Tamkang University

Creating Excellence with a Soul

Motto

Simplicity, Truthfulness, Firmness, Perseverance

Triple Objectives of Education

Globalization, Information-oriented, Future-oriented

Campuses

Staff

Students

Alumni

Brief History

Founded in 1950 as the Tamkang Junior College of English by Mr. Chang Ching-sheng and his son Dr. Clement C. P. Chang, TKU was Taiwan’s first private college. It became the Tamkang College of Arts and Sciences in 1958, before being elevated to Tamkang University in 1980. From its humble beginnings as one of the first schools of higher education in Taiwan, TKU now has four campuses: the Tamsui Campus, the Taipei Campus, the Lanyang Campus, and the Cyber Campus; comprised of eight colleges, with a total of over 27,000 students, more than 2,100 faculty and staff members, and more than 250,000 alumni.

Tamkang is a university of ideals, vision, and creativity. It sees the pursuit of excellence and ongoing innovation as characterizing sustaining its fundamental management philosophy. Over the last 60-plus years, since its foundation, TKU has focused on developing academic research, teaching, and learning services with an innovative spirit. It was the first university in Taiwan to employ Total Quality Management (TQM), which it introduced in 1992. It has generated impressive results and garnered positive public feedback. TQM efforts were significant in helping TKU win the prestigious National Quality Award in 2009.

Since its inception as a university, Tamkang has had six scholar-educators serving as president: Clement C. P. Chang, Yea-hong Chen, Louis R. Chow, Yun-shan Lin, Horng-jinh Chang, and the current President, Flora C.I. Chang, who assumed presidency on August 1, 2004. A year after assuming presidency, President Flora C.I. Chang oversaw the establishment of the TKU Lanyang Campus. In doing so, she placed TKU on the path to becoming an internationally-renowned institute of learning.

Tamkang’s administrative teams have applied innovative strategies to promote the Three Circles and Five Disciplines of Education. The “Three Circles” refer to Tamkang’s professional curriculum, core curriculum, and student activities curriculum, while the “Five Disciplines of Education” include conduct, intelligence, physical education, teamwork, and beauty. TKU has nurtured academic growth through its “Triple Objectives of Education,” which refers to globalization (the spatial pattern of the future), information-oriented education (the life pattern of the future), and future-oriented education (the time frame of the future). With its motto of “Simplicity, Truthfulness, Firmness, and Perseverance,” Tamkang strives to fully develop students’ potential. It aims to help every Tamkangian establish a firm foothold at school and seeks to become a world-renowned, top quality comprehensive university by providing students with the most modern learning resources and training possible.

School Badge

A school badge is a symbol of a school. Our school badge was designed as a big bell by a famous artist named Lan Yin Ding. ‘Zhong Ling,’ these two words which mean bell, were the childhood nickname of Zhang Ming, the late father of the school founder, Zhang Jian Bang. Other than to commemorate him, the bell was also used in teaching during the ancient times. In the olden days, a bell also represented Confucius. The upper part of the bell has a pair of wings to symbolize the spirit of ‘Fly high to advance by leaps and bounds’. Above it, two words ‘淡江’ were engraved.

School Flag

The background color of Tamkang University’s flag is blue and the school’s badge was placed at the center. In addition, three white stripes indicate the Three People’s Principles with the words, ‘淡江大學’, at the bottom part of the flag.

Tamkang University Motto

Simplicity

stands for unassuming plainness, sincerity and honesty.

Truthfulness

represents vigorous implementation, law abiding and thoroughness.

Firmness

symbolizes the blending of toughness and gentleness, with uprightness and impartiality.

Perseverance

signifies courageous determination, with virtue and liberality of mind.

Tamkang University Anthem

O, grand Tamkang, roll out to seas,
You pave the way for exchange of thought.
In quest of learning, you never cease.
And worthy men are thus up brought
with humble heart for truth you seek.
Be true and brave.
Great deeds for speak.
O, young scholars, flowers of the time.
Bright stars soul; by steps up climb.
Waste not your youthful day.

Founder and President

Dr. Clement C. P. Chang

Founder, Tamkang University

Transcending

With the rapid spread of higher education, the scarcity of government resources, and the intense competition among Taiwan’s more than one hundred domestic universities, Tamkang University finds that it must now emphasize its operational strengths to further burnish the Tamkang brand. Over the years, TKU has experienced Four Waves of Development: “the Foundational Period, balancing quality and quantity,” “the Positioning Period, emphasizing quality,” “the Uplifting Period, featuring strategic academic internationalization,” and “the Transformational Period, involving diversification, in line with the times”.

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These waves have led TKU into a comprehensive university with four distinct campuses: the Tamsui Campus, the Taipei Campus, the Lanyang Campus, and the Cyber Campus. On the 66th anniversary of the school, and with the help of our many alumni, we now celebrate the Fifth Wave, holding to a spirit of Transcendence, as symbolized by our new Hsu Shou-Chlien International Conference Center.

