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Department Overview
Introduction to the Development of the Department of Public Administration and International AffairsFo Guang University
Fo Guang University was approved for establishment by the Ministry of Education in 1993. After seven years of campus development in Linmei Mountain, Jiaoxi, Yilan, the university officially began enrolling students in 2000 under the name Fo Guang College of Humanities and Social Sciences. In 2006, it was renamed Fo Guang University. Guided by the educational philosophy of its founder, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the university upholds the core values of “humanistic spirit” and “collegiate academy tradition,” with the institutional ethos of “righteousness, integrity, compassion, and kindness.” Fo Guang University is committed to cultivating talents who possess both professional competence and humanistic concern. Although established by a Buddhist organization, the university emphasizes the universal values embedded in Buddhist philosophy rather than religious propagation, positioning itself as a modern university dedicated to public engagement and social responsibility.
The Department of Public Administration and International Affairs, currently under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, was established in August 2001. Initially named the Department of Public Affairs, the program first launched a graduate institute to cultivate professionals in public affairs research. Undergraduate students were admitted the following year, and an in-service master’s program was established in 2003. In 2012, as part of the university’s strategic development, the department merged with the former Department of International and Cross-Strait Affairs (previously the Department of Political Science). This integration combined academic resources in public administration, political science, and international affairs, creating an interdisciplinary platform for teaching and research in public affairs.
In response to changes in higher education and societal needs, the department has continued to adjust and innovate its curriculum and institutional structure. Since the 2019 academic year, the undergraduate program adopted a track-based admission system to strengthen professional training. In the 2025 academic year, the department was officially renamed the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs and further expanded its academic focus to include administrative management, international and cross-strait affairs, technology applications and local revitalization, and religious affairs. Beginning in the 2026 academic year, the undergraduate and master’s programs will discontinue the track-based system and adopt an integrated training model to strengthen students’ interdisciplinary learning and broaden their perspectives on public affairs.
The department has long been dedicated to research in public affairs and the cultivation of professionals in public governance. Located in Yilan, a region known for its distinctive local governance and active civil society, the department integrates local characteristics into its teaching and research. Through courses and research activities such as public policy analysis, local governance studies, public opinion surveys, and community engagement, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of public affairs while paying close attention to local social development and public issues. The department has also established cooperative relationships with local governments, community organizations, and public institutions, providing opportunities for policy research, public forums, and community visits that connect academic learning with public practice.
Looking ahead, the department will continue to integrate the fields of public administration, international affairs, local governance, and technological applications to promote interdisciplinary teaching and research. It will also further strengthen collaboration with local governments, communities, and public institutions, enabling academic research to respond to societal needs while cultivating public affairs professionals with international perspectives, a strong sense of public responsibility, and democratic values, thereby contributing to the development of public governance and society in Taiwan.
