Each year, at the start of the new academic year, senior staff lead newly-arrived TKU freshmen through a unique Tamkang ritual. They lead them up the 132-step slope known as the “slope of overcoming difficulty”; a slope that connects Tamkang to Central Tamsui and was once the only path to TKU.

The ritual has a deeper meaning. The steep slope symbolizes adversity. By scaling the slope together, TKU hopes to instill in students the importance of perseverance and teamwork. Therefore, on the mornings of September 6th and 7th, the President of TKU, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, led new TKU students up the “slope of overcoming difficulty”. There were also orientation activities and lectures organized to help Tamkang freshmen feel more at home. Activities included performances by student dance clubs and the Tae Kwon Do Club.

During the orientation, President Chang delivered an opening speech in which she welcomed new freshmen to the large Tamkang family. She explained Tamkang’s mission: helping students develop the skills and abilities required to attain future success. To do this, TKU provides students with an education focused on globalization, information technology, and a view to the future.