During the past sixty-six years, TKU has practiced four models of governance: the Collegial model, the Bureaucratic model, the Political model, and the Market model. They jointly help promote the Total Quality Management. Previously, in my featured article, “Tamkang, the Fourth Wave”, I pointed out the need to promote the Three Circles of curricula—professional, general education ,and extracurricular curricula—to put into practice Five Disciplines of Education of “conduct, intelligence, physical education, teamwork, and beauty”. In this decade, quite a number of students, went effectively under the nurturing influence of “Triple Objectives of Education”: Globalization, Information-oriented Education, and Future-oriented Education. They have equipped themselves with the core values of the “Three Circles and Five Disciplines of Education” to truly possess “Excellence with a Soul.” They now become the mainstays of the nation and society.

W. Chan Kim and Ren Mauborgne stated that “... understanding the context and right strategic moves is the key to success.” The long-term performance of Tamkang has already received affirmation from all walks of life. And, our building of a conference center that reflects our worldview, will not only raise the profile of our research, but render better administrative services. This and other high quality innovations, in line with the times, duly bring into full play the “Matthew Effect”. They set us on a new Sigmoid- curve arching towards the next wave’s peak.

In the Age of the Fox, typified by intense change and transformation, we need to maintain our hold on the operating characteristics of TKU. We will base our strategy on the emerging trends in higher education. We should continue to take “simplicity, truthfulness, firmness, and perseverance” as the essence and accordingly deepen “Tamkang Culture.” We encourage every Tamkangian to “establish a firm foothold at Tamkang University, hold the world in view, grasp the latest information, and create a brighter future”. We hope that all Tamkang’s faculty members and students will faithfully and jointly make the Fifth Wave even more brilliant.

Flora Chia-I Chang, Ed. D. President

President, Tamkang University

TKU President's Welcoming Address

Founded in 1950, TKU has emphasized “Triple Objectives” as Globalization, Information-oriented Education, and Future-oriented Education. TKU provides a holistic educational environment, aims at equipping our students with such eight qualities as: a Global Perspective, Informational Literacy, a Vision for the Future, Moral Integrity, Independent Thinking, a Cheerful Attitude and Healthy Lifestyle, a Spirit of Teamwork and Dedication, and a Sense of Aesthetic Appreciation. TKU strongly encourages students to achieve excellence in their coursework, take part in student activities, and expand their creativity, all while learning the practical tools of problem- solving.

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Our principal goal is to nurture our students into possessing both moral and intellectual strengths and to be capable of bridging the gap between Eastern and Western cultures.

In the past sixty-six years, Tamkang University scored remarkable achievements. TKU distinguished itself by earning the 19th National Quality Award, the Ministry of Education’s Award of Excellence in Laboratory Safety and Hygiene, and the Ministry’s Outstanding Internationalization Award. Additionally, we earned WHO’s Health and Safety Certification. We are the first university to receive the national “Distinguished Enterprises Environmental Protection Award” for three consecutive years. We have been listed in Cheers Magazine, for 19 years in a row, as the top private university nurturing the “Most Desired University Graduates for Business and Industrial Sectors”. TKU is the only private university in Taiwan to be ranked in annual surveys by WRWU (Webometrics Ranking of World Universities) among the top 500 universities in the world.

Over the years, faculty teaching at TKU, has garnered significant recognition by the country for its outstanding performance. In order to ensure high quality and employability of its graduates, TKU has closely collaborated with the industries and enterprises, such as the Data Systems Consulting Computer Company, the TECO Group, and China Airlines in offering internships and on-the-job courses. TKU has also gone the extra mile in expanding study resources for our students by strengthening strategic partnerships with foreign universities and by launching dual-degree cooperation. We are also the first university which is certified by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Recently, we have partnered with eight prominent domestic universities by inaugurating an U9 League.

Embracing the era of Industry 4.0, we now build the Hsu Shou-Chlien International Conference Center. It symbolizes our Fifth Wave of development, and we will resolutely meet the future challenges. TKU will invite more outstanding scholars from the globe to join us. I earnestly anticipate that in the not-too-distant future TKU will take its rightful place among the world’s finest comprehensive universities.

Board of Trustees

“Tamkang University’s greatest assets lie not in its campus grounds, buildings or costly books and facilities, but in the members of the Board of Trustees, who are wholeheartedly dedicated to school administration; the members of TKU staff and faculty who share not only the sweet but the bitter of school operations and instruction; the numerous alumni at home and overseas who are striving to promote Chinese culture and are undertaking the great task of “constructing the Republic and thus are forming the great Commonwealth” and, last but not least, all the students who are absorbed in academic research.”

Polly S. Chang

Chairperson, Board of Trustees

Trustee
Steve Lee
Trustee
Kun-yen Lee
Trustee
Sush-der Lee
Trustee
Charles C. Lin
Trustee
Hong-shang Hong
Trustee
Ching Nan Chen
Trustee
Haydn H.D. Chen
Trustee
Chien, Yi Pin

Supervisor
Mei-lan Wang

President

Flora Chia-I Chang, Ed.D.

