2011-09-07
Figures from May this year show that in Taiwan close to 17 million people (total population: 23 million) now regularly use the internet. Given the prominence of the internet in Taiwan, digital learning has become the logical next step in the field of education. To capitalize on this future trend, in the 2010-2011 academic year Tamkang University established a three-way digital learning program with two other local universities that offered students the option to learn online. It was called the Intercollegiate Digital Learning Program. Participating universities included Aletheia University and St. John’s University, both situated in the local Danshui district, and courses offered included ‘Tourist Travel Services’, ‘Creative Comic Book Animation’, and ‘Chinese Language Teaching’. The courses were a great success. And so, before the first semester of the 2011-12 academic year (the current semester), TKU received the Ministry of Education’s approval to continue. The magnitude of the program has now grown to include four new partner universities: Chung Yuan Christian University, Shih Chien University, Yuanpei University, and Tungnan University. Speaking at today’s (Sept 7) joint program signing ceremony, the Director of the Computer Center of M.O.E., Jung-Kuei Ho, said that in the first round of digital learning courses, Tamkang University’s vast experience in online course provision helped participating universities to develop the skills needed to offer internet based degree programs. During the ceremony, the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, stated Tamkang’s current objectives: to develop long-distance education both locally and internationally, to set up joint online credit-awarding courses and degree programs, and to build an internet-based Chinese language academy that spans the entire globe.
2011-09-05
Each year, the Federation of International Robot-soccer Association (FIRA) holds an international robo-soccer competition, known as the FIRA RoboWorld Cup. This year, between Aug 26 and 30, 330 participants (52 groups) from 11 countries contested for a shot at the championship. In the end, top spot was clinched by the Tamkang University Robot Research Team. This is nothing new for the Robot Research Team. They were crowned champions in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Yet, what is new is the decisive way in which they won, claiming a staggering six gold and three silver medals. The Robot Research Team is composed of two separate groups: the RoboSot (Robot Soccer) Research Team and the HuroCup (Humanoid Robot Soccer) Research Team. Therefore, the bulk of TKU’s medals were claimed in the RoboSot and HuroCup categories. As in previous years, the TKU Robot Research Team was lead by Prof. Wong Ching-chang of Tamkang’s Department of Electrical Engineering. The RoboSot Research Team consisted of 12 members, including team captain He Cheng-yao; while the HuroCup Research Team consisted of 17 members, including captain Hu Yue-yang.
2011-09-01
Each year, as the academic year commences, Tamkang holds a unique welcoming ritual for newly arrived freshmen. The ritual involves new students, teachers, and the president of TKU, as well as a steep slope with a peculiar name: the ‘Slope of Overcoming Difficulty’. Comprising of 132 steps, the slope was once the sole path leading to the Tamsui Campus. Now, students and staff scale the slope to truly live out the message behind the slope: that difficulties are temporary and can be overcome. The scaling of the slope has become a Tamkang tradition, which this year is being held on the mornings of September 1 and 2. In these weeks leading up to the start of the new academic year, a number of other activities have been planned, too. There’ll be student and family orientations, a dormitory open house, freshmen orientation camps organized by academic departments, a beginning of semester lecture series, as well as student association recruitment activities and student society week.
2011-08-25
From August 22 to 24, a Taiwanese delegation took part in the 2011 Conference on Higher Education in Taiwan and Japan, held in Osaka, Japan. The delegation was headed by the President of TKU and Chairperson of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, and the Director-General of the Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations, Dr. Tony W. T. Lin. It consisted of 27 members from 12 Taiwanese universities, including six university presidents and five vice presidents. Apart from President Chang, the Tamkang contingent comprised the Vice President for International Affairs, Dr. Wan-chin Tai and the Director of the Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs, Dr. Pei-Wha CHI LEE. The origins of the conference can be traced to the signing of an academic agreement between FICHET and the Consortium of Osaka Universities, when the latter visited Taiwan in 2008. This was the first official interaction between the two parties since the initiation of the partnership three years ago. During the conference, eight university presidents from Taiwan and Japan (four from each) shared their experiences as leaders and described the educational principles by which their respective universities operate. During the trip, the TKU contingent visited several Tamkang partnership universities and educational organizations in the Osaka region. One of the partnership institutions was Doshisha University, a prestigious Japanese university at which 17 TKU students will be studying in the coming academic year.
