As the first Taiwan's university founded under the full democratization after the Martial Law and Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of Communist Rebellion were all lifted, NDHU set "Freedom, Democracy, Creativity, Excellence" as its founding spirit to reflect the notable timing of NDHU's establishment.

[15] Prior to the merge with Hua-Shih, NDHU was the first university in Taiwan to offer degrees in Natural Resources Management (NRM), Environmental Policy (ENP), Tourism and Recreation Management (TRM), Kinesiology (KIN), Biotechnology (BOT), Ethnic Relations and Cultures (ERC), Indigenous Arts (INA), Indigenous Social Work (ISW), Ethnodevelopment (ENDEV), Creative Writing (CRW), Global Logistics Management (GLM).

[17] Prior to the merge with NDHU, Hua-Shih has cultivated many notable alumni, including Tsai Ping-kun, Principal of Jianguo High School and Taichung First Senior High School, Tang Chih-Min, Founding Principal of Affiliated Senior High School of National Chengchi University and Director of Department of Education of Taipei City Government, and Chang Ming-Wen, Director of Department of Education of New Taipei City Government.

In 2014, Maw-Kuen Wu took over as NDHU's president, who is the International Fellow of National Academy of Sciences and Distinguish Professor of Applied Physic at Columbia University.

The fully integrated NDHU consolidated its reputation in many disciplines and prestige in Eastern Taiwan, and reflected in its rankings and other accolades.

It is located in Papaya Creek Alluvial Plain of East Rift Valley, ringed by Central Mountain Range and Coastal Mountain Range, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) south of Taroko National Park, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Hualien City, and north of the Tropic of Cancer.

As of 2021, the solar energy covers 40% of NDHU's annual electric usage, which is the best ever performance achieved by any university in Taiwan.

The 12.26-hectare (30.3-acre) campus is located in Hualien City's Meilun district near the Qixingtan Beach on the Pacific Ocean.

[31][32] NDHU's Graduate Institute of Marine Biology is based at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA) in Chechung Township in Pingtung County, standing in Kenting National Park and facing the Taiwan Strait in the west.

[33] NDHU serves over 10,000 students and confers undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees in a comprehensive range of fields.

The president of NDHU is elected for a term not normally exceeding eight years by representatives from university, student, alumni, society.

[34] The deans of college are elected for a term not normally exceeding 6 years, which are responsible for administration of the college-level affairs.

in Creative Writing was the first and most recognized MFA program in Chinese-speaking world, which had cultivated many emerging outstanding literary talents in Taiwan.

Established in 2001, NDHU CIS traced its roots back to Graduate Institute of Ethnic Relations and Cultures in 1995, which was founded by Chiao Chien, Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University Bloomington and Founding Chair of Anthropology at Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The College of Marine Sciences formerly was a graduate school at NDHU that was founded in 2005 as an academic collaboration with National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA) in Kenting National Park, which set the first record on academic collaboration between higher education and museum in Taiwan.

[62] NDHU's MSS in Ethnic Relations and Cultures was selected as a Fulbright Program for its Taiwan's leading research in Indigenous Studies, which is funded by U.S.

This is reflected in a motto often heard on campus: "Academics should be the highest temple of a university, not a place where power prevails over knowledge."

NDHU boasts the largest number of students from Eswatini, Kyrgyzstan, Belize, Malawi, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, thanks to its exclusive partnership with the International Cooperation and Development Fund of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for computer science program.

The four-year, full-time undergraduate program runs Taiwan's first modular curricula with low barrier for double major and minor.

[80] For 2022-year graduates, more than 40% and 20% of students obtained minor and double major degrees respectively, making it the second-highest and forth-highest university in Taiwan.

[82] NDHU introduced Taiwan's first "Brick Program" (Break / Redefine / Imagine / Catalysis / Kindle).

The practical learning process is not limited by semesters, and the acquired abilities and knowledge are not confined to a single discipline.

[83] Some of the proposals participated in by NDHU students include: using art creation to promote practical actions on environmental issues, teaching an elective course at their own high school for younger students, promoting international exchanges through postcards, supporting reading and education for disadvantaged rural youth, and organizing the Hult Prize international competition.

In the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Games, NDHU achieved a record of 7 golds, 4 silvers, and 9 bronzes, ranking among the top five universities with the sport-related department.

The festival adopted the concept of “Corner, discover the beauty of art!” and collected hundreds of artworks from teachers and students across the NDHU.

The artworks were displayed in every corner of the NDHU campus, with the main axis of “Living Museum” as the curatorial theme.

[89] Let the creators and visitors get to know NDHU, this beautiful university, again and discover the different faces of NDHU.As long as you are interested and passionate about artistic creation, everyone can be a creator and embellish every corner of NDHU with your own works.The above are the two major curatorial concepts of the “Dong Hwa Corner Art Team”.

These students showcase the distinctive cultural features of their respective countries through their performances, including the songs and dances of the South Pacific island nations, African drumming and saxophone performances by Caribbean countries, and the poetry and dance of Mongolia.

[98][99][100] NDHU further establishes academic partnerships with global research institutes, including Academia Sinica, National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, National Academy of Marine Research, National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, Central Geological Survey, Central Weather Bureau, European Union Centre in Taiwan, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology in India, Polish Academy of Sciences in Poland, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences in China.

[101][102] Less than 30 years, NDHU alumni have contributed to society in field of arts and sciences, business, sports, and public & international affairs.