President, Tamkang University

PRESENT STATUS

President of TKU
Professor of Graduate Institute of Educational Policy and Leadership TKU
Chairperson of Taiwan Higher Education Society
Managing Supervisor of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan
President of Chinese Excellent Management Association

EDUCATION

B.A., Economics, National Chengchi University, Taiwan, R.O.C.
M.A., Economics, San Francisco State University, U.S.A.
M.A., Education, Stanford University, U.S.A.
Ed.D, Education, Stanford University, U.S.A.

EXPERIENCE

Vice President of Administration, TKU
Chairperson of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan

SPECIALIZATION

Higher Education Administration
Higher Education Total Quality Management

Vice President

Dr. Huan-chao Keh

Vice President for Academic Affairs

PRESENT STATUS

Vice President for Academic Affairs, TKU
Professor, Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, TKU

EDUCATION

B.A., Department of Horticulture Science, National Chung Hsing University, ROC.
M.S., Department of Computer Science, Oregon State University, USA.
Ph.D., Department of Computer Science, Oregon State University, USA.

EXPERIENCE

Director of Extracurricular Activities Guidance Section, TKU
Dean of Student Affairs, TKU
Chair of Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, TKU
Dean of Academic Affairs, TKU

SPECIALTY

Data Mining
Medical Resource Management Information Systems
Clinical Medicine Information Systems

Prof. Yi-jen Hu

Vice President for Administrative Affairs

PRESENT STATUS

Vice President for Administrative Affairs, TKU
Professor of Department of Insurance, TKU

EDUCATION

B.A., Dept. of International Trade, Feng Chia Univ.
M.A., Dept. of Insurance, Feng Chia Univ.

EXPERIENCE

Chair of Department of Insurance, TKU
Director of Educational Development Center
Editor of Insurance Issues and Practices
Dean of College of Business, TKU
CEO of Division of continuing education

RESEARCH EXPERTISE

Insurance Theory
Act Insurance

Dr. Wan-chin Tai

Vice President for International Affairs

PRESENT STATUS

Vice President for International Affairs, TKU
Dean, College of International Studies, Tamkang University
Professor, Institute of American Studies and Institute of Russian Studies, Tamkang University

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Institute of American Studies, Tamkang University, 1984-1989
Winner of the Best Ph.D Dissertation Award by the Chinese Political Science Association in 1989
M.A., Institute of American Studies, Tamkang University, 1976-1982, with thesis “John Foster Dulles’ Massive Retaliation Doctrine”
B.A., English Department, Fu Jen Catholic University, 1972-1976

EXPERIENCE

Director, Institute of American Studies, Tamkang University, 1994-1997
Director, Institute of Russian Studies, Tamkang University, 1991-1994
Foreign Editor, China Times Express, 1987-1988, 1989-1991

TRAINING

Australian Studies Seminar, Griffith University, Australia, from late January to mid-February, 1998
The America and World Program, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, U.S., June-August, 1992
Summer Russian Language Program at Moscow State University, 1991
Exchange Ph.DStudent at the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana, January-June, 1988

Governing Principles

The Management Objectives of Tamkang University

The management objectives of Tamkang University have been constructed by its founder and presidents through consensus among TKU faculty and staff gathered in numerous meetings over a long period of time. The objectives, imaged as the main parts of the University’s Chinese palace-style classroom, are embodied by the “House of Quality” for Tamkang, bearing upon the mission, vision, values, strategies, and governance of TKU. The House of Quality has served as a blueprint for full participation by the entire school.

Mission

To maintain Tamkang’s venerable heritage, create a positive influence on society, and nurture talented, ambitions professionals.

Vision

To realize educational ideals in private schooling and create an environment of academic excellence.

Values

To pursue the university motto of ‘Simplicity, Truthfulness, Firmness, and Perseverance’, while upholding academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

Strategies

Wave-by-Wave Development and Four Distinct Campuses

Since its inception in 1950, Tamkang University has undergone four separate “waves” of development. The first “wave” began in 1950 and continued until 1980. During this phase, Tamkang University placed equal emphasis on quality and quantity in education. The second phase, from 1980 to 1996, focused on quality over quantity. Subsequently, from 1996 to 2005, Tamkang’s “third wave” of development involved the internationalization of university operations and academic pursuits. Since 2005, TKU has been working on its fourth phase of development. This phase is characterized by transformation. During the fourth wave, the Lanyang Campus was completed. It is one of Taiwan’s more pioneering campuses, with over 90% of its courses offered in English. TKU now has four campuses: the Tamsui Campus, the Taipei Campus, the Lanyang Campus, and the Cyber Campus. These campuses, although each displaying unique characteristics, work in unity to bring about each new wave of university development.