2011-08-24
On the morning of Aug 24, TKU staff and local firefighters teamed up to teach young children a range of important safety skills. The children were taught to use fire extinguishers; they learned general principles of firefighting, how to escape if there’s a fire, basic rescue techniques, natural disasters, and how to prepare evacuation kits in the case of emergencies. The children also learned valuable life-saving techniques, such as CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. The idea for the event arose from the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami that razed towns along vast stretches of Japanese coastline. It was organized by staff from the TKU Office of Military Education and Training, many of whom worked tirelessly throughout the summer holidays to ensure the event went smoothly. It was designed to teach young children essential safety principles and give children an awareness of the precious nature of human life.
2011-08-23
As early as 46 years ago, TKU began holding an annual seminar for leaders of student associations. Lasting for five days, the seminar not only enables future leaders of student clubs to hone their skills as leaders, but also equips such students with confidence and know-how, allowing them to make an immediate impression in the workforce. This year’s seminar ran from Aug 18 – 22 and drew 213 participants, each of whom will be leading a TKU student association in the coming academic year. During the seminar, the participants took part in classes and activities that taught them about leadership. The curriculum was designed to instill in students three primary lessons: how to build one’s sense of self-worth, how to create group awareness, and how to work toward a new and better future. These lessons were learned with the aid of several small-group “tutorials”, in which students were taught practical lessons on time management, DIY innovation, effective communication, event planning, and many more. By the end of the five days, students had not only made several new friends, but were also excited about all the new knowledge they had gleaned. Third year English student and leader of the Business Simulation Club, Huang Bo-xun, was ecstatic. He explained how he had found it very difficult to lead the club last semester, how he was just about ready to quit, and how he had originally planned not to attend the seminar. After attending, however, he found the motivation to continue, identified a set of new objectives, and felt relieved to meet a group of like-minded leaders from whom he could gain support and advice if needed. For many Tamkang students, the process of learning is not just about accruing intellectual knowledge or IQ, but also acquiring emotional intelligence or EQ. For the past 46 years, the Seminar for Leaders of Student Associations has been disseminating EQ on a large scale, and grooming Tamkang graduates to become leaders and luminaries in their chosen professional fields.
2011-08-18
Starting from Aug 13, TKU has held a number of introductory seminars for freshmen and their parents. The seminars will continue until Aug 28, with a total of 16 seminars to be held at various locations around Taiwan, including Jinmen and Penghu Islands, located off the coast of Taiwan proper. On the morning of the 20th, introductory seminars were held at the Tamsui and Lanyang campuses. The purpose of these orientation-style seminars is to introduce new students and their families to TKU. This is done by describing Tamkang’s educational philosophies, outlining future career options, sharing experiences and stories at TKU, and facilitating interaction between alumni and freshmen so as to help freshmen swiftly acclimatize to their new environment. In attendance at the Tamsui Campus seminar were the TKU vice presidents, including the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Gwo-hsin Yu, who hosted the event, as well as TKU department chairs. During the seminar, Vice President Yu encouraged students to make the most of the open and liberal academic environment at TKU, to continually strive to acquire academic and technical skills, and to develop a heightened sense of social and community awareness. The morning session involved an ‘Introduction to TKU’, while the afternoon session consisted of an interactive seminar and tour of the TKU Tamsui and Lanyang campuses.
2011-08-16
On August 10 and 11, the Human Resources Division of TKU held an orientation for new department chairs. It was designed not only to welcome new department chairs and prepare them for the task ahead, but also as a forum for interaction and learning. The orientation consisted of reports and experience sharing by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Human Resources Division and the Office of Student Affairs. There was instruction on how to use the Public Document Management System, and then a less formal banquet and Karaoke singing. The purpose of the activities was to allow new department chairs to better understand their new responsibilities, and also to become better acquainted with one another. The event featured a special guest: the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, who encouraged the department chairs by distributing meaningful prizes. She also made a brief speech, commenting that “leadership is not something we are born with, but something we can learn and consistently improve at”.
