In the past decades, Tamkang University (TKU) has been actively implementing globalization, information-oriented education, and future-oriented education. TKU's globalization can be traced back to 1968, when it contracted academic cooperation programs and developed a "sister-school" relationship with Chuo Gakuin University of Japan. In 1978, the Academic Exchange committee was formed, with Dr. Clement C.P. Chang, then the president of the university, serving as the Chair of the Committee. From then on, the Academic Exchange Committee began strengthening its globalization by sponsoring international conferences, establishing sister ties with overseas universities, initiating faculty/student exchange programs, inviting eminent overseas scholars to speech as the Tamkang Chair lectures and subsidizing faculty members for advanced study abroad.
In 1995, the Academic Exchange Committee was transformed into the International Exchange Committee to meet the demands of ever-growing international exchanges and other related activities.
In order to further activate and practically execute the missions decided by International Exchange Committee, a totally new higher-ranking office was established -- Office of International Exchange and International Education in 1999, under the supervision of International Exchange Committee, is designated to be a window for all international activities such as exploring the possibility of cooperation with prestigious universities, arranging TKU's delegation good-will visits abroad, receiving international guests, sending and receiving exchange students to and from sister universities, advising and taking care of international students in all respects, negotiating the details of signing academic cooperation agreements, etc.
Among other things, this Office mainly is engages in the following programs and areas of international cooperation
1. Interaction with Sister Universities:
TKU formally signs academic cooperation agreements with 90 universities from 26 countries. Another 18 partner universities¡]including those in China¡^sign the agreements with the counterpart colleges at TKU. The interaction between TKU and sister/partner universities is active, continuous, and fruitful.
2. International Visitors:
TKU received 178 visitors from 17 countries in the academic year of 2004-2005, and 207 visitors from 18 countries in the academic year of 2005-2006.
3. Juniors Study Abroad Program:
TKU is the first university in Taiwan, R.O.C. to steer the "Juniors Study Abroad Program." Realizing the significance of globalization in higher education, TKU strongly encourages junior students, especially those majoring in foreign languages and literature, to spend their junior year abroad. All credits taken from the sister universities are unconditionally transferred back to TKU once the curriculum is fully discussed and agreed by the related departments in both parties. For years, TKU spares no effort in enhancing such study abroad programs even if it means the loss of three-fourth of tuition. There are about 150-200 students studying abroad each year. In other words, TKU will lose roughly out ten million NT dollars¡]about US¢C300,000¡^per year for the tuition income.
4. Exchange of Students:
Based on equal terms, TKU sends and receives students to and from sister universities. All exchange students pay their tuition and fee at the home universities, and are allowed to take any course without any charge at the host universities. TKU provides the in-coming exchange students with accommodation, and offers scholarship to those exchange students whose home universities also provide TKU students with scholarship. In addition, other exchange students as well as the international students studying at TKU will have good chance to obtain the scholarship too if they meet the requirements. Most important of all, TKU offers Mandarin courses to all exchange and international students.
5. Study and Tour Program:
TKU runs many study and tour programs at sister universities both in summer and winter vacations.
6. Visiting Faculty and Staff
TKU invites visiting scholars from its sister universities to offer intensive course or to give lectures. For the interaction of staff, TKU sends a delegation annually to different sister universities to broaden staff's horizons and learn new things. In return, TKU also welcomes and receives staff from sister universities.
7. Summer Program:
Under the request of the sister university, TKU designed a summer courses for a group of students from Waseda University, sister university in Japan, on August 6-27, 2005. This is a new model of cooperation with our sister universities.
8. Joint Conference:
TKU is highly interested in co-sponsoring international academic conferences with its sister/partner universities. Each year, TKU sponsors such joint conferences many times.
Future Models of International Cooperation /Partnership:
TKU welcomes all kinds of cooperation with sister /partner universities if such cooperation will benefit both parties. Currently, TKU favors several models, such as joint-degree program, dual-degree program, co-advising program, and has been contacting with some well-known sister universities to explore such possibilities. Hopefully, TKU will be ready for these new models of international cooperation in the near future.
We do believe that the policy on higher education of Taiwan, R.O.C. will be drastically changed after Taiwan joins WTO. Therefore, TKU will work hard and prepare its faculty, staff, and students well for a new era of globalization.