The Three Circles and Five Disciplines of Education

The ‘Three Circles and Five Disciplines of Education’ refers to the structure of education adopted by Tamkang University for the purpose of producing successful, well-rounded graduates. The ‘Three Circles’ corresponds to three kinds of courses: professional, core and extracurricular. Professional courses are the regular courses offered by TKU colleges and departments. Core courses, on the other hand, are those provided by the Center for General Education and Core Curriculum. Together, these courses have produced outstanding results. The third link in the ‘Three Circles’ are extracurricular courses, which are designed by the Office of Student Affairs and help to foster a spirit of teamwork among students. The ‘Five Disciplines’ of education refers to the qualities of conduct, intelligence, physical education, teamwork, and beauty. By integrating these values into the professional, core, and extracurricular curriculum, Tamkang University helps to produce well-rounded students skilled in identifying and solving problems. As a result, TKU students develop characteristics favored by both local and overseas employers.

TKU’s Triple Objectives

Setting up the Sigmoid Curve

Promoting the Matthew Effect

Governance

TKU’s Leadership System

The management team of TKU is headed by the President, who leads three Vice Presidents responsible for academic, administrative, and international affairs respectively. The Provost of the Lanyang Campus and each dean and chairperson play a critical role in the management team, which works to implement the four management models of TKU – collegial, bureaucratic, political and market-based.

Four Management Models

The four management models of TKU – collegial, bureaucratic, political and market-based – are applied to the teaching, administrative and leadership levels. Differentiated, individualized, holistic, and globalized thinking models are also adopted to attend to the problems of cost, efficiency, production and effectiveness. TKU implements these four management models of governance so as to adapt to the changing environment in a timely manner, and achieve the goal of sustainable management.

Total Quality Management

The concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) was introduced to TKU in 1992. The president at the time, who also served as the Chair of the TQM Committee, pushed for the comprehensive implementation of TQM on the TKU Tamsui Campus. Ever since, a TQM Seminar and a Teaching and Administrative Work Reform Seminar have been held each year to help faculty and staff improve their quality of instruction, administrative work and service. In 2006, the Tamkang Quality Award was introduced and is now awarded annually to offices and departments that display outstanding performance in TQM.

Organization activation

When confronted with challenges, TKU is able to adjust its organization structures and reorganize rapidly to take full advantage. Responding in 2002 to the drive for multiple channels of admission recommended by the Ministry of Education, as well as a more competitive educational environment, TKU established an Office of Admissions. In 2004, the Office of Student Housing was set up to manage students housing both on and off campus. In 2006, the Center for Learning and Teaching was inaugurated to improve teaching quality and help students learn more effectively. Finally, in 2007, the position of Vice President for International Affairs was established to promote the integration of international exchange and education. As a result, TKU is always prepared to face any challenges that arise and respond accordingly.

Organization

download organization chart

- President

College Introduction

College of Liberal Arts

The College of Liberal Arts is the oldest one in TKU’s long history. There are currently 5 undergraduate departments and a Research Center.

College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Sinn-cheng Lin

Dean

College of Science

The College of Science is one of the oldest colleges in TKU. There are departments of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Advanced Material Science.

College of Science

Dr. Zi-cong Zhou

Dean

College of Engineering

The College of Engineer was established in 1966, and there are 8 undergraduate departments and 10 graduate programs. Both undergraduate and graduate disciplines have passed the Certification for Engineering and Technology Education as high quality teaching and research centers.

College of Engineering

Dr. Hui-huang Hsu

Dean

College of Business and Management

The College of Business and Management was established in 2012. It’s well-known for producing outstanding business talents with a global-view aptitude.

College of Business and Management

Dr. Chien-liang Chiu

Dean

College of Foreign Languages & Literatures

The College of Foreign Languages and Literatures was established in 1992 and is one of the largest colleges of foreign languages in Taiwan.

College of Foreign Languages & Literatures

Dr.Lucía Hsiao-chuan Chen

Dean

College of International Studies

The College of International Studies is a pioneering academic institute in Taiwan which focuses on international affairs and regional research. Its goal is to cultivate academic professionals and practitioners.

College of International Studies

Dr. Kao-cheng Wang

Dean

College of Education

The College of Education has 1 undergraduate department, 5 graduate schools and 2 research centers. The scope covers the areas of education planning and implementation.

College of Education

Dr. Dian-fu Chang

Dean

College of Global Development

The goals of the College of Global Development are to develop a new direction of higher education and train talents to have a global-view aptitude. In order to achieve the goals, all of the courses are delivered in English, and students here will have to study abroad as exchange students in the third year.

College of Global Development

Dr. Ay-hwa Liou

Dean

see our Departments and Programs

Triple Objectives of Education

The TKU Triple Objectives of Education are a set of educational goals adopted by the Founder of TKU, Dr. Clement C.P. Chang. They consist of Globalization, Information-oriented Education, and Future- oriented Education. Dr. Chang explains that “since the founding of the university, Tamkang has set the Triple Objectives of Education as its primary aim for development. Its ultimate goal is to generate quality research, improve instruction, and enhance social welfare.”