2011-08-11
Recently, TKU student Liao Ru-hsuan took first place in the Powerpoint category of the 2011 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office. The competition final was held in San Diego, America, and the preliminary rounds drew a total of around 200,000 entrants from 70 countries. It was Ru-hsuan’s first time entering a software competition. The astounding result can be traced back to March this year, when she took part in courses to gain Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification and Techficiency Quotient Certification (TQC). In the courses, her exceptional performance made her stand out among classmates. She was rewarded with a scholarship for two entire days of training per week. A little over a month later, she received MOS and TQC licenses. Then, in mid-June, she took part in the local leg of the 2011 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office. She came first and qualified for the international component of the tournament. She then underwent stringent training for two months under the guidance of Chen Zhi-yang and Liu Wen-xiu, two TKU students possessing high-level Microsoft Office skills. For the last six months, Ru-hsuan has faced a spectrum of difficulties, disappointments, and problems coordinating course time and training sessions. Through resolute focus on her objectives, she has managed to prevail. Ru-hsuan commented “I feel I’m so lucky. The certification courses offered by the TKU Career Planning and Placement Section not only allowed me to obtain important licenses, but also helped to pique my interest in Microsoft Office. This then led me to two incredible teachers, who helped me so much along the way. In the past, when I saw acceptance speeches from prize winners who constantly praised their teachers or mentors, I always felt that they lacked a sense of originality. But now I understand: you can’t be the best at something without the help and support of many others. I get it now”.
2011-08-08
The TKU Cambodia Volunteer Group recently returned from their fifth volunteer trip to Cambodia. From July 8 to 25, the group bonded with the local Cambodian children and designed a range of classes aimed to improve the children's computer and Chinese language abilities. Before setting out, the volunteer group carefully planned out each of the classes, making sure to account for differences in students' levels of proficiency. During the day, there were basic Chinese classes, Chinese drawing and singing classes, and computer classes for the younger children. Then, in the evening, advanced computer and Chinese language classes were held for the senior students. In the daytime classes, the younger students were taught the Chinese transcription system through the use of picture style flash cards. Zeng Pei-jing, a fourth year TKU student on her third volunteer trip to Cambodia, described how "on the last day, as the children recited the Chinese alphabet and danced, I felt the greatest sense of accomplishment".
2011-08-01
At 10am today, August 1, a ceremony to welcome new department chairs and inaugurate new TKU departments, administrative sections, and research centers was held at the the Chueh Sheng International Memorial Hall, Tamsui Campus. Among the newly established organizations were the Intelligent Automation and Robotics Center, the Information Technology and Behavioral Research Center, the Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs, along with the International and Cross-Strait Exchange Section and the International and Mainland Student Guidance Section. A total of 22 changes have been made to first and second level management positions. During the ceremony, the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, delivered a brief speech. She took the chance to thank the former department heads for their long-term commitment to TKU. She also encouraged the new leaders to continue working to improve Tamkang. President Chang last week attended a gathering for Cross-Strait universities, which included the most respected universities from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. She noted that Tamkang’s attendance at the event reflected its close relationship with leading universities in Mainland China. Also at the ceremony, President Chang asserted TKU’s four major directions for the 2011-2012 academic year. These are as follows: 1. Improving guidance services offered to Mainland Chinese students and strengthening the foundations of Mainland Chinese student recruitment. 2. Implementing development plans for teaching and research; augmenting Tamkang’s unique characteristics. 3. Enhancing opportunities for research and future development through increased funding and closer cooperation with industry. 4. Drawing on a broad range of resources to construct a new Information Education building.
2011-07-30
According to recent figures released by Webometrics’ Ranking Web of World Universities on July 30, out of over 20,000 institutes of higher education around the world, Tamkang is now ranked 272 – up 13 places from its ranking of 285 earlier this year. Locally, TKU’s ranking moved up one place, to 9th. In terms of private universities in Taiwan, Tamkang again took top spot, and was the only Taiwanese private university to be ranked among the world’s top 300. For more details, please refer to the websites: http://www.webometrics.info/ http://www.webometrics.info/rank_by_country.asp?country=tw
2011-07-28
In Taiwan, there are laws and regulations that guarantee work for the blind and visually impaired in the massage industry. This is set to change. Starting this October, the safety blanket that once protected the blind and visually impaired will shift to an entirely different industry: the telephone-based customer service industry. To ensure that this transition goes smoothly, the TKU Center of Resources for the Blind teamed up with Chunghwa Telecom to develop a comprehensive range of products for use by blind customer service representatives. This includes a leading-edge, blind-friendly telephone headset system, as well as specialized personnel training and counseling services. The system has already been tested by 15 blind and visually impaired Chunghwa Telecom customer service representatives, who together conducted an average of around 5,500 telephone-based customer satisfaction surveys per month. One of these service representatives has now been promoted to manager. The new telephone headset systems are set to be used by blind customer service representatives at the newly established “Eye Innovation Customer Service Center”. A joint venture between TKU and Chunghwa Telecom, the center was officially inaugurated on July 28 at a ceremony held in the World Trade Center, Taipei. The center will provide consulting services to customer service companies looking to hire blind or visually impaired employees, as well as offering customer service outsourcing solutions. Although still in its initial stages, the center stands to redefine the role of blind and visually impaired in today’s society.
