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NTU Office of Academic Affairs has been vigorously advancing the Future NTU program for several years, with the objective of establishing a learner-centered open university. A primary aim of the program is to transcend the barriers between various academic disciplines, thereby affording students a flexible learning environment. As part of this initiative, NTU launched the nation’s inaugural Specialization Program Certificate and University-Level Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s Degree Program, thereby actualizing its goal of integrating “interdisciplinarity” and “autonomous learning” within the curriculum.

Subsequently, numerous departments have introduced their respective specialization programs, and students can obtain certification upon completing the requisite 12 to 15 credit courses. Presently, Future NTU offers approximately 237 programs, spanning topics such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Moreover, the University-Level Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s Degree Program combines courses from Specialization Programs and Credit Programs, enabling students to create personalized course plans and foster novel insights through interdisciplinary studies. Upon completion, students receive a degree commensurate with their course plans. A recent example involved a student who, recognizing Taiwan’s aging population trend, selected courses from three distinct Specialization Programs and Credit Programs—robotics, elderly care, and long-term care—ultimately creating a bespoke human-robot interaction degree program. This degree could serve as a template for preparing students with the requisite knowledge and skills to address the challenges facing Taiwan’s aging society. As a result, students interested in this significant subject can now pursue this degree.

Additionally, the Office of Academic Affairs is developing exploratory credits, providing students with the opportunity to attend six credit courses from different departments or fields of study. Upon completion, students can choose whether to include these six credits on their transcripts based on their performance. This option encourages students to venture beyond their comfort zones and explore various interests. Grades should not deter students from exploring new subjects, and this design aims to foster interdisciplinary talent to meet society's multifaceted needs.

Beyond the wide array of programs and action plans, NTU Office of Academic Affairs actively promotes digital learning on campus, including online learning platforms such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Open Course Ware (OCW). Several departments, for example the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, the School of Nursing, and the Department of Athletics, have already integrated Virtual Reality equipment into their courses. Other departments are also planning to incorporate this technology to augment their students’ learning experiences. Regarding international exchanges, NTU has been co-hosting online study groups with leading universities in the United States and Japan to enhance students’ communication, teamwork skills, and ability to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds. NTU has also made significant progress in internationalizing its campus, offering 2,500 English-instructed courses to attract international students. The university plans to launch additional English programs to reduce language barriers for international students arriving in Taiwan. The goal is to recruit outstanding international students and enhance campus competitiveness. To achieve this objective, NTU Office of Academic Affairs hosts workshops and training sessions for faculty and teaching assistants, enabling them to conduct courses in English and foster internationalization.

The Office of Academic Affairs’ efforts are ongoing, as its mission is to continually refine the existing educational system and campus programs. The next phase will involve promoting the NTU curriculum reform project and exploring potential future developments.