge, and global visions also must be cultivated. With generous support from enterprises and flexible payment schemes, ISPE is positioned to recruit world-leading scholars to give lectures and attract the most promising student prospects, and ISPE will help them become leaders who have all-around proficiencies in politics, economics, finance, and technology. The curriculum will emphasize engagements with prominent think tanks and key industry players while seeking collaborations with prestigious universities across the globe. As of now, substantial discussion is in progress with Waseda University in Japan, Harvard University and Georgetown University in the United States, Sciences Po in France, and others.
In her remark, President Tsai recalled taking classes on the Downtown Campus as a student. This site holds the youth and memory of many. Among them, President Tsai talked about dining in the dormitory or playing volleyball at the men’s residence. Her freshman training took place in the College of Law auditorium, where the wooden desks and seats were worn with traces of history. For her, the days at NTU Law were challenging, and she had to work hard to keep up with her professors’ lessons. She then stressed that as the world’s political landscape shifts ever more rapidly, ISPE’s goal of cultivating visionary leaders corresponds well with Taiwan’s geopolitical situation.
ISPE will be located at NTU’s vibrant Downtown Campus on Xuzhou Road, renowned for its cultural and artistic ambiance, with several exquisite buildings designated as historical monuments by Taipei City. NTU also inaugurated the Downtown Campus Redevelopment Plan during the ceremony, utilizing resources from partner companies for renovations to transform the campus into the colorful, vital hub for teaching and research it once was.