2011-07-25
Recently, a handful of TKU student associations came together to make a difference. They set out to Taidong, in remote Eastern Taiwan, where they held a free 7-day camp for underprivileged aboriginal children. The camp taught the children a range of skills and featured fun classes on general science knowledge, computer know-how, and a plethora of amusing games. Camp volunteers consisted of members of TKU student associations, including the Union Dolphin Club, the Hualian Alumni Association, and the TKU Aboriginal Club, with 17 volunteers in total. The camp leader, Li Qing-fang, commented: “the children’s enthusiasm to learn and their eager participation in all of the activities made it a truly memorable experience”.
2011-07-21
Every year, the Environmental Protection Administration of the Republic of China holds the 'Annual Enterprises Environmental Protection Award' (AEEPA). The award is designed to encourage enterprises or organizations who implement environmentally-friendly methods of operation; and, in doing so, to spur enterprises with less environmentally-friendly policies to follow suit. Competition for the award is intense, and evaluation of the vying organizations is divided into two separate phases: preliminary evaluation and final evaluation. The former involves an analysis of the organization's attributes on paper; the latter comprises an "on-site" assessment. Only a handful of organizations make it into the final evaluation. And this year, Tamkang was one of them. On July 21, nine "assessment commissioners" arrived at the TKU Tamsui Campus. They were received by the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, and the TKU Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Dr. Po-yuan Kao. The commissioners listened to a briefing by the Dean of General Affairs, Dr. Jeng Hoang-ell, who explained the difficulties TKU faced in implementing environmental policies given the locations of the Tamsui and Lanyang Campuses, and the subsequent solutions sought. Such solutions have culminated in a range of substantive advances, like the establishment of the TKU Center for Environment Protection, Safety, and Health, and recognition in the form of a "Green Building Award", issued by the Ministry of the Interior for TKU's building of the Lanyang Campus. Following the briefing, the commissioners were taken on a tour of the Tamsui Campus' various facilities. The winner of this year's AEEPA will be announced in October.
2011-07-11
The Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission (OCAC) holds regular activities that encourage overseas Chinese students to learn Mandarin and better understand Taiwan’s unique customs and culture. One such activity is the 2011 Language Study Program for Expatriate Youth, which is being jointly held by Tamkang University and will last for a total of six weeks. Its focal point lies in improving students’ proficiency in Mandarin. But that’s not all: they’ll learn about traditional arts and crafts and take “cultural classes” on Chinese calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, knot arts, paper arts, and how to spin a ‘diabolo’ (Chinese yoyo). During the calligraphy class, special guest teacher and calligraphy master, Chang Bing-huang, will demonstrate how to use TKU’s leading-edge e-calligraphy system. The camp program will also comprise a number of Mandarin speaking and singing competitions, as well as daytrips to various cultural and sightseeing destinations. The students will travel to Pingxi Railway, the Northern Coastline; take a Monga cultural trip and daytrips to Central and South Taiwan. Also worthy of mention are the 219 team leaders, who will guide the students throughout the camp. To become team leaders, they underwent a stringent screening process followed by three months of intensive training.
2011-07-06
From July 3-8, a total of 61 students, faculty and staff came to TKU to take part in what has now become an annual event: the Taiwanese Culture Camp for Cross-Strait Universities. The visiting group consisted of 13 faculty and staff members and 48 students from a handful of prestigious university in Mainland China. These universities included Shandong University, Sichuan University, Tianjin University, Peking University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Xian Jiaotong University, Jilin University, Nanjing University, Nankai University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, and Xiamen University. The culture camp provided the visiting teachers and students with a chance to learn about and appreciate Taiwanese culture. They were taken to well-known tourist destinations, such as Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, and the famous Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan. They also had the rare opportunity to listen to lectures by renowned Taiwanese scholars, like Han Pao-teh and Dr. Wu Ming Yung. The visiting group was enthralled by the lectures and captivated by Taiwan’s beauty. But what they will cherish the most are the memories of the fun times they had, the knowledge they gleaned, and the friends they made.
