Brief History
- I-Shou University, originally founded as Kaohsiung Polytechnic Institute, initially focused on science and engineering disciplines, complemented by management studies. Its mission was to cultivate young engineers and management professionals in southern Taiwan. In the fall of 1997, it was renamed "I-Shou University" with approval from the Ministry of Education. Over time, the University expanded to include 10 colleges: Intelligent Science and Technology, Engineering, Management, Communication and Design, International, Tourism and Hospitality, Language Arts, Medicine, Medical Science and Technology, and Indigenous Studies.
- The College of Engineering comprises four departments: Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering. It also offers doctoral and master’s programs in Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering, alongside a Master’s Program in Engineering Technology with divisions in Intelligent Machinery and Civil Engineering.
- Dr. Sheng-Li Fu, the University President, served as the inaugural dean of the College of Engineering. In 1998, Dr. Han-Ching Lai, a professor of Applied Mathematics, became the second dean. Following his retirement, Dr. Hao Ku, a biotechnology expert, assumed the role in 2001, focusing on biotechnology-related programs. In 2002, Dr. Yuan-Chuan Lee, an engineering management specialist, succeeded him as the fourth dean due to Dr. Ku’s involvement in establishing the College of Medicine.
- Aligned with its founding vision, the College progressively advanced infrastructure technology and applied sciences. In 2003, Dr. Hao Ku returned as dean to further teaching, research, and service efforts. In 2007, Professor Chao-Yen Wu from Chemical Engineering took over, followed by Professor Yu-Wen Wu in 2008 and 2011 as the seventh and eighth deans, respectively, after Dr. Wu’s secondment. Professor Ji-Sheng Ku from Civil Engineering served as the ninth and tenth deans in 2014 and 2017, respectively. In 2020, Professor Kuo-Liang Lin, also from Civil Engineering, became the eleventh dean.