Introduction
For a plan of one year,
nothing is better than planting grain;
For a plan of ten years,
nothing is better than planting trees;
For a plan for life,
nothing is better than cultivating people.
One seed yields one harvest of grain;
One sapling yields ten harvests of timber;
But one well-nurtured person yields a hundredfold returns.
— 管仲 《管子．權修》
The merger discussions between National Yang-Ming University and National Chiao Tung University first began in 1999 but did not come to fruition at that time. Over the following 22 years, through the perseverance, commitment, and shared vision of successive presidents, faculty, students, and alumni from both institutions, the merger was finally completed in February 2021, establishing National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU). This achievement marks a significant milestone in Taiwan’s higher education history.
In the past, Yang-Ming and Chiao Tung carried the proud missions of safeguarding rural healthcare and advancing Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. Today, the new university name serves as a reminder that new missions, new responsibilities, and new challenges lie ahead—awaiting the collective efforts of our entire university community to forge the future together.
Origin
The “One Tree, a Hundred Harvests” initiative was proposed by NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin in February 2021. On July 1, 2021—120 days after the merger—National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University officially launched the first version of the “One Tree, a Hundred Harvests” website and released the accompanying “One Tree, a Hundred Harvests: Ten-Year Vision” proposal. As President Lin’s initial conceptual blueprint following the merger, the initiative presented a range of imaginative possibilities for the newly integrated university, inviting faculty, students, and alumni to engage in discussion. It later evolved into the University’s medium- and long-term development plan, which outlines key action programs including “Diversity and Holistic Education,” “Interdisciplinary R&D and Innovation Opportunities,” “Industry–Academia Co-Creation for Talent Cultivation,” “Bilingual Campus and Global Alignment,” and “Campus Renewal and Sustainable Development.” Building upon the framework of “One Tree, a Hundred Harvests,” the plan sets forth a three-year development direction with a ten-year vision—now serving as core indicators for future institutional development.
This year, NYCU faculty and student teams carried out a comprehensive enhancement of the first-version website. Through usability testing involving alumni, faculty, and students, as well as incorporating feedback gathered from interviews with distinguished alumni, the “One Tree, a Hundred Harvests” website has been progressively refined and completed.
Enhancing Liberal Arts Education through Residential Learning Communities
Organizational Restructuring to Advance Interdisciplinary Integration
Developing a Bilingual and Globally Connected Campus through the International College
Innovative Academic Models to Promote Industry–Government–Academia–Research Co-Creation
Strengthening Infrastructure to Foster Campus Integration and Synergy
Ten Action Guidelines
Although the Yang-Ming and Chiao Tung campuses each carry their own historical traditions and distinct cultures, both institutions have long shared a common understanding. The former NCTU motto, “Innovate and Aspire; Be Earnest and Diligent,” and the former NYMU motto, “Genuine Knowledge Put into Practice; Benevolence in Mind and Action,” both emphasize the unity of knowledge and action—an ethos that has naturally become a shared value after the merger.
The Ten Action Guidelines, collectively formulated through broad participation, serve as the concrete realization of the “One Tree, a Hundred Harvests” initiative and represent NYCU’s commitment to society in the post-merger era. The challenge for the newly merged university lies in integrating two top institutions with different systems, cultures, and geographically dispersed campuses. Yet this new beginning also presents an opportunity: by redefining the role of the university, we aim to design and build the university of the future. This proposal is a deliberate examination of the social responsibilities NYCU must undertake and the development opportunities that lie ahead.
Advancing Scientific Research to Drive Next-Generation Technologies
Cultivating Cross-Domain Thinking to Inspire Industrial Innovation
Innovative Digital-Transformation Governance and Legal Frameworks
Building and Communicating a Strong Institutional Brand Identity
Anticipating Development Bottlenecks to Enable Strategic Foresight and Early Deployment
University Overview
After 22 years, National Yang-Ming University and National Chiao Tung University officially merged in February 2021. Today, the new university name serves as a reminder that new missions, new tasks, and new responsibilities await our entire community—faculty, students, and alumni alike—to pursue together.
Key Research and Development
After the merger, the University will build upon its strong foundations in biomedical science and electronic information to establish a comprehensive institutional development plan. This plan is structured around three major pillars—technology, medicine, and the humanities—and supported by industry–academia co-creation and innovative governance and legal frameworks as its foundational elements.
Interdisciplinary Talent
Following the merger, NYCU’s response to society’s expectations is reflected in its commitment to cultivating interdisciplinary talent. Through this effort, NYCU will further advance cross-domain integration, strengthen community-based education, enhance global engagement, and promote co-creation among industry, government, academia, and research sectors.
Outlook and Expectations
NYCU’s aspirations for the future focus on strengthening and communicating its brand identity, anticipating development bottlenecks to enable proactive strategic planning, advancing innovative governance and legal frameworks for scientific research and digital transformation, and fostering cross-domain thinking to drive opportunities for industrial innovation.
