The Ministry of Education recently announced the subsidy totals they will be distributing to a select group of Taiwanese Universities in 2011 as part of the Teaching Excellence Project. In 2011, Tamkang University will receive subsidy stipends amounting to NT $45.1 million. This represents an increase of NT $21.1 million from last year’s total.

The TKU Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Gwo-hsing Yu, explained that under the Teaching Excellence Project, TKU will continue to improve on the foundation already established in the 2009 / 2010 academic years. Meanwhile, the TKU president, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, proposed 7 new policy objectives, including compulsory TKU club and society courses, and a mid-term evaluation system, among others.

This year, efforts related to the Teaching Excellence Project will be channeled into four main areas: teachers, students, courses of study, and emphasizing unique TKU features. Vice President Yu said that as part of the Teaching Excellence Project, one TKU college will be chosen as a model for change. It will implement the proposed reforms, which will afford an insight into the resources needed and possible challenges faced in applying such policy changes. A review of the reforms will be conducted, and then in the second year of the project, after making the appropriate revisions based on its performance in the first year, it will be implemented on a comprehensive, school-wide basis.

The Office of Teaching Excellence Executive Secretary, Dr. Pai Di-ching, noted that in the past, the funds ascribed to TKU under the Teaching Excellence Project have helped Tamkang develop its teaching system and build various new facilities. In the coming year, Tamkang will build a set of small teaching labs and a career navigation platform; and it will renovate its language practice classrooms, and its computer labs and other classrooms, to enhance the quality of the learning environment afforded Tamkang students.