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National Central University (NCU) has announced the establishment of a new Department of Law and Government, which is scheduled to begin student recruitment in the 2026 academic year. Building on the existing Graduate Institute of Law and Government, the new department adopts an integrated law-and-governance approach to addressing complex contemporary challenges, including environmental and climate governance, AI and digital governance, administrative regulation, and legislative design. The program aims to cultivate professionals equipped with both solid legal expertise and a broad public governance perspective, contributing to national policymaking and social innovation.
Practical engagement is a key feature of the department. It continues long-standing collaborations with courts, government legal affairs offices, law firms, and nonprofit organizations, offering institutional internships and civic engagement courses. The Legal Services Center, originally established under the Graduate Institute, will be incorporated into departmental operations and work with volunteer lawyers to provide free legal consultations to both on-campus and off-campus communities, thereby fulfilling the University’s commitment to social responsibility.
NCU’s strong interdisciplinary resources further enrich the program. The department will collaborate with the Graduate College of Sustainability and Green Energy (SAGE) to develop legal and policy solutions for issues such as net-zero transition and just transition. It will also work with the College of Hakka Studies and the Center for General Education to advance academic and policy research on cultural diversity, ethnic relations, and social equity.
The undergraduate curriculum balances academic depth with practical relevance. Students complete a 72-credit professional core in law and government through a structured combination of required and elective courses, complemented by general education and foreign language studies. The program also connects with university-wide credit programs and interdisciplinary bachelor’s pathways, encouraging cross-department learning and offering flexible options for dual specializations.