Globalization

Even at its founding, in 1950, Tamkang University possessed an international outlook. In the years that followed, the policy of globalization became its logical direction. Globalization has long been one of the Triple Objectives of Tamkang University.

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In 1994, Tamkang was the first among all Taiwanese universities, both public and private, to implement the Junior Year Abroad Program. Since then, approximately 6,432 Tamkang juniors have traveled abroad for a year of study. At the Lanyang Campus and the Tamsui Campus’ Department of International Business-Division Global Commerce Management all courses are taught in English and all students must study abroad during their third year. Currently, Tamkang has 512 juniors who are studying overseas. Moreover, it enjoys academic partnerships with over 190 sister universities in 34 countries around the world. It is now home to over 2,072 overseas students and offers 19 joint-degree programs with renowned overseas universities.

In recent years, Tamkang University has been applying the “mass collaboration” model of Wikinomics to promote globalization. In putting more emphasis on multiple integration and innovation, Tamkang hopes to make globalization a “peer product,” from which faculty and students are able to benefit and make contributions. With such an orientation, faculty and students become “prosumers.” Tamkang’s long-term goal is to develop into a truly globalized academic institution. To achieve this goal, the number of high quality foreign faculty and students must grow significantly. Tamkang is now working to expand its body of foreign faculty and students, and expects that this group will soon reach a “critical mass.”

Information-oriented Education

Tamkang has long been a pioneer in information processing. Since the establishment of the Information Processing Center (now the “Office of Information Services”) in 1968, Tamkang has applied computer technologies to administration, teaching, research, and services.

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Its vision is to create the most attractive information-oriented campus available. To do so, it has adopted the following information-based goals: (1) to maintain a secure, reliable, and fast information environment; (2) to integrate information power and its applications on campus; (3) to continuously innovate and apply such innovations to campus operation; (4) to have applications available campus wide; (5) and to serve the university indefinitely. In recent years, Tamkang has set up an economical off- campus dorm network, a fast and convenient campus network, a multi-layer security network, and an innovative Digitalized Campus Teaching Support Platform, as well as actively developing easy and convenient mobile services. Together, these features make TKU’s campuses the most attractive e-Campuses available.

Tamkang is the first academic institution in the world to receive the ISO 20000 certificate, the international standard for an IT Service Management System. It is also the first academic institution in Taiwan to receive the ISO 27001 certificate, the international standard for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Tamkang’s “e-Business Team,” made up of faculty and students, has helped Tamkang become the first private university to qualify as an “e-Service Institution” according to the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In E-Business Weekly Magazine’s survey of the digital environment of colleges and universities in Taiwan, Tamkang ranked number one out of a total of 127 universities, and was described as a “digital paradise.”

Tamkang is currently working in collaboration with mobile telecommunication businesses to set up an all-new borderless and wireless university. According to the 2011 Webometrics evaluation, TKU is ranked 272nd among 20,000 universities and research institutes worldwide, 33rd in Asia, 9th in Taiwan and 1st among private Taiwanese universities.

Future-oriented Education

Following the tremendous impact that technology had on Taiwanese society in the 1960s, the Founder of Tamkang University, Dr. Clement C.P. Chang, started to actively promote Futures Studies research in Taiwan.

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He founded “The Future of Tomorrow,” a pioneer magazine about Futures Studies, and encouraged the holding of seminars and courses on Futures Studies. By offering undergraduate and postgraduate Futures Studies courses, TKU teaches its students about how to navigate an unpredictable future society and how to develop foresight regarding the latest trends, so as to create a new generation of versatile, cross-discipline professionals who are insightful and capable of influencing the future. Given its outstanding achievements in the instruction of futures studies, Tamkang University received an award for the “Best Futures Studies Research Institution” from the World Futures Studies Federation in 1999.

Tamkang’s future-oriented focus is not only seen in its style of instruction, but also in its various stages of organizational change, which include: (1) its transition from the third to the fourth wave of education; (2) its employment of the model of Total Quality Management, adopted by the business sector, to strengthen its competitiveness in the future higher education market; (3) its emphasis on the Three Circles and Five Disciplines of Education to create “excellence with a soul”; (4) its establishment of an English-style holistic education system at the Lanyang Campus; and (5) its application of the latest technology to create a vast virtual domain: the Cyber Campus. These strategies demonstrate TKU’s ability to navigate through the potential educational and social challenges of the future, and to change its organizational structure to adapt to contemporary trends. In the coming years, this future- oriented focus will serve as the impetus for continued innovation. Apart from actively integrating research institutes that will have a significant impact in the areas of innovative technology, economic reform, and climate change, TKU will also provide an ongoing dialogue between science, technology, and society (STS), as well as innovative research results to provide strategies and alternatives to solve emerging global problems.

