Founding History

Asia University traces its origins to 1996, when its founder, Professor Chang-Hai Tsai, guided by his broad vision as both a medical professional and a scholar, recognized that education constitutes the foundation of a nation’s sustainable development. With a deep commitment to contributing to Taiwanese society, Professor Tsai joined forces with co-founder Mr. Tseng-Lien Lin and the Board of Directors to collectively fund the establishment of a university dedicated to nurturing individuals who integrate professional expertise with humanistic values and social responsibility.

In 1998, Wufeng Township in Taichung County—renowned for its convenient transportation network and rich cultural heritage—was selected as the site for the campus. Land in the Liushu’nan area was made available by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation, and in October 1999 a preparatory office was formally established to initiate the application process. Following approval by the Ministry of Education in March 2001, Taichung Healthcare and Management University was officially founded, laying the institutional cornerstone of what would later become Asia University.

In the 2001 academic year, the University admitted its first cohort of students and appointed Professor Jeffrey J.P. Tsai, an internationally distinguished overseas Taiwanese scholar, as its founding president. Professor Tsai was a Chair Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and a Fellow of four internationally renowned academic societies—the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Society for Design and Process Science (SDPS), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). His academic stature and global outlook provided the University with a strong foundation from its inception. During this formative stage, Asia University organized its academic development around three major clusters—Health, Management, and Information Technology—establishing 17 undergraduate programs, 10 master’s programs, 5 in-service master’s programs, and 5 two-year technical bachelor’s programs. Simultaneously, the University advanced campus development by adopting an open, garden-style layout combined with Greco-Roman architectural elements. Within a span of only three years, three major academic buildings and two student dormitories were completed. Under President Tsai’s leadership, teaching emphasized foresight and excellence, research advanced along both localized and internationalized pathways, and institutional service focused on community engagement and quality enhancement. Through active international exchanges, the recruitment of international scholars, and the hosting of global academic conferences, Asia University established a solid foundation as an internationalized institution of higher education.

In August 2004, Professor Wen-Hsiang Tsai assumed office as the second president. With extensive experience in both academic scholarship and university administration, his governance philosophy centered on “creative faculty, specialized students, an artistic campus, and an academic sanctuary.” During his three-year tenure, Asia University achieved several critical milestones, including its record-breaking upgrade and renaming as Asia University, a first-place ranking in Group Three of the Ministry of Education’s University Institutional Evaluation, the establishment of three doctoral programs, and recognition under the Ministry of Education’s Teaching Excellence Program. During this period, the University expanded rapidly, adding the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Creative Design, increasing undergraduate departments to 21, and constructing major facilities such as a sports complex, third and fourth student dormitories, the Creative Design building, and the University Library. These developments significantly enhanced the University’s academic capacity and institutional reputation.

In August 2007, Professor Horng-Jinh Chang became the third president. A prominent leader in Taiwan’s private higher education sector, President Chang guided the University with a focus on comprehensive internationalization, excellence in teaching and research, and the advancement of innovation incubation and industry–academia collaboration. Asia University received funding from the Ministry of Education’s Teaching Excellence Program for four consecutive years, with its third-year performance ranking second nationwide among all universities. During this period, the University successfully completed the Ministry of Education’s 2008 departmental and program evaluations, with all departments and doctoral programs passing. Two additional doctoral programs—Digital Media Design and Business Economics and Strategy—were established, and the University was repositioned as a teaching-oriented institution emphasizing research excellence and service quality. By the end of this term, Asia University had firmly stabilized its institutional foundation and achieved a 100 percent enrollment rate.

To further strengthen international competitiveness, the Board of Directors reappointed Professor Jeffrey J.P. Tsai as the fourth president in August 2010. Drawing on his extensive international experience, President Tsai has since led the University toward its vision of becoming a world-class comprehensive university. To date, the University comprises nine departments within the College of Medicine and Health Sciences; four departments and two academic programs in the College of Information and Electrical Engineering; four departments in the College of Management; three departments in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; four departments and one Innovation Center in the College of Creative Design; three departments in the College of Nursing; and the College of Artificial Intelligence. President Tsai emphasizes that universities serve as core venues for knowledge creation and actively promotes interdisciplinary research addressing critical global challenges, including climate change, disease prevention, energy and resource sustainability, and the integration of humanities and technology. Concurrently, the University has intensified efforts to recruit international students and cultivate a multilingual, multicultural learning environment, fostering globally minded young scholars. Guided by the University motto—Health, Care, Innovation, and Excellence—Asia University continues to deepen its commitment to humanistic values and social responsibility.

Asia University is widely recognized for its campus environment, which harmoniously integrates architectural elegance with humanistic aesthetics. The lush, garden-like campus features a Roman coliseum-inspired sports complex, a palace-style administration building and library, and a Museum of Modern Art designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, collectively establishing the campus as a major cultural landmark in central Taiwan. After more than two decades of development, the University enrolls over 12,000 students, employs nearly 400 full-time faculty members, and maintains partnerships with nearly 400 sister institutions worldwide. Asia University has received sustained recognition through the Ministry of Education’s Teaching Excellence and Higher Education Sprout Projects, while faculty research output ranks among the top nationwide. The University has also been featured in the world’s four major global university ranking systems—Times Higher Education (THE), QS, ARWU, and U.S. News & World Report. In the Times Higher Education "World University Rankings 2026," Asia University was ranked third nationwide in Taiwan and first among non-medical private universities. Notably, in the 2026 THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, the University achieved a global ranking of 141st, placing first among private universities nationwide, reflecting broad recognition of its academic excellence and institutional performance.

Asia University has also established numerous distinguished research centers, including the Artificial Intelligence Research Center, the Multidimensional Printing and Advanced Materials Research Center, the Innovative Circular Economy Research Center, the Information Security Research Center, the Precision Medicine Research Center, the AI and Quantum Research Center, and the Intelligent Semiconductor Design and Sustainable Manufacturing Research Center. These centers integrate academic research, technological innovation, and industry collaboration, cultivating high-level talent aligned with global development trends.

Looking ahead, Asia University remains committed to its core values of Health, Care, Innovation, and Excellence. By integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary innovation into its strategic framework, the University will continue to strengthen teaching quality, research impact, and social engagement. Through these sustained efforts, Asia University steadily advances toward its goal of becoming a globally influential, first-class comprehensive university and of nurturing outstanding talents with international competitiveness for the benefit of society and the nation.

Update: January 30, 2026