The university was founded based on three main goals:
In response to economic changes in Taiwan, the government sees the need for Taiwan to become a base for conducting Asia-Pacific business activities as well as a specialized regional center for manufacturing, sea and air transportation, financial services, telecommunications, and media enterprises. On these grounds, National University of Kaohsiung was established to assist in the business activities of Tainan Science-based Industrial Park, Luchu Science-based Industrial Park, Manufacturing Center ,Sea/Air Transportation Center, International Warehouse and storage, and Multi-functional Commerce and Trade Park.

The University was founded to achieve the balanced development of higher education between north and south parts in Taiwan. To enhance the equality of life in Kaohsiung, the University is intended to provide faculty, staff, students, and the public with buoyant atmosphere and extensive, verdant space. It aims to serve as an open campus for the public as well as an athletic, sports, and recreation center, offering a model of high quality of living.

We also aim to integrate the University into its surroundings by transforming metropolitan Kaohsiung, the so-called “cultural desert “,into a culturally rich city full of intellectual and artistic activity. So far, the University has set up the Community Collectivity Culture and Education Foundation and Friends of National University of Kaohsiung.

According to the government report, about 40% of the population have received higher education, while the number of Kaohsiung residents accounts for only 14%. In 1999, Kaohsiung had 32 higher educational institutions, including universities, independent colleges, and junior colleges. But this could not guarantee people's full participation in educational system. To meet the need for a balanced development of higher education in south Taiwan, National University of Kaohsiung thus set up undergraduate studies, rather than postgraduate studies, from the beginning phase.

s well as providing a liberal academic and research environment, the University was University was established to broaden students' horizons and foster their knowledge of humanities and sciences. To ensure that college and departments are well established, the Academic Affairs Council arranged six meetings in Kaohsiung area for enterprises, officers, and scholars to express their concers about the future development of Kaohsiung. Two more meetings were held in Taipei to look for valuable guidance from experts. Currently the University consists of seven colleges, including Colleges of Humanities and Social, Law, Economics and Management, Sciences, Engineering, Life Science, and Asia-Pacific Affairs. It is expected that there will be a total of thirty-six departments to offer programs leading to master's and bachelor's degress.