The latest World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) results, released on May 7, 2026, recognized two innovation projects from Tamkang University among the Global Top 100 in their respective categories. Both projects were submitted by the Economic Explorer (經探號) team led by Professor Yen-Ling Lin of the Economics Department and were ranked 25th and 28th worldwide.
Amid intense international competition, Tamkang University achieved an overall global ranking of 388th, representing a significant improvement from the previous year. Notably, it was the only private university in Taiwan to be included in this year’s WURI rankings. Among all ranked Taiwanese institutions, Tamkang placed fourth nationally, surpassing National Taiwan University (469th globally) and National Taipei University of Technology (496th globally), demonstrating the university’s strong performance in innovation and social impact.
This year, WURI substantially expanded its evaluation framework, increasing the number of thematic categories from 16 to 24 to more comprehensively assess universities’ real-world contributions. The Economic Explorer team earned recognition in two categories: A6 Ethics and Integrity and C3 Curricular Innovation for Future-Readiness.
In the A6 category, Tamkang University ranked 25th globally with the project “Ethical Global Sustainability Education Centered on Trust and Social Responsibility.” The project addresses ethical risks commonly associated with international education and overseas service programs by transforming ethics from an abstract concept into a practical framework. Through pre-departure ethics training, cultural sensitivity education, and daily reflective practices, the model has been implemented in sustainability initiatives in countries including Cambodia, Switzerland, and Australia. The project demonstrates how Tamkang integrates ethics, trust, and social responsibility into every stage of its international sustainability efforts.
In the C3 category, Tamkang University ranked 28th globally with the project “Empowering the Futures: Global Sustainability and Future-Ready Leadership.” This initiative transforms overseas learning experiences into a modular, competency-based curriculum that integrates digital literacy, ESG principles, sustainability analysis, and cross-cultural communication. By treating international environments as real-world learning laboratories, the program converts global sustainability engagement into a structured educational framework designed to cultivate the skills required for future careers and leadership.
Founded by Prof. Lin, the Economic Explorer initiative celebrated its 10th anniversary at the end of last year. Over the past eight years, the team has continuously expanded its overseas service and exploration programs, conducting sustainability projects in Cambodia, Switzerland, and Australia before traveling to Manila, Philippines, earlier this year. Reflecting on the program’s evolution, Lin explained that Economic Explorer originally began as the name of a single activity but gradually became the identity of an entire team. As its international engagement deepened, the initiative grew beyond a course into what she described as “a brand and a spirit.” Participation has expanded across multiple academic disciplines, transforming the project from an international volunteer team into a comprehensive action platform for cultivating globally minded sustainability leaders capable of addressing real-world challenges.
