The Department of Architecture held its 60th-anniversary celebration on November 30, 2024, hosting a warm "Homecoming" gathering for alumni from 10 AM to 4 PM. The event attracted over a hundred alumni, including renowned architects Jou-Min Lin and Chia-Ju Lin, Taiwan Design Research Institute President Chi-Yi Chang, and Architecture Department Alumni Association President Chiu-Li Kuo, among other prominent figures. On the day of the event, alumni enthusiastically donated over NT$4 million to support the department’s development, covering scholarships, construction contributions, and more. Department Chair Chun-Jung Ko stated that the funds would be used for projects such as the façade and entrance space of the department building, with renovations expected to be completed by April next year.

The building renovation, originally scheduled to be completed by the university’s anniversary last November, was delayed due to funding shortages. Of the NT$4 million raised this time, NT$500,000 was jointly donated by WIN Semiconductors and the Tamkang University Worldwide Alumni Association President Chin-Tsai Chen, with the assistance of College of Engineering Dean Tzung-Hang Lee. Additionally, retired professor ChiKung Wang contributed NT$500,000 from his late wife's account, all directed toward completing the final phase of the renovation.

The event was lively, with many alumni bringing their families along. Adjunct faculty member Kuo-Hsin Wang set up a tent on the wooden platform in front of the department building to provide entertainment for children, adding a family-friendly touch to the celebration. 90-year-old retired professor Hsien-The You attended in person and even climbed to the fifth floor with the alumni in one go. While touring the student studios, he expressed joy and emotion upon seeing students diligently working on their creations, remarking that it was heartening to witness the creativity of young learners at his age.

Chun-Jung Ko shared that since architecture students spend a significant amount of time on their creations, the department building is often cluttered with paper scraps and model debris. In preparation for the alumni's return, a thorough cleanup was conducted 2 weeks in advance, giving the building a fresh look. However, the clean and tidy environment felt unfamiliar to many alumni, with some taking photos in yet-to-be-cleaned classrooms, saying, "This is the Architecture Department I remember." The familiar scenes brought back memories of their university days. Ko also noted that architects often lead busy lives, and events like this were not frequent in the past. This gathering reconnected many previously lost contacts, with several alumni expressing a desire for more frequent visits to the school, which would positively benefit the department.

SDGs #SDG04 Quality Education #SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals

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