2011-07-04
The 2011 EU Summer School activity, which is jointly organized by Tamkang University and the European Union Center in Taiwan, is currently being held at the TKU Tamsui Campus. It commenced with a large-scale opening ceremony on July 4, which attracted the likes of the TKU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Gwo-hsin Yu, and the Director General of the European Union Center in Taiwan, Dr. Hungdah Su, both of whom delivered brief speeches. The former (Vice President Yu) commended students on their decision to participate in the event, which he said not only provides students with a firm foundation in EU-related knowledge and enables them to keep abreast of the most current EU issues, but also strengthens their ability to analyze European economic and financial trends. The latter (Director General Su) emphasized the need to develop an international perspective, and added that such a perspective comes from exploring issues to do with the European Union. This year, a total of 45 participants are taking part in the EU Summer School. They include students from Tamkang University, National Chengchi University, and Soochow University, as well as employees from DHL, Quanta Computer, and various medical clinics. The unique aspect of the EU Summer School is that it features speakers with extensive experience in a range of industries, who pass on their expert knowledge to participants in areas such as trade, finance, currency, investment, and law. The Summer School activity will end on the 6th July.
2011-06-24
Da-Yeh University, located in Central Taiwan, was recently the site of an intercollegiate faculty and staff volleyball competition that extended from June 20-22. For three days, men’s and women’s mixed teams from nine universities around the country vied fiercely for the chance to be crowned champions. In the end (as with last year), the championship went to Tamkang University. The National Intercollegiate Faculty and Staff Volleyball Cup was designed to promote exercise among faculty and staff at Taiwanese universities. Participating universities in this year’s competition included Tamkang University, the De Lin Institute of Technology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, National Central University, Chinese Cultural University, Chung Yuan Christian University, Providence University, Ming Chi University of Technology, and Da-Yeh University. This year’s competition adopted a best-of-three-sets, round robin format and featured many seasoned volleyball players. Yet the Tamkang contingent displayed team spirit to outplay and overwhelm all opposition, and return home as deserved champions.
2011-06-23
In summer this year, a vast legion of community volunteers from TKU societies and external service clubs will go out into the community to help those in need. A total of 260 teachers and students have formed 20 groups, who will head to rural areas around Taiwan to provide free service and care to the locals. The volunteers comprise largely of Tamkang University alumni associations and societies, as well as a melee of community groups including environmental teams, counseling service organizations, and the Union Dolphins work team. In addition, this year 24 Tamkang University students were selected by the Ministry of Education to represent Taiwan as international youth ambassadors. They will be sent to various countries in Central and South America, where they will learn about and serve the local communities. To farewell the soon-to-be-departing students and teachers, a Flag Presentation Ceremony was held, in which the Dean of the Office of Student Affairs, Dr. Ko Chih-en, encouraged the volunteer groups to keep in mind and pass on the Tamkang spirit of altruism. This year, the Cambodia Volunteer Group, made up of Tamkang students, will for the fifth time head to Cambodia, where they will hold classes related to computer skills and the Chinese language. Lee Mei-lan, of the TKU Extracurricular Activities and Guidance Section, stated that “the students will do their best to pass on all they have learned to local Cambodian students”.
2011-06-21
At 2:30 pm on the 21st of June, a flag presentation ceremony was held at the Student Activity Centre, TKU Tamsui Campus. The ceremony had a dual purpose: to farewell local students who will soon be departing for a year of study abroad; and to farewell the groups of TKU students selected to represent Taiwan as international youth ambassadors. This year approximately 428 TKU students will study abroad under student exchange programs, while 24 youth ambassadors will be sent to various countries in Central and South America, where they will learn about and serve the local communities. The ceremony was hosted by the TKU Vice President for International Affairs, Dr. Wan-chin Tai, and was attended by several foreign dignitaries, including Mme Valentine Gigaudaut from the Institut Francais de Taipei, Sergey Chudodeev from the Representative Office in Taipei for the Moscow-Taipei Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission, and Roberto Machado, the Foreign Trade Advisor from the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. In recent years, Tamkang University has become known as a truly international university. It was the first Taiwanese institute of higher education to implement a Junior Study Abroad Program, in which 3rd year students at the TKU Lanyang Campus are required to venture abroad for a year of overseas study. To date, a total of 4523 students have done so. At the Lanyang Campus, 90% of courses are taught primarily in English. Moreover, TKU now has 110 sister universities in 28 countries worldwide. TKU has initiated dual degree programs with renowned overseas universities, such as Australia’s Curtin University, among others. Vice President Tai explained that learning to be a global citizen is a vital lesson for today’s youth. Many overseas universities as early as several decades ago were encouraging students to undertake student exchange programs that allow students to gain international perspectives. During the ceremony, he wished students the best for their coming year of study, and expressed his hope that in their year abroad, students will write a memorable chapter in the story of their lives.
