TKU is to add another sister university, which will be the 80th, to the long list of its worldwide affiliations. This latest addition, the dignitaries of Akita International University (AIU) of Japan, led by Dr. Mineo Nakajima, its president, will arrive tomorrow, March 2nd, for a visit and a signing of academic exchange agreement. Their arrival symbolizes a significant step TKU has made towards its goal of globalization.

Dr. Nakajima is accompanied by Mr. Nakatsu Masaki, his personal assistant and Dr. Chang Su-ling, a professor teaching at AIU. Mr. Nakatsu Masaki is to arrive today to be briefed by TKU faculty in advance. He will attend the briefing at 2 p.m. given by Chen Ting-ko, the Dean of Tamkang’s College of Management in Rm. L522, followed by meetings with various departmental chairs. At 4 p.m., he will be at the presentation on details of applying to study at AIU at the Ching Sheng International Conference Hall. At the same venue, Dr. Nakajima will officially seal the sisterhood with Dr. Flora Chang, TKU president, at a signing ceremony at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.

The seed of this sister tie was planted last Fall when Feng Chao-kang, the vice president of Academic Affairs and his entourage that included Chen Hwei-mei, the Director of the Office of International Exchanges and International Education visited AIU. Both parties expressed then a great desire of forming a deep connection after TKU’s delegates had been impressed by AIU’s all English-instructed lectures, which mirror Lanyang’s policy. Furthermore, AIU is also one of Winona State University of the US, another TKU’s sister partner, sister university. Such an unusually connection will certainly stimulate some meaningful and interesting tri-lateral cooperation in the future. (Ying-hsueh Hu )