84 Sister Universities in 25 Countries

Since establishing the relationship with Chuo Gakuin University of Japan in 1968, TKU has had academic cooperation agreement with 82 universities distributed over 24 countries, which include University of Oxford, Universite De Paris, University of Illinois, and the University of Maryland. This year, during the 55th TKU anniversary, Kagoshima University of Japan and Technological University of Panama has signed with us to become our 83rd and 84th sister universities.

There are 29 sister universities from Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, Philippine, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and 6 from American countries, including U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and Panama, 11 from European countries, including U.K., Sweden, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, Russia, and Poland, 2 from Oceania countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and 1 in Malawi, Africa.

Double-Degree Program to Benefit Students

TKU actively promotes Double-Degree Program with sister universities, which can not only help TKU students enhance their language ability, but also enrich their experience and knowledge. Moreover, double-degree diploma is a very useful tool to increase students’ competitiveness in professional field. At present, TKU signs the Double-Degree Program with Universite of Jean Moulin, Lyon 3, France, and Universite De Paris-Sorbonne, France. Teng Chia-chun, a M.A. student from Dept. of French, has graduated this year with her thesis on the image of Asian men in Marqurite Duras’ novel L'Amant (The Lover), and becomes the first student to get two Master degrees at the same time (Tamkang and Universite of Jean Moulin Lyon 3, France respectively). Right now, Lin Chi-ping, Liao Chien-yi, and Chuang Ya-hui, the three other M.A. students of Dept. of French, are also going to Universite of Jean Moulin, Lyon 3, for the Double-Degree Program.

International Exchanges to Enhance Competitiveness

Since Office of International Exchanges and International Education has established, 228 persons including undergraduates, M.A. and Ph.D. students have studied abroad for 1 year at 29 universities distributed over 12 countries respectively. Moreover, the junior students at Lanyang Campus are scheduled to study abroad for 1 year. It is expected that the goal of 500 TKU students studying at sister universities per year could be achieved in resent years. In the 2005 academic year, there are 54 TKU students being exchanged to study in sister universities. Most of whom are going to France, Germany, and Japan. On the other hand, more than 100 foreign students come to study at TKU. Apart from offering the scholarship, TKU also provides many consultations including visa and health insurance problems as well as life and course information. In addition, TKU will hold different kinds of activities at some traditional Chinese Festivals like Zhongzi Party at Dragon-Boat Festival, Rice-Ball Party at Lantern Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival Party. Many field trips like trip to Lukang and to Yingko may make foreign exchanged students understand more about Taiwanese local cultures. All these indicate that TKU not only actively enhances the international competitiveness but also tries to inform the foreign exchanged students with Taiwanese local cultures.

Dr. Chen Hwei-mei, Director of Office of International Exchanges and International Education, expresses that TKU will spare no efforts to promote Double-Degree Program with sister universities, to recruit internationally known universities to be TKU’s sister universities, and to take good care of exchanged students more zealously. TKU will not only improve the learning environment for foreign exchanged students, but also better the foreign environment for TKU students studying abroad. (~ Shu-chun Yen )