The 2013 new semester ceremony and admissions seminar for new undergraduate and postgraduate students was held September 12th and 13th at the Shao-mo Memorial Gymnasium. Before the ceremony for the new semester, President Flora Chia-I Chang led Vice President for Academic Affairs Yu Gwo-hsing, Vice President for Administrative Affairs Kao Po-yuan, Vice President for International Affairs Tai Wan-chi and the heads of all administrative and academic units to follow in the tradition of climbing the 132 steps of the Slope of Overcoming Difficulty at the head of more than 4,000 freshman, the only place in Taiwan where freshman undergo such a unique baptism to enter their school. Freshman took the hill with smiles of joy on their faces, greeting the prime of their youth as it is about to unfold on Five Tiger Hill.

The opening ceremony for the new semester kicked off with a brilliant performance by student clubs, bringing a lively atmosphere to the event with a choir group taking to the stage first, followed by cheerleaders grabbing everyone’s attention with a few difficult dance moves, and then a beat-box troupe performance winning enthusiastic applause. In addition, the Overseas Students Social Club, the Taekwondo Club and the Pop Dance Club further brightened the atmosphere with vigorous, dynamic dancing.

President Chang welcomed the freshman students coming from various places to become Tamkangians in her opening remarks, saying that from this moment on, the treasures of higher knowledge, brimming with an ambience of culture, are awaiting them as the students approach the new milestones of their lives on Five Tiger Hill, a temple of moral character cast in the ceramics of TKU tradition. President Chang said that the university’s mission is to nurture exceptional professional talent and train excellent citizens to infuse society with new culture and breath. Consequently, she hopes that classmates will be able to equip themselves with a greater degree of soft power at TKU under the three educational concepts of globalization, information-oriented education and future-oriented education while studying the Three Circles of Education planned especially for students, professional, core and extracurricular courses, in combination with the Five Disciplines of Education, conduct, intelligence, physical education, teamwork and beauty, so as to achieve the Eight Major Fundamental Accomplishments, global vision, information usage, insight into the future, morality, independent thinking, health and happiness, teamwork and aesthetic self-restraint. The school has also arranged “university learning” courses for undergraduate freshman, hiring highly qualified teachers with experience in counseling to serve as mentors or to guide students through the courses, grooming each freshman from the moment he or she steps into the halls of the university so that they will all be able to adapt to college life and effectively launch their studies as soon as possible. Therefore, in order to foster excellent students and increase competitiveness after graduation so that they become the elite leaders of the future, TKU began the Tamkang University Honors Program in the 2012 academic year, with the curriculum divided into three components, spheres of expertise, general education, and extracurricular activities, using unconventional learning through creative thinking in a small classroom setting to break free from the norms of traditional education. In regard to extracurricular activities, President Chang spoke of the more than 200 student clubs at Tamkang, a feature of the university praised by all since its founding. A special provision started in 2011 states that undergraduates must complete one credit of a course in community learning and implementation. Students are expected to participate in student clubs so they can nurture diversity and master their capabilities, put the core values of a university education into practice, and display how to effectively interact and cooperate with others. Finally, the president said that she hopes that every Tamkang student learns and grows while at this diverse and open environment, that they will not only possess IT skills, a cosmopolitan worldview, and a future-oriented holistic mindset, but both the tactics and ethics to take the best from the past while greeting the future, and then passing on what they have learned to the next generation, becoming intelligent, distinguished members of society and creating a brand that belongs to Tamkangians.

The school arranged three long reports during the seminar for incoming freshmen, and an explanation of the student club learning and implementation course as well. Dean of Academic Affairs Keh Huan-chao explained information closely related to students like changing majors, dropping out of school, minor degrees and double majors, and he introduced credit courses, honor courses and the relevant regulations. He also encouraged everyone to dedicate themselves to their studies. Dean of Student Affairs Ko Chi-en introduced the diversity of university life via Crowd Lu’s “100 Ways of Living” as well as the various affairs offices at TKU. Dean Ko said that the more university resources students use, the more likely they are to enjoy the kind of life they want to live. She encouraged students to enjoy themselves, accrue substance, study diligently and play hard. Dean of General Affairs Luo Shiaw-shyan briefed the audience on the major services of the Office of General Affairs. She also gave a detailed explanation of what her office does for students, and what students can do for TKU. Dean Luo made a long and earnest appeal to the students not to eat or drink in the classrooms, to turn off the lights and close the doors and windows, not to feed or bring stray animals onto campus, and not to smoke and to urge others not to smoke on the campus. The course TA for the Polaris Service Club (北極星服務團) explained aspects of the Student Club Learning and Implementation Course via a lively musical performance comprised of the five elements found in the spirit of an extracurricular activity, youth, passion, courage, creativity and cooperation, expectations by which a freshman can map out a brilliant university career. After the musical skit, the students were led in an interactive game of five-element pétanque, or lawn bowl (五元素滾球), representing joint cooperation marching forward into the future. Moreover, freshman joining the extracurricular activities were greeted with gifts of five-element bracelets (五元素手環) to encourage them to hold fast to a spirit of unrestrained vigor, perseverance, daring, endless creativity and teamwork no matter what frustrations they encounter in the future and to live life with no regrets.

In order to enhance an awareness of security in the students, keep accidents from happening and prevent incidents of crime, four workshops were held at the Student Activity Center for incoming freshman on September 12th and 13th. Department of Transportation Management Professor Chang Sheng-hsiung spoke on traffic safety education. Moreover, students were paired off to perform in action skits as an enterprising way to strengthen the concept of traffic safety in students. In addition, in concert with the 2013 Disaster Prevention Day, disaster prevention education films were played to enhance an awareness of disaster prevention in students and provide evacuation response action training.

SDGs

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