2011-06-20
In order to better understand the administrative processes in place at Tamkang University, a delegation from Central Taiwan’s Tunghai University visited the Tamsui Campus yesterday, June 20. The delegation was received by a number of senior TKU staff, including the Secretary-General of Tamkang University, Dr. Hsu Ting-chi, the Director of the Office of Quality Assurance and Audit, Dr. Pai Ti-ching, the Dean of the Office of Research and Development, Dr. Shung-wen Kang, and the Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Tamkang Times weekly publication, Ms. Ma Yu-pei. The schedule for the visit was organized by Secretary-General Hsu, and included an initial briefing, an informal discussion, a group photograph, and a lunch banquet. Secretary-General Hsu explained that in November 2005, TKU President Chang led a delegation of TKU faculty and staff to Tunghai University, where they were greeted warmly and were offered the local specialty of fresh full-cream milk and hand-made yoghurt. At the time, President Chang noted that Tunghai’s exemplary system of administration and its wealth of humanity-related activities were areas in which Tamkang could observe, learn, and improve. This time, it was Tunghai’s turn to observe and learn from TKU. In particular, the visitors were briefed on the status and operation of: the TKU Regulations Review Committee, the Tamkang system of secretary-level conferences and discussions, the processes through which TKU implements resolutions passed in administrative conferences, internal control and auditing mechanisms, public relations systems, and procedures for university evaluation and research development. Secretary-General Hsu said that the visit is just the beginning of what will be a close administrative relationship. In the future, after faculty and staff from both universities become well acquainted, “we will be able to exchange ideas and administrative practices in a number of areas”. Toward the end of the visit, before the scheduled lunch banquet, a group photo was taken at the TKU Fu Yuan Gardens. It captured a significant moment in time, as two universities came together to observe, learn, and improve.
2011-06-14
In the recent ‘2011 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office’, Tamkang University dominated the field to claim first place in the categories Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The competition was held at the National Changhua University of Education, Central Taiwan, on the 12th June. Out of 348 entrants (from 66 schools), Tamkang students clinched a total of seven placings. Tamkang students to take first place included Tseng Ting-ya, Department of Banking and Finance (Microsoft Word); Lin Pei-en, Department of Statistics (Microsoft Excel); Liao Ru-hsuan, Department of Statistics (PowerPoint). The other placings include second in Word (Lin Hsin-yi), second in Excel (Cheng Yu-ting), third in Excel (Lin Yi-jie), and fourth in Excel (Chang Fu-chi). The seven successful entrants will represent Taiwan in the upcoming world championships in San Diego, America, where the world’s elite from over 60 countries will meet for a shot at the world title. TKU’s outstanding result can be attributed to the ongoing efforts of the TKU Career Planning and Placement Section, which each year holds a number of Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Techficiency Quotient Certification (TQC) courses. The courses are taught by students who earned placings in Microsoft Office competitions in previous years. The Dean of the Office of Student Affairs, Dr. Ko Chih-en, noted that in TKU’s annual student survey, students emphasized the importance of accreditation courses and expressed their hope that TKU may provide more such courses in the future. In response, three years ago the TKU Career Planning and Placement Section introduced courses to train students on a range of professional and career-based skills. Tamkang’s above-par performance in the recent Microsoft Office competition was a direct result of its commitment to equip students with an array of professional skills.
2011-06-11
On the 11th June, over 7,000 TKU students officially graduated in a large-scale graduation ceremony held at the TKU Tamsui Campus. The main ceremony was held in the Shao-Mo Memorial Gymnasium and was broadcast simultaneously on large TV screens across the campus and online. The ceremony took the theme “the TKU Diamond Jubilee, a Milestone for You and Me”. It commenced to the thundering beat of drums, and proceeded with a colourful and lively dance display and magic show performed by members from various TKU clubs and societies. The unique magic show consisted of a series of card tricks in which the magician cut to cards in the deck that conveyed touching messages and well wishes for the graduating students. His act was followed by speeches from the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chai-I Chang, and the El Salvadorian Ambassador to Taiwan, Martha Chang de Tsien, among other VIP guests. Of note was a speech made by a graduating TKU international student from El Salvador, Flora Menjivar. It was special, in part, because of the fact that it was delivered in fluent Chinese – a testimony to Ms. Menjivar’s diligent efforts over the last four years. Meanwhile, during her opening address, President Chang commended the graduating class on achieving this personal milestone. She emphasized TKU graduates’ popularity among Taiwanese enterprises, pointing to the Cheers Magazine survey that has placed TKU graduates first in this field among private university graduates for 14 successive years. She also reiterated a famous quote from Winston Churchill, which she had cited in a speech at San Francisco University (SFSU), after being recognized as the 2011 SFSU Alumna of the Year: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”.
