The China Post news staff Since Nov. 4, Tamkang University (淡 江大學) has been hosting Diamond Jubilee celebrations to commemorate its 60th anniversary. The celebrations will continue until Nov. 9, and the guest list for the event includes esteemed members of Tamkang’s sister schools from across the globe, as well as local and overseas alumni. The anniversary highlights Tamkang University’s illustrious past, but also looks to the future, as Tamkang strides to create an internationally renowned, top quality institute of higher education. As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Tamkang University is staging various activities and events, including two Presidents Forums that aim to bring innovative, revolutionary changes to the field of higher education. In attendance at the forums, there will be a total of 34 presidents and vice presidents, as well as 51 other delegates from 35 leading universities from Asia, America and Europe. As part of the scheduled program, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) sent a congratulatory message to Tamkang University, while on Nov. 8, Minister of Education Wu Qing-ji (吳清基), will host the delegates at a prestigious luncheon. Since its inception in 1950, Tamkang University has been Taiwan’s foremost advocate for the globalization of education. It is home to a total of 979 international students from 53 countries, and it provides one of the most English-friendly academic environments in Taiwan, offering over 800 courses taught entirely in English, which makes it the 2nd largest provider of English-instructed tertiary courses in Taiwan. In addition, Tamkang works in collaboration with a variety of renowned overseas universities to offer 15 dual-degree programs in a range of academic domains. To date, a total of 14 Tamkang students have been awarded with master’s and Ph.D. qualifications from these dual-degree programs. Since 1968, Tamkang University has signed agreements forming academic ties and exchange links with a number of overseas universities. To date, Tamkang University has forged sister school relationships with a staggering 108 universities in 28 countries, as well as 28 universities from mainland China. Tamkang was the first Taiwanese university to institute a “Junior Abroad Program.” Each year, a sizeable group of third year students who perform well in a range of areas are accepted for a year of overseas study. Under the Junior Abroad scheme, a total of 3,619 students have already pursued a year of study abroad. On returning to Taiwan, the participating students invariably say that studying overseas not only enriched them academically, but also broadened their horizons and allowed them to learn even more about themselves. Tamkang University is the recognized leading private university with the longest history and the fastest rate of development in Taiwan. It was the first university in Taiwan to employ the system of total quality management (TQM), which serves to enhance the quality of teaching, research, service and counseling provided by a university. It has subsequently received a number of related accolades, including the 19th National Quality Award in 2009. In Cheers Magazine’s survey of “One Thousand Enterprises’ Favorite College Graduates,” Tamkang has topped the list of private universities in Taiwan for the 13th consecutive year. The president of Tamkang, Flora Chia-I Chang (張家宜), believes that any university aspiring to paint for itself a bright, prosperous future, must continually improve itself and surpass its previous efforts. From its humble beginnings 60 years ago, Tamkang University’s guiding principle remains unchanged: providing an education firmly grounded in globalization, information technology, and future studies, to nurture and produce well-rounded, talented personnel for the betterment of the larger society. It is towards this vision that Tamkang University now eagerly strides. Tamkang’s 60th anniversary is a historical milestone and a crucial source of momentum that will help place Tamkang on an international standing and mould Tamkang into a prestigious, world-renowned institute of higher education.