From our sister school, the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML), President Julie Chen, along with Vice President John Feudo, Distinguished Professor from the Francis College of Engineering, Dr. Ramaswamy Nagarajan, and the Office of Research and Innovation's Technical Project Manager, Dr. Claire Lepont, visited our campus on September 27th. They toured the campus, engaged in discussions, and explored diverse collaboration opportunities. The President of the Tamkang University Alumni Association Headquarters and Honorary Doctorate of UML, Dr. Lawrence Lin, attended the visit as a special guest.

The group was received by the Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs. They began their visit by touring the Gallery of Tamkang History & The Founder Dr. Clement C.P. Chang’s Memorial Hall, where they watched a documentary about the founder titled “To the Future You.” This allowed them to gain insights into the university's development journey and the educational philosophy of the founder. Subsequently, they met with President Huan-Chao Keh. As the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, President Keh explained Taiwanese customs and traditions related to the festival to the guests. The visitors also expressed their admiration for the university's “small yet beautiful” open campus. During the meeting, Vice President of International Affairs, Dr. Hsiao-Chuan Chen, explained the dual-degree program format and shared examples of cooperation, offering valuable insights for future collaboration between the 2 universities. At noon, President Keh hosted a luncheon at the Chueh-Sheng International Conference Hall, allowing them to enjoy the beautiful view of the mouth of the Tamsui River.

The exchange seminar was hosted by Dr. Chen. Participants included the Dean of the College of Science, Dr. Tzenge-Lien Shih; the Deans of the College of Engineering, the AI Innovation College, and the Precision Health College, Dr. Tzung-Hang Li; the Dean of Research and Development, Dr. Hung-Chung Hsueh; and the Chair of the Risk Management and Insurance Department, Dr. Jyun-Ji Tien, among others. Dr. Chen and Dr. Feudo introduced their respective universities. Dr. Hsueh then presented an overview of the research centers within the Office of Research and Development, the Champion Incubator Center, and the status quo of the Da Vinci Maker Space. The discussion continued with a focus on the dual-degree program, accompanied by relevant data explaining the current state of international exchanges at our university. During the seminar, Dr. Nagarajan expressed a desire for further collaboration with the College of Engineering, while Dr. Lepont showed strong interest in the Da Vinci Maker Space. Both expressed their intention to continue discussions regarding future cooperation opportunities. After the seminar, the group visited the Wind Engineering Research Center and the Reality Field of the AI Innovation College.

UML was founded in 1894 and has a student population of over 18,000. It ranks as the second largest among the 5 public universities in the University of Massachusetts system. The university offers more than 120 different degree programs, including undergraduate, master's, and doctoral

degrees, across various colleges, such as the Francis College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, the Manning School of Business, the Kennedy College of Sciences, and various institutes. The university also offers unique programs that are not widely available in other American universities, including programs in Plastics Engineering, Meteorology, Sound Recording Technology, Nanotechnology, and Criminal & Justice Studies. It is nationally recognized, being ranked as a Tier 3 university by U.S. News & World Report and classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Foundation. President Keh visited the university on December 5, 2022, and signed an agreement to establish a partnership between the two institutions.

SDGs #SDG04 Quality Education #SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals

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