At 10am on Saturday, 15th June, the 2013 Tamkang University Commencement Ceremony was held at the TKU Shao-Mo Memorial Gymnasium, Tamsui Campus. The theme of this year’s Commencement was “Moral and Integrity: the Pride of Tamkang University”.

The graduation activities began at 9am, when students followed their teachers on a final lap around the campus, visiting symbolic sites, such as the memorial library, Ching Sheng Memorial Building, the TKU Maritime Museum, and the Fu Yuan Gardens, before heading to the Memorial Gymnasium for the ceremony proper. Upon arriving at the gymnasium, the graduating students were greeted by the President of Tamkang University, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, as well as the deans, chairs, and faculty of each academic college.

The ceremony was hosted by President Chang, and attended by various social figures, such as the Mayor of New Taipei City, Eric Chu, the Tuvalu Ambassador to the ROC, Minute Alapati Taupo (and spouse), and the Swaziland Ambassador to the ROC, H.E. Mrs. Njabuliso B. Gwebu. During the ceremony, President Chang delivered a speech in which she congratulated the students on their achievements over the past four years, and wished them success in their future careers. She also touched on Tamkang’s Three Circles and Five Disciplines of Education’, which refers to the structure of education adopted by Tamkang University.

The ‘Three Circles’ corresponds to three kinds of courses: professional, core and extracurricular, while 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.