Cheers Magazine recently released the results of its annual survey entitled “enterprises’ favorite college graduates”. Out of the 1,000 Taiwanese enterprises surveyed, TKU graduates rated first among all private universities in Taiwan for the 15th consecutive year, and 7th out of all Taiwanese universities, both public and private. Commenting on the achievement, the President of Tamkang University, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, expressed gratitude for the business sector, which has consistently placed its trust in Tamkang graduates. She also encouraged students and alumni to keep in mind the value of lifelong learning and to approach their work with a sense of responsibility.

The survey was based on eight performance indicators, including students’ 1) willingness to learn and ability to adapt; 2) performance under pressure; 3) professional knowledge and skills; 4) teamwork; 5) ability to solve problems; 6) international perspective and foreign language abilities; 7) ability to innovate; and 8) ability to master work-related tasks. In each of these assessment categories, Tamkang placed first among all private universities in Taiwan. Moreover, in a related survey known as the “Graduates' Performance Exceeded our Expectations” poll, Tamkang University graduates again led all other private universities – a testament to Tamkang graduates’ outstanding performance in the workplace.

The surveys also revealed that ‘attitude’ and ‘enthusiasm’ were the key factors considered by employers when selecting personnel. Factors influencing employers' decisions to hire are in fact diverse, as the survey showed, and include graduates’ educational qualifications (to a lesser degree), and their ability to communicate, innovate, and think independently (to a greater degree). Enterprises also place a large emphasis on internship programs, preferring students who possess both academic knowledge and practical workplace experience. Accordingly, the TKU Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Ko Chih-en, recommended that TKU students should “try to make connections with local enterprises as early as possible to gain valuable experience, which they will use upon graduating”.