On the morning of September 4, the Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs held the "2024 Academic Year New International Students Welcome Ceremony" at the Chang Yeo Lan International Conference Hall in the Hsu Shou-Chlien International Conference Center. Around 360 international students from various parts of the world attended the event.

Vice President for International Affairs, Dr. Hsiao-Chuan Chen, first welcomed the new international students to the Tamkang family. She then introduced the university’s educational philosophy of "Triple Objectives of Education," "Three Circles of Education and Five Disciplines," and "Eight Core Competencies for Students," sister school status, international connections, the application of AI technology, teaching features, student clubs, language courses, and alumni information, helping the new students understand Tamkang’s unique highlights and characteristics. She concluded by wishing the international students a smooth integration into the university's learning environment and expressed hopes for mutual growth in the future.

Officer Yi-Chieh Dong and Officer Bi-Cheng Tsai from the New Taipei City Police Department conducted a safety and anti-fraud awareness session for international students. They first provided emergency contact numbers for situations involving personal safety, fraud prevention, and rescue and fire services. They then explained the locations of local police stations near the campus and outlined common online fraud schemes, such as fake friendships, money transfers, fake online auctions, and underground currency exchanges. Finally, they offered specific countermeasures to help international students understand how to protect themselves while living in Taiwan and maintain a safe and friendly campus environment.

Counselor Ni-Chun Tsai from the Counseling, Career Development and Learning Center led a session on cross-cultural adaptation and gender equality awareness. She began by discussing the topic of “cross-cultural exchange,” introducing the unique aspects of Taiwan’s culture. Tsai engaged with the international students by asking where they were from, how they felt, and what surprised them about Taiwan. Using the Slido platform, she interacted with them to gain insights into their perceptions of Taiwanese culture. She then explained the importance of “personal boundaries,” discussing social distance, personal privacy, cultural differences, and how to appropriately address and adapt to them. Tsai also emphasized the importance of understanding Taiwan's "Sexual Harassment Prevention Act" and the "Stalking and Harassment Prevention Act." In the latter half of the session, she used videos and real-life examples to highlight how unintentional body language might lead to sexual harassment risks. Finally, she presented various campus resources and encouraged international students to utilize them to protect their rights.

English Department staff member Sing-Yu Lin explained the policies for English course exemptions, reminding eligible students that they may apply for waiving from the university’s English I and English II courses. To conclude the event, Dean of International Affairs Chien-Mu Yeh explained the responsibilities of the International and Cross-Strait Exchange Section and the International and Mainland Student Guidance Section under the Office of International Affairs and invited the staff members to introduce themselves. "The Office of International Affairs is always ready to assist students, and we hope all international students will have a wonderful study abroad experience at Tamkang."

SDGs #SDG03 Good Health and Well-Being #SDG04 Quality Education #SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities #SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals

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