As a research university, the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has always positioned itself as a leading school of higher education in Taiwan. NCKU cultivates highly skilled talents who are equipped with not only professional knowledge and skills, but also a global vision joined with a social conscience.

The global pandemic has profoundly impacted classrooms around the world. At the peak of the pandemic, over 1.57 billion students in 188 countries/regions faced school closures. More and more schools at all levels around the world have switched from in-person to digital learning. This switch is undoubtedly a “disruptive innovation” in education— borderless and interdisciplinary learning, once viewed as an auxiliary option, is now the mainstream of future education. At this critical moment when new paradigm of learning has already revolutionized the world, the National Cheng Kung University wishes to make a clarion call—amidst the sweeping impacts of digitalization and interdisciplinary competence on education, Taiwan’s higher education sector must promote strong initiatives to lead this transformation.

As new paradigm of learning becomes the mainstream, the 2021 International Higher Education Symposium will explore this educational transformation from the three perspectives of “future talents,” “innovative learning,” and “educational breakthroughs.”

Facing this new emerging higher education landscape, NCKU strives to take a leading role in international education. In this symposium, we invite representatives from top universities and industries to discuss the visions and challenges facing the higher education sector in the post-pandemic era. NCKU is prepared to leverage its influence both in Taiwan and globally to promote the common good.