4 Distinct Campuses

Tamsui Campus

http://www.tku.edu.tw/
No.151, Yingzhuan Rd., Tamsui Dist., New Taipei City 25137, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
(02) 2621-5656
(02) 2622-3204

Taipei Campus

http://www2.tku.edu.tw/~tpcampus/
No.5, Ln. 199, Jinhua St., Da’an Dist., Taipei City 10650, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
(02) 3393-3833
(02) 2322-3980

Lanyang Campus

http://www.lanyang.tku.edu.tw
No.180, Linwei Rd., Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County 26247, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
03-9873088
03-9873066

Cyber Campus

http://cyber.tku.edu.tw
TKU net news: http://www.tknetnews.net
Cyber Channel: http://cyber.tku.edu.tw/cyberchannel

Views in Tamkang

Ching-sheng Memorial Hall

Tamkang Campus

Ching-sheng Memorial Hall

University Milestone Statue

Business and Management Building

College of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Student Activity Poster Alley

Maritime Museum

College of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Chueh-sheng Memorial Hall

Hwei-wen Hall

Shao-mo Memorial Gymnasium

College of Education

Maritime Museum

Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center

Views in Tamkang

The Slope of Overcoming Difficulty

The Slope of Overcoming Difficulty is a steep slope made up of 132 stone steps. Built in 1953, it symbolizes “difficulty and hardship,” and was the only path leading to the Tamsui Campus at Tamkang’s inception. It not only represents the school’s resilient spirit in developing the mountain and forest area, but is also symbolic of a larger message: that when faced with difficulties, one must work hard to overcome them by applying the values of “Simplicity, Truthfulness, Firmness, and Perseverance”. It is also a reminder that only with a vigorous and strong body can we strive forward.

The Statue of Mr. Chang Ching-sheng

As the Tamkang University Tamsui Campus was being built, Mr. Ching-sheng Chang stood at the top of the Slope of Overcoming Difficulty with his son, the Founder of Tamkang University, Dr. Clement C. P. Chang. Holding his son’s hand, he pointed to the spot at which construction was taking place, and said: “This will be the home of our Tamsui Campus!” Shortly after, Mr. Ching- sheng Chang fell ill, and on January 29, 1951, he passed away. To commemorate his father, whom he sorely missed, Dr. Clement C.P. Chang erected a statue of his father in the spot at which they had stood years earlier, when the Tamsui Campus was first being built. Premier Chia-kan Yen, who later became President of the Republic of China, wrote four Chinese characters “Kung Tsai Tsuo Jen” to pay tribute to Mr. Ching-sheng Chang for his great sacrifice and devotion to education. Premier Yen’s handwriting was engraved on the pillarbase of the Statue of Mr. Ching-sheng Chang.

The Chinese Palace-style Classrooms

Built in 1954, the Chinese palace-style classroom buildings are architecturally modeled after classical Chinese palaces, with green roofs and red walls. They were the starting point for the building of permanent classrooms at the Tamsui Campus.

The University Commons

Situated in front of the Ching-sheng Memorial Hall is the University Commons, a grassy quadrangle home to Tamkang club gatherings, major annual events, and the memories of thousands of Tamkang alumni. In the center of the quadrangle is a statue, which was built and designed in 1986 by Tamkang alumnus and architect, Kuei-jung Lin. The statue takes the shape of four bamboo tablets encircling one another, a symbol of books or “Tzu Juan” in ancient times. These Tzu Juan represent the four qualities of the TKU motto: “simplicity, truthfulness, firmness, and perseverance”. Seen from above, the statue looks like the pivot of a motor, rotating eternally.

The Bronze Sculpture of the Five Tigers

“The Five-tiger Hill” is the site of Tamkang University’s Tamsui Campus. In Tamsui, the Ta Tun Mountain Range extends down to Hu-tou Shan (“Tiger’s Head” Mountain), which separates into five distinct ridges. Tamkang University is situated on the fourth ridge. The bronze sculpture depicting five tigers embracing one another is a piece by Shiu-chi Wang, which stands in front of the Shao- mo Memorial Gymnasium. It represents Tamkangians’ spirit of vitality and their sense of vigor and bravery. On the pillar- base of the monument is Founder Clement C.P. Chang’s inscription “The Legend of Five-Tiger Hill”.

Lucky Dolphins Milestone Statue

Situated in the roundabout at the top end of Lantern Road is this unique piece by well-known contemporary sculptor, Shiu-chi Wang. The dolphins were selected as an auspicious university emblem based on the results of a poll that surveyed students from each of Tamkang University’s campuses. Dolphins are the most agile and intelligent mammals in the ocean. They are endowed with an incredible ability to swim across the four seas. Engraved on the pillar-base of the statue are four phrases that Founder Clement C.P. Chang often quotes to encourage Tamkangians: “Let’s help students establish a firm foothold at Tamkang University,” “Hold the whole world in view,” “Grasp the latest information,” and “Create a brighter future.”

