National Central University

National Central University (Template:Zh; abbreviated NCU; Template:Lang-zh) is a public research university in Zhongli, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. Founded in 1915 in Nanking, it was reestablished in Taiwan in 1968 after the Chinese Civil War and gained its current name in 1979.

The university is organized into eight colleges, 26 departments, 19 graduate institutes, and six research centers. It is one of the six national universities in research selected by the Ministry of Education.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Efn

History

According to The History Evolution of National Central University (Template:Lang) of 1937, the precursor of the university was founded in the winter of the first year of Sun Xiu's reign (AD 258) during the era of Three Kingdoms.Template:Dubious Since this foundation, it has evolved and adopted different names in each dynasty or period in imperial China. Its immediate predecessor was a modern institution of higher learning established in Nanking (Nanjing) in 1902 during the Qing Dynasty, the Sanjiang Normal School (Template:Lang, which was renamed the Liangjiang Higher Normal School (Template:Lang) in 1906. This was closed in 1911 when the Qing Dynasty was overthrown.

In 1915 after the Republic of China has been proclaimed, the Nanking Higher Normal School (Template:Lang) was established to replace the Liangjiang Higher Normal School, and it is this year that is most often cited as the establishment of the National Central University now based in Taiwan.<ref>National Central University at the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Retrieved 5 October 2025.</ref><ref>關於中央大學 - 校史紀要 [About National Central University: School History]. Template:Webarchive. National Central University website. 11 November 2015. Template:Inlang</ref><ref>總統出席「中央大學創校97週年暨在臺建校50週年校慶」 [President Attends Celebration of National Central University's 97th Anniversary and 50th Anniversary in Taiwan]. Template:Webarchive. Office of the President. 2 June 2012. Template:Inlang</ref>Template:Efn In 1921, the National Southeastern University (Template:Lang) based on the normal school was established by the Beiyang Government. With the success of the Northern Expedition and the national government establishment its capital in Nanking in 1927, the university was reorganized and give the name National Fourth Sun Yat-sen University (Template:Lang), as Nanking was the fourth major city conquered in the expedition. Early the following year it was renamed National Kiangsu University (Template:Lang) and then simply Kiangsu University (Template:Lang) in quick succession. Dissatisfied with the lack of "national" in the name, professors and students struck for a new name,<ref>Template:Ill Gazette. [大學院公報]. Volume 5. May 1928. Template:Inlang</ref> and in May 1928 the university became the Template:Ill (Template:Lang).

Following Japanese invasion of China 1937, the Nationalist regime relocated westward to the Template:Ill (Chongqing), and with it, Template:Ill as well. Upon its relocation to Chungking, the university was given 200 mu of land by Chungking University, and a cooperative relationship was established between the two universities. During this period, many distinguished professors taught at both universities, contributing significantly to the academic environment. These included notable figures such as Li Siguang, a renowned geologist; Xu Beihong, a famous painter and art educator; Wu Guanzhong, an accomplished painter and art educator; Ma Yinchu, an influential economist and educator; He Lu, a prominent physicist; and Lu Zuofu, a distinguished literary scholar. This era of collaboration not only strengthened the academic capabilities of both universities but also played a crucial role in preserving and advancing China's educational and cultural institutions amid the challenges of war.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the rule of Wang Jingwei's Japanese puppet regime in Nanking from 1940 to 1945, a small Template:Ill was also established on the campus of what had been the Central Political Institute.

Following the end of World War II, National Central University reopened in Nanking in November 1946, with its main campus in the Sipailou area. After the Nationalist government lost Nanking to the Chinese Communist Party during the Chinese Civil War, that university's name was changed from National Central University to National Nanjing University (Template:Lang) in 1949. It subsequently has gone through a number of name changes and reorganizations.

After the communists took control of China, the Nationalist regime retreated to Taiwan. Beginning with Chengchi University in 1954, there was an effort at restoration of other national universities from China in Taiwan, such as Tsing Hua in 1956 and Chiao Tung in 1958. National Central University was first reestablished in Taiwan in 1962 as the National Central University Graduate Institute of Geophysics (Template:Lang) in Miaoli County. In 1968, NCU moved to its current location in the Template:Ill area of what was then Zhongli City in Taoyuan County (now Zhongli District of Taoyuan City) and was renamed the National Central University College of Science (Template:Lang). In 1979, it was officially restored under the name National Central University. In 2003, NCU and three other national universities established the University System of Taiwan cooperative partnership. NCU is now a research-oriented national comprehensive university.<ref>* 《The History Evolution of National Central University》, (1937) (《國立中央大學沿革史》 中華民國二十六年) *"Chinese Encyclopedia" {中華百科全書} Template:Webarchive</ref> NCU was the first university in Taiwan to research industrial economics<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and economic development (Taiwan's Consumer Confidence Index is released monthly by NCU).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Location

The university's Taoyuan City campus is situated in the northern part of the island, about Template:Convert away from the capital Taipei and Template:Convert from Zhongli railway station. NCU campus is Template:Convert away from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

NCU Lulin Observatory is located near Yushan National Park, in the southern part of Taiwan.

Academics

File:Central University of JhongliⅡ.jpg

National Central University

File:Library of National Central University.jpg

Library

NCU consists of eight colleges:

• College of Earth Science
• College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• College of Engineering
• College of Hakka Studies
• College of Health Science and Technology
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Science
• College of Management

Each college houses numerous research centers, such as the Center for Space & Remote Sensing Research, Hazard Mitigation & Prevention, Taiwan Economic Development, Biotechnology & Biomedical Engineering, and several boutique-style humanities centers. In total, the eight colleges contain 19 undergraduate departments, 48 graduate institutes, and 38 research centers.

The undergraduate population is represented by the Associated Students of National Central University (Template:Zh), founded in 1991.Template:Cn

• College of Hakka Studies
  College of Hakka Studies
• College of Science
  College of Science
• College of Earth Science
  College of Earth Science

International programs

NCU participates in the Taiwan International Graduate Program in Earth System Science of Academia Sinica, Taiwan's most preeminent academic research institution.

Notable alumni and faculty

• Chien-Shiung Wu, a famous particle and experimental physicist
• Jiang Zemin, politician and leader of the People's Republic of China
• Li Kwoh-ting, economist and politician
• Peng Chi-ming, meteorologist and Minister of Environment
• Hwawei Ko, pedagogue and professor<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Hu Shih, professor, political theorist, and diplomat in the Republic of China
• Zhu Zhixian (朱智贤), child psychologist and professor

See also

• List of universities in Taiwan
  • List of schools in the Republic of China reopened in Taiwan

External links

• National Central University Template:In lang