2011-06-09
To provide students a chance to more smoothly enter the workforce, Tamkang University yesterday (Thurs. 9th June) held the 2011 TKU Career Expo. The expo featured representatives from 33 major local and international companies, including China Airlines, Vibo, Grant Thornton International, and KOJEN English, among others. On offer were a total of over 100 job opportunities, which drew soon-to-be-graduating TKU students in number. Many of the companies to set up stall in this year’s expo were those established, operated, and staffed by TKU alumni. One such alumna is Liu Fu-mei, an assistant manager of the human resource department at Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel. She noted: “At present, TKU graduates are making a name for themselves in the workforce and are widely recognized as being very efficient. The great thing about being a TKU alumnus is that there are so many of us, and we look out for each other in the workforce”. The Director of the TKU Alumni Office, Dr. Perng-chun Young, said that in addition to the 2011 TKU Career Exposition, students can also find work by applying for jobs through the government-sponsored “Graduate Employment Scheme”. The scheme rewards employers that hire applicants who have graduated from university in the past four years (2007 – 2010 academic years). For more information, refer to the website http://968.lhu.edu.tw/ before September 30, 2011.
2011-06-03
Last Saturday, the TKU Lanyang Campus held its 3rd Commencement Ceremony, which was conducted in English. A total of 249 students graduated from the College of Global Research Development and the College of Community Development. Graduation certificates were personally distributed by TKU President, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang. The College of Community Development boasts three very unique features: an academic curriculum delivered entirely in English, a pioneering Junior Abroad Program (wherein students spend their third year studying abroad), and an Oxbridge style residential college and tutorial system. It is the embodiment of the educational ideals held by the TKU Founder, Dr. Clement C.P. Chang. Meanwhile, this year is the second and final commencement ceremony for the College of Community Development. On the morning of the ceremony, at 9:30am, the entire body of graduating students gathered to take part in an extensive series of graduation activities. They embarked on the customary “final tour of the campus”, in which they farewelled the beautiful surrounds that they had called home for the last four years. Then, as they entered the Clement Chang International Conference Hall for the Official Graduation Ceremony, they were greeted by sophomores and juniors, who presented them with colorful flower bouquets and gave them warm embraces. The ceremony proper proceeded with a series of speeches, including words of encouragement from President Chang. And at the end of the ceremony, after awards had been given and kind words of gratitude, love and friendship uttered, the hall’s front curtains were drawn, revealing the serene beauty of the Pacific Ocean way down below, beyond the distant coastal flatlands. Balloons, which had been held by a vast net affixed to the ceiling, were released and drifted downward. The hall lights were turned off. Students and teachers clasped shiny glow sticks, which they waved from side to side as they cheered, screamed, and yelped. It was an unforgettable farewell, the perfect conclusion to four years at Lanyang.
2011-05-30
The TKU Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center is currently hosting “The Taiwan Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition”. On display are 83 breathtaking works from 60 Taiwanese artists. To mark the commencement of the display, last Thursday an opening luncheon was held at the TKU Tamsui Campus. It was attended by the President of the Taiwan Watercolor Society (TWS) Founding Association, Mr. Shih Tsui-Feng, the current President of TWS, Mr. Lin Jen-Jie, the TWS Honorary President, Mr. Lai Wu-Hsiung, the President of Tamkang University, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, and the Director of the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center, Li Chi-Mao. Mr. Lin praised the modern interior and exterior design of the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center, adding that the interior layout provides visitors with an ideal environment in which to appreciate art. He also commented on other features of the TKU Tamsui Campus: “The contrast between new and old architecture at the Tamsui Campus is so unique; if I get the chance, I’d like to capture the scenery near the Chinese Palace-style Classrooms in one of my paintings.”
