President Chang has invited numerous Chairs of Departments of TKU to visit its sister universities in Russian, Japan and Europe this year, resulting in some impressive academic achievements. In this regard, President Chang encouraged all Deans and Chairs of TKU’s colleges to continue with their efforts in establishing future international exchanges with at least one overseas university in his address to the “Review Meeting of International Exchange and International Education” held on last Wednesday, Nov. 26 at the Chueh-sheng International Conference Hall.

Along with President Chang, two Vice Presidents, Dean of Academic Affairs as well as Deans and Chairs of Departments from all colleges were also present. Specifically, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Feng Chao-kang, Director of the Office of International Exchanges and International Education (OIEIE), Lily Hui-mei Chen, Director of the Graduate Institute of European Studies, Chiu Da-rouin and several others, who had visited TKU’s sister universities this year, gave a synopsis of their trips, from which they have learned a great deal. Yet, more importantly, they took the opportunity to invite several well-known scholars to visit TKU and give lectures in the future.

President Chang stated that there were 71 internationally well-known universities, which had sister ties with TKU. Among them, four universities such as Universite of Jean Moulin Lyon 3, France, the University of Electro-Communications, Japan, Curtin University of Technology, Australia, and Far-Eastern National University, Russian are now under negotiation with TKU for a bi-lateral credit/degree system. With all these universities, there have been exchange students both for shorter and longer periods and exchanges of international conferences, which have all yielded impressive results. However, he believes when each College Dean or Department Chair plans future exchange programs or projects based on his or her institute’s individual needs, the beneficial impact on faculty and students will be even greater.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs discussed his findings concerning his trip to some relevant universities and research institutes in Russia. He was accompanied by several other delegates from TKU, and they visited three students from TKU’s Department of Russian who are studying at St. Petersburg State University, a TKU’s sister university. He considered their trip a success as some concrete plans for future cooperation and exchange with those institutes were negotiated.

Finally, Lily Hui-mei Chen, Director of OIEIE suggested that apart from the usual exchange programs, the TKU international lecture series, and discussions of a bi-lateral credit system and dual degrees, TKU should also expand its English program so as to encourage students to learn more, and thus participate in proficiency tests. This, in turn, will increase their chances of applying for exchange programs abroad. In her opinion, this is fundamentally important in promoting exchanges with overseas universities. Furthermore, she believes that part of true globalization is to raise the university’s academic profile abroad and provide appropriate assistance and care to foreign and exchange students at our university.