The Progressive Tamkang University

Tamkang University, one of the foremost private Universities in Taiwan, is situated atop flower covered hills near the town of Tamsui. Approachable only by steeply inclined roads, the University houses 29 departments and 15 graduate institutes on a campus enclosed by neither walls nor doors. Campus architecture is a harmonious blend of traditional peaked eaves Chinese and modern styles. Dr. Clement C.P. Chang, current University president, believes the physical outlay of Tamkang symbolizes the University's philosophy of education. Emphasizing well-rounded education, Dr. Chang's policies encourage the 16,000 member student body to integrate book learning with practice. Dr. Chang says "Our school resembles a community. Any factors whatsoever in that community may influence students' attitudes towards learning." Dr. Chang has thus conscientiously tailored an environment supportive of student innovation and interaction with the outside world.

Originally a Junior English College, Tamkang was elevated to the status of College of Arts and Sciences by the Ministry of Education in 1958. Chang Cheng-sheng, Tamkang's first president, had looked forward to this day since his return to Taiwan eight years earlier. In 1950, Chang recognized a need for University facilities for the flood of students who likewise returned to the Republic of China on Taiwan from mainland China. The Junior College which was Tamkang's predecessor was operated out of the Chang home on Cheng Li Street in Tamsui City until official recognition, and donations from local patrons permitted a relocation to its present site. Under the able direction of Chang and his wife, and the rapidly growing student body, funds were secured to fix the hill top roads and begin the construction of administrative offices. Mrs. Chang assumed her husband's position at his death two years later.

The incumbent University president, Dr. Chang, is the son of its founder. Holding a masters degree in Agriculture from Shanghai's Sheng St. Johns University and a Ph. d in School Administration from the University of Illinois, Dr. Chang is renowned for the progressive and ambitious administrative policy he has effected at Tamkang University. Working his way up from Head Registrar to assume his present position in 1964, Dr. Chang was then acclaimed as the youngest and most active University president in Taiwan province. Evidence of Dr. Chang's scrupulous spirit was his decision to temporarily step down from office in order to pursue his doctorate degree in the U.S.. While his practical experience in school administration was plentiful, Chang was irked by his insufficient theoretical background to continue his studies. His policy has put a new face on Tamkang University.

The internal organization of the school is efficient and cohesive. A vertical chain of authority assures punctually completed projects while horizontal exchange among faculty and students, including a formal process for appraising teaching methods, assures quality performance and builds rapport. Faculty members are encouraged to pursue their own studies with research grants and publishing requirements. As further incentive, a professor who publishes two or more pieces in an academic journal per year, can reduce his class load. Foreign faculty members, through exchange programs with foreign universities, have joined the University. Faculty teaching is supplemented by a CAI system. In order to teach computer skills in all departments, Tamkang has invested 15 million NT dollars in a CAD/CAM system.

A high caliber student body is maintained by demanding course requirements and a strict evaluation system. Since 1976, an average of 100 to 200 students per year have failed to meet course requirements. In line with Dr. Chang's policy of tailoring education to suit society's needs, Computer and English are required courses at Tamkang. Student participation is fostered under a format offering large lecture classes followed by small discussion classes, and mini-courses in specialized fields. Integration of theory and practice is stressed. Liberal Arts majors are required to learn typing and other departments are directly involved with community projects. Recently the Architecture Department aided renovation plans for Taipei Municipal Government Offices. Students from the Economics Department cooperated with the MOEA to lay plans for a lending bank.

Regardless of major, all students are encouraged to become involved in extracurricular and community service activities. Student organizations offer cooking, hair-cutting and other simple services on campus, while in the neighboring community sponsor language classes for locals. Tang-so Tao, a martial art which imitates the 12 animals in the Chinese lunar cycle, is popular on campus, particularly among girls who may be seeking to insure their safety on the rural campus. The genesis of modern folk singing on the Tamkang campus brought the University much recognition as these songs grew popular throughout the province. Students are encouraged to expand their horizons while a part of the societal microcosm that is Tamkang.

Among the many fine departments at Tamkang, the College of Liberal Arts houses those having the longest history. Innovation and creativity define the character of these schools. The language departments are foremost in the College of Liberal Arts. Last year, the German, English and French departments won praise from the Ministry of Education. Recently a program combining drama and language was initiated. Explains English professor Ding Hong-che, "Drama is an important part of Western Literature. It is impossible to gain a full understanding of drama from a book in a classroom. Drama lives on the stage. By experimenting with a playwright's work on stage, students not only have a better understanding of the creative source of Western Literature, but also practice verbal expression."

The History department, specializing in the History of the province of Taiwan, is favored by the University's positioning at the mouth of Taiwan's oldest harbor. The area is rich with historical relics. Majors often leave the library to do field research. Among history majors are ten blind students. Mainstreamed for the first time on the island, these students have engendered public minded rapport in the History department.

The department of Educational Media Science provides majors an applicable skill while offering the University as a whole a practical service. Requirements for this major fall into three parts: Library Science, A-V skills, and Information Science. At the student--operated school library, majors get on-the-job training; faculty research, in turn, is facilitated by the assistance of these librarians. An "Information Encyclopedia" system installed last year can source a reference material anywhere in the world in less than two minutes. Previously this was a week-long process.

The Mass Communications department is the newest in the College. Established last year, the program stresses television and advertising as key areas in which to acquire skills useful in any aspect of the burgeoning communications field. Department chairwoman Chen Shih-min believes that if students can produce good programs, they will have learned about market tastes, planning and production in the process.