The Lee Shuan Che Monument

On December 3, 1976, in a concert featuring mostly Western folk music, Lee Shuan Che, an undergraduate TKU student in the Department of Mathematics, urged the young generation to pass on the heritage of folk songs under the slogan “Sing Our Own Songs.” He initiated a self-enlightenment movement of local folk music that started from Tamkang and extended to the entire island. It significantly influenced the musical preferences of later generations. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Lee’s passing, Tamkang University and the Lee Shuan Che Memorial Foundation created a monument on the Shepherd’s Meadow—a perennially green quadrangle that is one of the students’ favorite spots for campus events. The monument, designed by Hsiu-chi Wang, consists of a guitar-shaped metal structure, along with a boulder that has been carved in two. The epigraph “Sing Our Own Songs,” written by Hsun Chiang, is affixed to one half of the split boulder, along with descriptive commentary by calligraphy artist Ben-hang Chang. Placed between the two halves of the boulder is a concrete block and pebbles, which represent the elements of the land that nurtured Lee, while the metal guitar framework reminds people of his esteemed talent as a songwriter.

The Rising Sun above Hsuehshan Tunnel

The sculpture portraying the Hsuehshan Tunnel of the Taipei-Ilan Expressway was presented to Clement C. P. Chang in 1990, by “The Association for Promoting Taipei- Yilan Rapid Transit System,” and was designed by the famous Designer Zerman Hu and Lanyang Master-Sculptor Yu Yu Yang (Ying-feng Yang) under the commission of “The Ilan Association, Taipei Chapter.” The sculpture was shaped in the form of an ancient Chinese hieroglyph “山 ” (“shan” meaning “mountain”). In the sculpture, the Hsuehshan Tunnel is located at the lower corner on the left of the shan, while at the upper corner on the left is a golden sun, rising over the Pacific Ocean and shining over Lanyang. The original sculpture was made from gilded stainless steel. However, to celebrate the completion of the Lanyang Campus and the opening of the Taipei- Ilan Expressway, Arthur Yang—the son of Master Yu Yu Yang—was entrusted with the task of enlarging the original sculpture. It is now 241 cm high and 270 cm wide. The sculpture sits on the lawn in front of the “Clement Chang International Conference Hall” at the Lanyang Campus, allowing Lanyang residents and Tamkang faculty and students, as well as visitors from home or overseas, to appreciate the artwork and pay their respects to the unsung heroes who contributed to the building of the Expressway. It also symbolizes that Tamkang University, which begins at Tamsui, is connected at the heart with Lanyang through the Hsuehshan Tunnel.

The Tamkang Golden Eagle in the Fu Yuan Garden

The Fu Yuan Garden at the Tamsui Campus is home to the Tamkang Golden Eagle bronze statue, a gift from the Golden Eagle Alumni Association as a sign of their gratitude to the alma mater. The location of the statue in the Fu Yuan Garden in front of the Business Building allows students and visitors alike to view and appreciate it. The Tamkang Golden Eagle Award, bestowed to distinguished Tamkang alumni, was initiated in 1987 by two former chairmen of the Board of Trustees of Tamkang University, Dr. Clement C.P. Chang and Mr. Tien-fu Lin. The Award represents the highest honor conferred by the university and was set up to recognize Tamkangians who have made great contributions to the country, rendered useful services to society, created welfare for humankind, and given something back to their alma mater. The Award takes the form of a golden eagle spreading its wings, symbolizing Tamkangians, like a flying eagle in the sky, majestically overlooking the earth below.

The Global Village Sculpture

Installed on the foreground of the Shao-mo Memorial Natatorium Complex are artworks by Ying-feng Yang, a renowned master sculptor from Yilan, Taiwan. The sculptural artworks are shaped to form square, round, and rectangular parts, made from glossy stainless steel, which signify the globe on which a diverse range of people harmoniously live. It represents the vision of globalization that Tamkang University is actively pursuing.

Awards

The National Quality Award

Tamkang University was the first university in Taiwan to employ the system of Total Quality Management (TQM), introduced into the university in 1992 by the founder, Dr. Clement C. P. Chang. This management model has increased the quality of teaching, research, and service at Tamkang University.

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Tamkang’s history can be divided into four stages: the introduction period (1993 to 1995), groundwork period (1995 to 1998), development period (1998 to 2001), and advancement period (2001 to present). In 2006, TKU initiated the Tamkang Quality Award to recognize outstanding colleges and departments committed to TQM. In 2009, due to its continual efforts to evolve and improve, Tamkang University was awarded the 19th National Quality Award. In the future, TKU will continue to ensure customer satisfaction by setting up a comprehensive platform for knowledge management. It will serve as a benchmark for the development of TQM in Taiwan by implementing innovative management policies. Through its range of creative credit programs, TKU will cater to students’ multi-faceted learning needs. And by working with its alumni, TKU will continue to produce “enterprises favorite graduates” and generate positive social change.

Enterprises’ Favorite Private University

For 19 consecutive years, Tamkang University graduates have been voted as “enterprises favorites” in a survey conducted by Cheers Magazine. In each of the “eight essential qualities” identified by the survey, TKU graduates ranked first out of all graduates from private universities in Taiwan.

