The flag-giving ceremony for the 2007 school year junior abroad program was held last Thursday (August 9). There are totally 386 participants in this program, including junior undergraduates and graduates, which indicate a crease of 122 students, compared with the statistic of last year (264). This is the highest record, and the first time for junior students in Lanyang campus to join this program.

President C. I. Chang expressed her blessing and expectation for the students at the ceremony. Mr. Mark S. Dieker, official reprehensive of American Institute in Taiwan, Baba Masaki, Director of Taipei Cultural Office, Interchange Association, (Japan), and other national representatives were invited to address to the students. Mr. Lien Yao-chien, one the parents of those students, stated his encouragement and suggestion to all the students and their parents. Former participant, Chang Li-yao (Dept. of English), shared his junior abroad experience, whereas participant Cheng Hsian-yi (Department of Software Engineering, Lanyang Campus) expressed her excitement about the future exploration.

Among those students, 335 are from application, 51 are for exchange students. 126 percipients are from Lanyang campus, including 118 from application, and 8 for exchange. According to statistics, Indiana University in Pennsylvania and Winona State University are the most popular choice for these students. President C. I Chang remarked cheerfully that “When I visited our sister schools, their authorities expressed high recognition for the hardworking and independent spirits of our TKU students, and their remarks strengthened my confidence in the school internationalization policy.” President Chang added that the first flag-giving ceremony was a small activity held at the Alumni Room at Taipei Campus. As the participants in this program increases year by year, the hosting place changes accordingly. Right now, the ceremony has to be held at our grand student activity center, which indicates the great advance in globalization for TKU. In addition, such an ingenious position is the first one in the nation. The new administrative position of Vice President for international Affairs is added this year to facilitate the interactive relations between TKU and her sister universities. Founder Clement Chang, who visits abroad presently, entrusts President Chang to state his expectation for the increase of participants up to 500 in the near future, and his blessing for the students with a safe and fruitful journey in the foreign countries.

Dr. Tai Wang-chin, Vice President for International Affairs stated his good will for the participants, and encouraged them to seize this precious chance to learn foreign cultures and to be an ambassador of our own cultures. He also cautioned them for their personal safety in a foreign land.

Huang Shih-yuan, who will go to Josai University, Japan, expressed that she would make good use this chance to brace her Japanese literacy by immersing in Japanese daily life, culture, and arts. Pan Cheng-chun, (Department of Software Engineering), who will go with dozen of his classmates to California State University, Sacramento, expressed his excitement and expectation to live and learn in a foreign country. ( ~Chen Chi-szu )