Introduction

The Institute of Public Affairs Management of National San Yat-sen University (hereinafter referred to as “the Institute”) was established drawing on the experiences of developed democratic countries. Faced with the challenges from transformation and development of local and central governments dating back to the 1990s, the role of academic institution is to integrate knowledge of regional, economic, and sustainable development, as well as their related fields, and to further transformation and development.

The Institute was first established in 1992 at National San Yat-sen University as the first institute of public affairs management in Taiwan. The focus of the Institute is on interdisciplinary integration, policy analysis and public management. The Institute also makes reference to corporate management and teaching experiences from the College of Management, aiming to cultivate talents in public affairs management needed by local and central governments under the current marketized and diversified society.

Upon its establishment, the Institute started providing a master’s program and credit -eligible courses. In 1998, the doctoral program became available, while the executive master degree program was initiated in 1999. In addition to dedicating itself to the development and establishment of academic research, the Institute also commits itself to on-the-job training provided in government and non-profit organizations, as well as active engagement in the local and public affairs.

According to the 2019 Eduniversal Best Masters & MBAs Ranking, the Institute ranked 19th under the category of public administration/management in the Far East region, and 2nd for public administration/management master’s program in Taiwan.

About the Institute of Public Affairs Management

The first graduate institute in the field of public affairs management in Taiwan

The Institute of Public Affairs Management is the first of its kind in Taiwan. It is an academic institution that not only understands public policies and public management, but is also deeply involved in communities and voluntary sectors in Southern Taiwan. Its alumni are active in public affairs sector, non-profit organizations, and private sector in the south, such as in public affairs/public relations sectors, marketing and logistics management, leisure and recreational travel planning, market analysis and research, building and landscape planning, urban planning, transportation, and more.

A new public management field integrating public administration and business management education

Areas of research under the Institute range from public management and development of corporate management to a variety of issues in public affairs, such as environmental management, urban development, community construction, local development, civil society, management of the third sector, and more. By incorporating the experience of business management education into the field of public administration, the Institute creates a new branch under the field of public management that emphasizes issues related to public affairs.

An emphasis on applying knowledge and walking out of the classroom

The Institute enhances students’ awareness of, and participation in, social and public affairs, so it can train interdisciplinary talents who are aware of public affairs and equipped with the abilities to analyze, connect different strategies and take actions when it comes to public management.

Connecting with the locals, putting knowledge into practice, fulfilling university social responsibility

Since its establishment, the Institute has taken the lead in terms of achieving the University’s social responsibility. With an emphasis on caring for communities, faculty members of the Institute not only play different roles to carry out the Institute’s social responsibility, but also encourage students to participate in issues, such as urban marketing, community construction, environmental protection, urban and rural development, the reinvigoration of farming villages, and more. Recently, the Institute has also led students into actual work fields via diverse education, internships and observation of actual practice. Hopefully, students can put what they have learned into practice, in addition to education and academic research, thereby fulfilling the University’s social responsibility.

Interdisciplinary learning: an introduction to the compiled program

Integrating three core academic fields, the Institute collects related courses from other relevant departments at the University and offers compiled certification programs, such as “Non-Profit Business”, “Corporate Social Responsibility”, “Sustainable Management”, and “Local Revitalization and Regional Governance ” Students can learn with a flexible schedule through these interdisciplinary programs and cultivate diverse expertise. With courses involving different departments and institutes, theories and actual practice, the Institute aims to cultivate creative, interdisciplinary, diversified talents of comprehensive management who care about society. Students can acquire a certificate after obtaining the required credits according to regulations, claiming another professional skill under their belts.