The International Degree Program in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, as its name suggests, is an interdisciplinary degree program that encompasses a global perspective. Established by the College of Science, the program is a joint effort among NTU faculty members from both scientific research and humanities background. The Program was approved by the Ministry of Education in 2015, and admission officially launched in the following year.
Research Fields & Facilities
This Program consists of 25 faculty members from 13 departments across 6 colleges in NTU, as well as Academia Sinica. It provides students with not only the basics but also integrated knowledge, with a view of educating international and interdisciplinary talents and decision-makers who specialize in climate change research and sustainable development policy. We aim to strengthen students’ ability to cross-field communication and motivate them to become a problem solver. Through seminars and topical research, we wish to guide students in acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical ability in a problem-oriented learning environment.
Dual-Instructor-Teaching
For subject knowledge, the program integrates the fields of earth sciences, social sciences and life sciences.Through course discussion andrecommended dual-instructor-teaching model, students are guided tounderstand climate change andsustainable development with inter-disciplinary lenses. Currently, we have papers published through the dual-instructor-teaching model, including on marine life variation and climate change and on social governance and natural landscape protection.
Regarding research design, the program provides laboratory sciences, data andmodel sciences, and field sciences pathways, encouraging students to take on environmental and ecological issuesfrom multi-dimensional viewpoints.
Field Hands-on Practice
In the teaching site, the "abstract philosophical training" and "field hands-on practice" are used to teachstudents to discover real problems inthe field. So that students may combinebook knowledge to propose solutions, practice practical skills, and respond tochallenges. The site locations includethe rural Pinglin tea garden area in NewTaipei City, the metropolitan Taipei CityDaan Forest Park Week, and the smart+climate campus at National TaiwanUniversity. For oversea locations, thereis the Chengdu Agricultural Innovation Community in Sichuan, China.
On the learning axis, in response to the different social needs of both "frontier research" and "practical operation" in response to climate and sustainability issues, two learning axes of "theoretical inquiry capstone" and "practical practice capstone" are correspondingly designed. Additionally, during the study period, some students will be matched to institutions in related fields to understand how to link school knowledge in real-world work place. At the moment, IPCS has contacted with institutions such as the WeatherRisk.Co and Cathay Holdings to host student internship positions for the program.
International Collaboration
In international teaching and research, on the one hand, the program has joined the University of California bending the curve online course teaching (IPCS is BtC's first teaching cooperation entity outside the United States), and joined the MDPs (Global Association of Masters in Development Practice) led by the Columbia University Earth Institute. )/ SDSN (Sustainable Development Solutions Network: A Global Initiative for the United Nations). On the other hand, students are encouraged to engage in overseas on-site research related to international development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Agenda. In recent years, the research areas has included China, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Jordan, Haiti and other countries.
Educational Goals for the Master’s and Doctoral Programs:
- Guide students to learn about the main issues in climate change and sustainable development with width and depth; enable students to analyze environmental related current events with multiple lenses.
- Cultivate student’s passion and enthusiasm to explore, cultivating habits of active learning (self-driven data collection and analysis, evidence finding, equipment utilization, and practical hands-on capability).
- Foster individuals capable of consolidating interdisciplinary skills to cope with issues concerning climate change and sustainable development.
History
Climate change issues are highly complicated. They require knowledge from different fields, and a consolidation of both scientific and humanistic disciplines is necessary. Currently, there is a lack of climate change research and practitioners in Taiwan. Even universities do not have the programs that provide necessary higher educational trainings in the issue.
College students are the pillars of our society in the future, and it is the obligation of the school to help students understand global warming related issues. Based on their original fields of trainings, students will be able to formulate strategies to cope and adapt to climate change issues after receiving advanced interdisciplinary education, and may even help draft government policies.
In addition, the founding of IPCS is in line with the Ministry of Education’s goal to promote interdisciplinary education to close the knowledge gap between school and work place and to lower youth unemployment rate.
Future Goals & Development
In dealing with climate change and sustainable development, we instrument in-depth teaching in a wide range of topics. Students are required to bring their knowledge and skills to the table and approach environmental issues from a multi-angle perspective. They are encouraged to break free from traditional views on sustainability and think outside the box. Students are expected to be motivated learners, thinkers, analyzers, and most important of all, practitioners. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate students' ability in interdisciplinary problem-solving in dealing with the complexity of climate change issues.
Transportation Information
To get to the National Taiwan University from the airport, please refer to the instruction page of NTU: How to get to NTU from the airport.
Our Location
The IPCS's office is located at room 201 in The Global Change Research Center (GCRC G201). Please feel free to pay us a visit M-F from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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