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The “eight essential qualities” include: (1) a willingness to learn, adapt, and be flexible; (2) the ability to cope with stress and remain reliable and consistent; (3) professional knowledge and skills; (4) the ability to work within a team; (5) the ability to solve problems; (6) an international perspective and foreign language skills; (7) the ability to innovate; and (8) the ability to integrate all these attributes into one’s job. TKU performed especially well in the areas of teamwork, consistency, and performance under pressure. During their time at Tamkang, students are shaped into confident professionals who are highly sought after by enterprises in various fields. The key to this process lies in TKU’s Three Circles (professional curriculum, core curriculum, extracurricular curriculum) and Five Disciplines of Education (conduct, intelligence, physical education, teamwork, and beauty). TKU also emphasizes the development of a global perspective, information literacy, a vision for the future, moral integrity, independent thinking, a cheerful attitude and healthy lifestyle, a spirit of teamwork and dedication and a sense of aesthetic appreciation. One other key factor that employers view as invaluable when hiring is the ability to lead. TKU instills this ability in students through various leadership-oriented courses and compulsory extracurricular activities. In the future, TKU will continue to apply this method to ensure its graduates remain on the top of the list of “enterprises favorites.”

International Safe School Designation

Tamkang University has been continually improving its status as a work-safe and campus-friendly environment. It has conducted a thorough review of its performance in this area based on the seven indicators listed in the Safe School Criteria.

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Moreover, it has established committees to address the various issues covered in the indicators, while at the same time working with local government and community organizations to obtain an unbiased assessment of its overall safety standards. The recommendations offered by the assessment committee were both feasible and practical. For example, the committee recommended that TKU set up an online system to record in detail all campus-based accidents, as well as the cause of such accidents, their locations and frequency of occurrence. It also recommended that TKU establish its own evaluation mechanism to assess the results of any implemented changes. In 2008, Tamkang University was named by the WHO as an International Safe School. Subsequently, in 2012, it passed the WHO Safe School Re-evaluation. It is the first university in the world to be recognized as a safe school. In the future, Tamkang University will continue to ensure that its campuses are work-safe and student-friendly environments.

Leading Characteristics

The finest private comprehensive university in Taiwan with the longest history and the fastest rate of development.
The first university in Taiwan to inaugurate a College of International Studies with graduate institutes in the areas of Southeast Asian Studies, Japanese Studies, American Studies, Latin American Studies, European Studies, Slavic Studies, and China Studies.
The first Taiwanese university to allow students to appraise teacher performance.
>The first university in Taiwan to offer General Education and Core Curriculum courses.
The first university in Taiwan to allow student registration and course selection via phone or internet.
The first university to invent software and hardware for visually impaired students, enabling them to use the Internet and other modern technology.
The first university in Taiwan to implement a Junior Year Abroad (JYA) program.
The first institute to inaugurate Futures Studies as an academic course in Taiwan.
The only private university in Taiwan to fully implement policies of globalization.
The first university in Taiwan to establish a “Digitalized Teaching Support Platform”.
The first university in Taiwan to implement compulsory extracurricular courses.
This university was the first to set up grade transcript service at 7-11 convenience stores.

Approval Ratings

In the “2,000 Enterprises’ Favorite College Graduates” survey, conducted by the well-known Common Wealth Cheers Magazine, Tamkang University has placed first on the list of local private universities for 19 consecutive years.
The TKU robot research team of the Electrical Engineering Department has been crowned world champion on many occasions in the FIRA RoboWorld Cup. The team took first place in the RoboSot category of the FIRA RoboWorld Cup in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015; and first place in the HuroCup category in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Tamkang University was the first university in the world to be conferred International Safe School status by WHO on November 18, 2008. In 2012, TKU was once again issued International Safe School Status after passing the WHO Safe School Re-evaluation.
On January 6, 2009, Tamkang University was the first academic institution in the world to be certified as complying with the standards of the IT Service Management System-ISO/IEC 20000-1: 2005.
Tamkang University won the 19th National Quality Award on May 5, 2009.
In 2009, Tamkang University received an award for Excellence in Physical Education from the MOE. In 2013 and 2016, Tamkang University received the award once more. To date, it is the only university in Taiwan to have received this honor three times.
TKU provides assistance for students wishing to take part in the Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office. As a result, TKU students have been crowned world champions in the competition in 2009 (Excel 2007), 2010 (Excel 2003, Word 2003), 2011, and 2012 (PowerPoint 2007).
During each year over 2011-2013, Tamkang University won the Environmental Protection Administration's Business Environmental Award and due to this became the first university in Taiwan to be granted the prestigious EPA Business Environmental Trophy.
In September, Tamkang University received the 2013 Friendly Campus Award from the MOE, the only university in Taiwan to win the prize.
Tamkang University won an excellent rating from the MOE for guidance in quality of internationalization among institutions of higher education.