National Sun Yat-sen University's Journey Towards Becoming a Leading Bilingual Institution

National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) is on a mission to rank among the top 200 universities worldwide by 2030, with a strategic focus on becoming a “Bilingual University.” To support this goal, NSYSU launched the “EMI Teaching Enhancement Program” in 2020, aiming to implement English-Medium Instruction (EMI) across all departments and graduate programs within a decade. This initiative is designed to enhance students’ global mobility and competitiveness.

Key units were established to drive this bilingual initiative. The “Office of BEST Program” oversees the project, while the “Center for EMI Teaching Excellence” works to improve students’ English proficiency. The “English Writing Lab” further supports students by providing consultation services to enhance their writing and speaking skills.

To ensure the expansion of quality EMI courses, NSYSU is actively recruiting international faculty and providing financial support. By the 113th academic year, the university plans to offer 13 EMI programs, covering 50% of undergraduate programs. In the 113th academic year, 1,314 EMI courses were available, making up 29% of all courses. Impressively, 51% of sophomores and 57% of first-year graduate students took at least 20% of their courses in EMI, surpassing Ministry of Education (MOE) targets.

NSYSU has also focused on building teaching capacity and student English proficiency. A comprehensive EMI training system for faculty has seen 62% participation, with 75% of teachers offering EMI courses. For students, reforms in the general English curriculum, along with the integration of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses, have resulted in 42% and 36% of freshmen achieving a CEFR B2 level or higher in listening and reading.

Moreover, NSYSU is creating a bilingual campus, with 22% of staff attaining intermediate to advanced English proficiency. The “Resource Center for Bilingual Education,” established in 2021, promotes resource sharing and collaboration, benefiting 17 universities and sending 4 teachers abroad for training.

Through these efforts, NSYSU is on track to achieve its vision of becoming a “Bilingual University” by 2030.