2011-05-23
Each year, San Francisco State University (SFSU) honors one member from its vast pool of alumni for exceptional achievements made in one or many specialized fields. Past recipients of the award include filmmaker and environmentalist Randy Hayes, famous actress Annette Bening, former Mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown, and physician and astronaut Yvonne Cagle. This year, the SFSU Alumnus of the Year Award went to Tamkang University President, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang. Before receiving the award, President Chang, accompanied by various members of TKU faculty, attended a signing ceremony and took part in informal discussions with SF State faculty and staff. The visiting TKU delegation included the Vice President for International Affairs, Dr. Wan-chin Tai, the Dean of the Office of Student Affairs, Dr. Ho Chii-dong, the Dean of the College of Science, Dr. Wang Bo-Cheng, the Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Hsun-fang Kao, and the secretary of the TKU International Office, Martha Kuo. After arriving at SFSU, the delegation first attended an Agreement Signing Ceremony (May 20), in which President Chang and SFSU President, Dr. Robert A. Corrigan, formally extended the ongoing academic partnership between TKU and SFSU. A round of informal discussions was then hosted by Dr. Yenbo Wu, the SFSU Associate Vice President, Division of International Education. Other SFSU faculty in attendance included Dr. Wenshen Pong (Director, School of Engineering), Dr. Jacob Perea (Dean of the College of Education), Dr. Gerald Eisman (Director of the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement), Dr. Jerry Combs (International Articulation Officer), and Dr. David Wick (Coordinator of Study Abroad Services). Subsequently, at SFSU’s 110th Commencement (May 21), President Chang was officially honored as the 2011 SFSU Alumna of the Year in front of 20,000 plus spectators at Cox Stadium, San Francisco. By naming President Chang Alumna of the Year, SFSU recognized President Chang’s pioneering role in Taiwanese higher education. After taking the helm as TKU President in 2004, President Chang has applied her expertise in educational leadership to set up mechanisms for Total Quality Management (TQM) and programs for long distance education. The all-English learning environment at the TKU Lanyang Campus is unique among universities in Taiwan; and the courses ‘Communications Technology’ and ‘Multi-cultural Awareness’ are pre-requisites that help TKU students prepare for their future careers. Another notable feature of President Chang’s governance is the policy of “internationalization”, which has seen Tamkang forge partnerships and undertake academic exchange with universities around the world. At present, Tamkang enjoys sister school relations with 110 universities in 28 countries. In her acceptance speech at Commencement, President Chang acknowledged SF State’s role in helping to shape her “views on educational administration”. She concluded her speech with an inspirational quote from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”.
2011-05-20
On May 18, TKU’s annual water sports contest kicked off with a variety of fun ‘water performances’ staged by the TKU swimming team at the Shao Mo Memorial Natatorium. The swimming team, which snagged a host of medals at the recent 2011 National Intercollegiate Games, then emerged from the professional-sized pool with medals in hand, which they presented to the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang. As the contest commenced, competition was fierce and records were slashed. In the men’s heats, students Hung Han and Chiang Yuan-kai set records in the 50m freestyle and 100m events respectively. TKU faculty and staff also got in amongst the spoils. Ms. Farrah P. Chang, from the TKU Office of Quality Assurance and Audit, bettered the previously set time for the women’s 50m freestyle event; while Mr. Huang Xu-qun broke his own record in the 50m breaststroke category. Of note was the remarkable effort from Office of Physical Education faculty member, Chen Jui-chen. After taking part in the initial performances held by the TKU swimming team, he then went on to eclipse previous times set in both the men’s 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle events. At the end of the annual meet, a variety of fun water-based games brought a sense of levity to this year’s intense yet memorable competition.
2011-05-18
On May 14, the TKU Department of Electrical Engineering’s ‘Robot Research Team’ competed in the 'Taiwan Intelligent Robot Competition' held by Southern Taiwan University. Out of 170 teams from across Taiwan and overseas (Canada, Australia), the TKU team took first place in the category ‘Intelligent Humanoid Physical Ability Contest’. This year, the Robot Research Team was again led by Prof. Wong Ching-chang of Tamkang’s Department of Electrical Engineering, and consisted of 10 Electrical Engineering students, including the team captain, 3rd year PhD candidate Hu Yue-Yang. Their outstanding achievement can be attributed to countless hours of training and preparing outside of competition time. Such tireless efforts have seen the TKU team construct and develop various robot models, including a FIRA medium-sized soccer robot, a RoboCUP medium-sized soccer robot, a humanoid robot, a housework robot (to help with chores around the house), a security robot, and a basketball-playing robot. Since 2001, the TKU robot research team has claimed a total of 116 awards and competition placings in both local and international contests.