In response to the growing threat of extreme weather events and increasingly complex disaster scenarios, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) established the Disaster Prevention Education Center (DPEC) in 2016. As a key platform for disaster risk reduction education and international collaboration, the center operates under the Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, currently led by Director Prof. Hsiao-Wen Wang and Deputy Director Prof. Steven Yueh Jen Lai. 

Building on decades of research and practice since the founding of NCKU’s Disaster Prevention Research Center in 1996, DPEC integrates academic research, professional training, and knowledge dissemination. The center has cultivated enduring partnerships with institutions in the United States, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with formal agreements signed with leading organizations such as the Disaster Prevention Research Institute at Kyoto University, Tsukuba University, Deltares, TU Delft, University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

With a mission to “advance disaster education and expand international cooperation,” DPEC actively organizes short-term training programs, workshops, and forums, hosting government officials, experts, and young researchers from Southeast Asia and beyond. Aligned with Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, the center also collaborates with domestic partners such as Feng Chia University and National Taiwan University on regional studies and outreach initiatives.

Looking ahead, DPEC aims to strengthen ties with key international partners and promote innovative tools such as cloud-based disaster simulation and case-based learning through the Asia-Pacific Disaster Training Platform. By transforming Taiwan’s extensive disaster management expertise into transferable knowledge assets, DPEC seeks to enhance resilience across the region in the face of global disaster challenges.

By organizing short-term courses and workshops, the center facilitates knowledge exchange and strengthens technical cooperation among global experts and scholars. Domestically, DPEC actively participates in various disaster prevention training programs, such as drafting and revising regional disaster response plans, establishing certification systems for disaster prevention professionals, and promoting resilient communities. The center also collaborates with local governments to strengthen the disaster response capabilities of township offices and enhance public awareness and education on disaster risk reduction. Internationally, DPEC works closely with global alliances to advance education in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.

Looking ahead, DPEC will continue to collaborate with global partners to address climate change challenges, advance disaster prevention and management efforts worldwide, and contribute to a safer, more resilient future for all.