From April 21 to April 30, Tamkang University’s Department of Chemistry invited representatives from our sister university, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia, for an academic visit. The delegation included Dr. Lim Tuck Meng, Dean of the Faculty of Science; Ir. Prof. Dr. Ng Choon Aun, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology; and Dr. Ong Kiah Ju, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Creative Industries. The purpose of the visit was to understand the operation of Tamkang’s signature science outreach program, “Chemistry On The Go,” and explore how it could be applied to benefit elementary and secondary schools in Malaysia.

The guests were warmly received by Professor Chih-Hsin Chen, Chair of the Department of Chemistry; Professor Bo-Cheng Wang, Director of the Center for Science Education; Professor Po-Shen Pan, Chief of the Research and Industry-Collaboration Section; and Professor Yau-Hung Chen. The UTAR delegation accompanied the “Chemistry On The Go” team to several outreach activities held at Qingshan Junior and Elementary School in Xizhi, the junior high division of Haishan High School in Banqiao, and Tucheng Junior High School. During the visits, they observed Assistant Professor Hsien-Chang Kao leading engaging science education activities, introducing students to laboratory equipment, pharmaceuticals, and basic experimental procedures. Students were guided to use instruments and perform titration to analyze water hardness, followed by a group discussion on their findings.

Dr. Lim and Dr. Ng highly praised the “Chemistry On The Go” initiative. After observing three sessions, they better understood the program's structure, logistics, mobile lab setup, budgeting, and personnel management. They expressed strong interest in adapting this model to promote science education in rural areas of Malaysia, aiming to foster cross-border knowledge exchange and localized implementation of science outreach. Dr. Ong also affirmed the program's value and expressed confidence that it would receive full support from the UTAR President.

On April 28, the Department of Chemistry led the delegation visiting the Yung Shin Pharmaceutical Taichung Youth Factory. The aim was to initiate potential collaboration with Dato’ Dr. Lee Fang Hsin, Group Managing Director and President of Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding BHD., by referencing the successful operation of Tamkang’s chemistry outreach vehicle as a model for promoting science education. Yung Shin arranged for several R&D managers to host the visit and provided an overview of the company’s recent developments, including tours of its automated production lines and smart warehousing facilities. R&D Manager Tsang-Miao Huang welcomed the visit and expressed Yung Shin’s interest in establishing student internships and industry-academia collaborations with Tamkang’s Department of Chemistry while exploring the potential development of a New Southbound industry-academic program.

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