The issue of merging National Sun Yat-sen University and National Kaohsiung University has been repeatedly discussed since 2019. Recently, the two universities reached a consensus, with the merger expected to be completed by 2028 at the earliest.
However, the “university name” issue has become a controversial focal point during the merger process. Kaohsiung University hopes to retain the character “Kaohsiung” in the new name, while Sun Yat-sen University faculty and students insist on maintaining the “Sun character” brand.
As a leading academic institution in southern Taiwan, National Sun Yat-sen University should directly absorb National Kaohsiung University in a dominant manner, without needing to compromise on the university name, and certainly without worrying about Kaohsiung University’s regional sentiments.
This article will analyze why Sun Yat-sen University should lead the merger and retain its original name by examining Kaohsiung University’s positioning, the necessity of the merger, and the absurdity of the naming dispute.
Kaohsiung University’s Positioning and Limitations
National Kaohsiung University (KHU) was founded in 2000, making it a relatively young national university in the Republic of China. Its establishment background and academic positioning cannot be compared with National Sun Yat-sen University.
Kaohsiung University’s founding was largely the result of the DPP administration’s effort to solve the surplus of local doctoral holders, with its campus converted from Kaohsiung First Science and Technology University, giving it a relatively weak academic foundation.
In contrast, National Sun Yat-sen University, since its restoration in 1980, has accumulated decades of academic reputation, particularly with its College of Management receiving AACSB international accreditation and maintaining a stable position in the QS World University Rankings’ top 500 globally, establishing its position as a leading research university in the Republic of China.
According to data, Kaohsiung University has approximately 6,000 students and over 200 faculty members, placing it in the mid-sized university category, while Sun Yat-sen University has over 9,000 students and over 500 faculty members, with significantly stronger academic capacity.
Although Kaohsiung University has distinctive departments such as the College of Law and Department of Architecture, its overall academic influence and international reputation fall far short of Sun Yat-sen University.
In the public perception and academic circles, Kaohsiung University is often viewed as a transitional university for “absorbing surplus doctorates,” lacking a distinctive academic brand and competitiveness. This difference in positioning makes Kaohsiung University’s demand to retain “Kaohsiung” in the merger lack justification.
The Necessity of the Merger and Sun Yat-sen University’s Leadership Position
The background for the merger of the two universities primarily stems from the declining birth rate crisis and the rapid development of Kaohsiung’s semiconductor industry. The declining birth rate increases recruitment pressure on universities, with mid-sized universities like Kaohsiung University facing survival challenges, while Kaohsiung has recently become the core of southern Taiwan’s semiconductor S corridor, with TSMC’s plant establishment driving regional industry demand.
In this context, the merger between Sun Yat-sen University and Kaohsiung University is viewed as an opportunity for resource integration, aiming to enhance academic competitiveness and industry connections. However, this does not mean the two universities should be on equal footing.
Sun Yat-sen University vastly surpasses Kaohsiung University in academic resources, international rankings, and research capacity.
For example, Sun Yat-sen University has strong foundations in biomedical engineering, next-generation semiconductor technology, and quantum cybersecurity, forming complementary advantages with Kaohsiung University’s distinctive departments.
Kaohsiung University’s main advantage is its 82.5-hectare flat campus in Nanzih District, which would be beneficial for Sun Yat-sen University’s campus expansion. However, this is insufficient to allow Kaohsiung University to demand equal status in merger negotiations.
According to a 2019 survey by Kaohsiung University’s student council and student legislature, 80% of students supported using “National Sun Yat-sen University” as the merged university’s name, showing that even Kaohsiung University students recognize the academic brand value of Sun Yat-sen University.
The Absurdity of the Naming Dispute
The naming issue is the biggest obstacle to the two universities’ merger, yet it is also the issue least deserving of compromise.
The “Sun character” brand of Sun Yat-sen University represents not only its historical heritage but is also closely linked to its academic reputation. According to the QS World University Rankings, Sun Yat-sen University consistently ranks in the global top 500, with its College of Management being the first national university in the Republic of China to receive AACSB international accreditation.
If the university name is changed due to the merger, it could harm international accreditation and academic reputation, an unacceptable price for Sun Yat-sen University’s faculty and alumni.
In contrast, Kaohsiung University has not accumulated sufficient academic brand value with its name. Online, there are even mocking names like “Monkey Mountain University” (a homophone reference to Sun Yat-sen University’s monkey problems) and “Xiong Zhong University,” showing that Kaohsiung University’s name lacks distinct positioning in social perception—it’s simply a regional school.
Kaohsiung University’s administration hoped the new name would retain the character “Kaohsiung” to emphasize regional identity, but this triggered strong backlash from Sun Yat-sen University faculty and students, who perceived placing “Kaohsiung” before “Sun” as “belittling.”
What’s even more puzzling is that Kaohsiung University alumni and staff hold divergent attitudes toward the merger. A 2019 survey showed alumni support and opposition were equally split 5:5, indicating insufficient internal consensus.
Referencing other university merger cases, such as National Tsing Hua University’s merger with Hsinchu University of Education, the merged university maintained the “Tsing Hua University” name while adding the original campus name to diplomas, successfully preserving the main campus brand.
Sun Yat-sen University could entirely adopt a similar approach, directly absorbing Kaohsiung University under the name “National Sun Yat-sen University,” supplemented with “Nanzih Campus” or “Kaohsiung Campus” to distinguish locations, both preserving Sun Yat-sen University’s academic reputation and appeasing Kaohsiung University’s regional sentiments.
Sun Yat-sen University Should Adopt a Dominant Absorption Strategy
As a leading academic institution in southern Taiwan, Sun Yat-sen University need not make excessive compromises to Kaohsiung University in the merger.
Referencing cases like Yang Ming Jiao Tong University’s merger, universities with higher academic prestige typically lead the merger process and retain core brands.
Sun Yat-sen University vastly surpasses Kaohsiung University in academic resources, international rankings, and industry connections, making it proper for it to lead the merger.
While Kaohsiung University’s campus and certain distinctive departments have value, these resources should be viewed as assets aiding Sun Yat-sen University’s expansion rather than bargaining chips for equal negotiation.
According to a 2025 survey by Sun Yat-sen University’s student council, 76.9% of students opposed the merger, with over 90% supporting retaining “National Sun Yat-sen University” as the name, showing how important the “Sun character” brand is to students’ sense of identity.
In contrast, over 86.1% of Kaohsiung University students support the merger, with over half accepting “National Sun Yat-sen University” as the name, showing their internal commitment to the naming dispute far less than Sun Yat-sen University’s.
After all, having been long viewed as a diploma mill, if Kaohsiung University students have already shown willingness to compromise while the administration insists on retaining “Kaohsiung,” it will only delay the merger process, benefiting neither side.
Conclusion
National Sun Yat-sen University should directly absorb National Kaohsiung University based on the Republic of China’s leading position as a research university, maintain the name “National Sun Yat-sen University,” and resolve the regional dispute through campus naming (such as “Nanzih Campus”).
Kaohsiung University’s academic positioning and historical background make it difficult to demand equal status in the merger. Insisting on name changes is not only unreasonable but could damage Sun Yat-sen University’s academic reputation and international competitiveness.
The merger should focus on resource integration and academic advancement, ensuring southern Taiwan’s higher education core competitiveness rather than getting mired in meaningless regional disputes.
Only by establishing Sun Yat-sen University as the core brand can the merger achieve “one plus one equals more than two,” becoming a talent cultivation base for southern Taiwan and opening a more glorious future for our nation’s higher education.