The largest of Tamkang's departments is the College of Sciences. Despite its size, family-style administration maintains close cooperation among the staff. The average age of professors is below 35. This fast developing department has seen many renovations recently. New library facilities and technical equipment attract many students, but admissions to the College is particularly competitive. The top ten percentile in the department are candidates for the prized Dah-Yu scholarship, which may be applied towards graduate studies abroad or work experience.

The Chemisty department is particularly fortunate in having separate facilities. Its independence is perhaps a necessity arising from other departments' refusals to share space with a lot of odorous chemicals. There are fifteen professors in the Chemistry department holding doctorate degrees.

A novel department and structure belonging to the College of Sciences is the department of Marine Engineering. Constructed to look like a sea-faring vessel, this building offers courses in all aspects of shipping and transport. In the fourth year of this major, students board actual ships for realistic training. Responsible for the entire voyage, students take the ships as far as the U.S. and Canada. The experience is practical and physically grueling Coping with sunburn, nausea, boredom and solitude are some of the lessons learned.

Strong departments at Tamkang also include Aeronautical Engineering, Computer Science, the College of Management, and the College of Business. The breadth of course offerings and the wealth of superior facilities at Tamkang have provided students with a truly fertile learning environment.

The student body at Tamkang is open and active. The male-female ratio is about even and interaction between the sexes is casual and natural. Women at Tamkang are fashion-conscious. Said to be as pretty as the hilltop flowers, they are perhaps the children of well-to-do families, for the tuition at Tamkang is high. All women live in on campus dormitories which are new, modern and equipped with washing, cooking and shopping facilities. Plans for men's dormitories are in the formative stages. To date male students live off-campus in convenient town apartments.

Under Dr. Chang's conscientious cultivation, a healthy and flourishing campus environment is elevating Tamkang University's status in the academic world.

(Hilary Fraser)

[Picture Caption]

1. Lantern-style lamps illuminate a nighttime path on the meticulously landscaped campus. 2. Nestled among riverbank hills, the main campus faces Kuan-yin mountain. 3. Airy plant trellises grace a campus sidewalk. 4. A student takes advantage of the restful shadows of trees to study.

1. Tamkang University president Dr. Chang is noted for his open-minded and novel administrative policies. 2. The wide expanse of Tamkang's campus is lush and green, providing many attractive wooded vistas. 3. One hundred and thirty-two steps lead up to the school's entrance. 4. Students put theory into practice in the fully equipped A-V center. 5. The computer center is equipped with the latest equipment for designing and programming. 6. A peek through the window at a class in progress.

1. These classrooms are the oldest on the Tamkang campus. 2. The Tamsui City branch night school is often ablaze late in the evening. 3. Navigation students use a sextant to determine direction. 4. Inside the Marine Engineering Institute, students steer a course in a simulated piloting cabin. 5. The Marine Engineering Institute looks just like a ship from the outside. 6. The ascent is steep but the journey is pleasant. 7. The library's new 'International Encyclopedia' system provides source reference materials anywhere in the world. 8. Hot-house flora will enhance the campus gardens. 9. A memorial to the University's founder, this building displays novel architecture.

1. In March of this year, the University sponsored a national technical conference. 2. Students flock to class. 3. The rugby team warms up before a match. 4. A sidewalk brightened by red trellises and old brick. 5. A student activity club sells refreshments. 6. A season of literary activities opens with student-supervised ticket sales.

1. Dusk falls on the Tamsui river bordering the University. 2. The Language School has an experimental theatre offering students a chance to act, direct and produce their own works. 3. Students exercise and enjoy themselves on the campus ice-rink. 4. Students rest on grass between classes.

1. Students in the women's dormitory study in a quiet corner. 2. The common room in the women's dorms is exquisite and bright.

2. Nestled among riverbank hills, the main campus faces Kuan-yin mountain.

3. Airy plant trellises grace a campus sidewalk.

4. A student takes advantage of the restful shadows of trees to study.

1. Tamkang University president Dr. Chang is noted for his open-minded and novel administrative policies.

2. The wide expanse of Tamkang's campus is lush and green, providing many attractive wooded vistas.

3. One hundred and thirty-two steps lead up to the school's entrance.

4. Students put theory into practice in the fully equipped A-V center.

5. The computer center is equipped with the latest equipment for designing and programming.

6. A peek through the window at a class in progress.

1. These classrooms are the oldest on the Tamkang campus.

2. The Tamsui City branch night school is often ablaze late in the evening.

3. Navigation students use a sextant to determine direction.

4. Inside the Marine Engineering Institute, students steer a course in a simulated piloting cabin.

5. The Marine Engineering Institute looks just like a ship from the outside.

6. The ascent is steep but the journey is pleasant.

7. The library's new 'International Encyclopedia' system provides source reference materials anywhere in the world.

8. Hot-house flora will enhance the campus gardens.

9. A memorial to the University's founder, this building displays novel architecture.

1. In March of this year, the University sponsored a national technical conference.

2. Students flock to class.

3. The rugby team warms up before a match.

4. A sidewalk brightened by red trellises and old brick.

5. A student activity club sells refreshments.

6. A season of literary activities opens with student-supervised ticket sales.

1. Dusk falls on the Tamsui river bordering the University.

2. The Language School has an experimental theatre offering students a chance to act, direct and produce their own works.

3. Students exercise and enjoy themselves on the campus ice-rink.

4. Students rest on grass between classes.

1. Students in the women's dormitory study in a quiet corner.

2. The common room in the women's dorms is exquisite and bright.