National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan launched the Tsing Hua Talent Development Fund to attract and retain exceptional faculty members. President W. John Kao announced that the fund aims to provide merit-based supplements up to 600%, 640%, and 430% of the base salary for assistant, associate, and full professors starting this month.

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NTHU launched the Tsing Hua Talent Development Fund to attract and retain exceptional faculty members. The fund aims to provide merit-based supplements up to 600%, 640%, and 430% of the base salary for assistant, associate, and full professors starting this month. (Photo: National Tsing Hua University)

Since assuming office two years ago, President Kao has focused on the “people-first” University Development Strategy, particularly on faculty and student support and development. Setting up the Tsing Hua Talent Development Fund is a key strategy component. Nurturing faculty members is crucial in enhancing research impact, improving teaching quality, and increasing global competitiveness.

With generous support from alumni and industry, the fund reached approximately NT$1.4 billion (approximately US$4.4 million) in a relatively short time. An anonymous alumni donor who committed USD 10 million said, "Donating to the Tsing Hua Talent Development Fund is the most meaningful thing I have ever done!" This gesture moved President Kao dearly.

Po-Wen Chiu, NTHU Vice President for Research and Development, explained that the Tsing Hua Talent Development Fund operates sustainably by utilizing donations, proceeds from industry-academia collaboration, and dividends from the fund.

Annually, the fund would generate NT$70 million to NT$80 million to attract outstanding professors or reward those already excelling in academic research. To reflect the diverse disciplines on campus, the award selection criteria consider a wide range of academic impacts as metrics.

These criteria include making major research breakthroughs, publishing impactful journal papers and academic books, serving on major editorial boards or in important international academic organizations, receiving notable international recognitions, leading large-scale research projects, hosting significant domestic and international academic conferences, organizing large-scale exhibitions, and participating in international competitions.

In the first year of launch, it is anticipated that close to a third of all faculty members could be supported. As the scale of the fund grows, the number and the size of the award will grow over time.

In 2012, NTHU established the Endowment Fund to bolster its financial operations. The fund is overseen by Professor Che-Chun Lin from the Department of Quantitative Finance, who also serves as the dean of the College of Technology Management.

Professional managers supervise the fund’s investment strategy, and the performance has been outstanding, with investment returns of approximately 5% in the past two years.

Last year, NTHU established the Office of Alumni Services and Resource Development to effectively integrate internal and external resources as well as invest in alumni services and fundraising efforts.

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