The 2008 TKU Seminar on Instructional and Administrative Reforms took place on Oct 17. Its main theme was “Quality Enhancement: Reaching the Peak through Striving for the National Quality Award and the Passes of Evaluations of Departments and Institutes,” discussing how to achieve the ideal effects of the evaluations of departments and institutes by making good use of administrative resources. President Flora Chia-I Chang said that at this moment we all might have a heavy heart, as we did not win the National Quality Award last year and the Teaching Excellence Grants this year. But we should make persistent efforts, work hard and hope all departments and institutes pass the evaluations by the Ministry of Education. Besides, President Chang urged all participants to face challenges, self-examine, improve and have a new start while showing an extract from the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance.

TKU has had 42 similar seminars before, and the Seminar on Instructional and Administrative Reforms this year emphasized on achieving the ideal effects of the evaluations of departments and institutes. There were about 200 participants including TKU Founder, Clement C. P. Chang, President Flora Chia-I Chang, Vice President for Academic Affairs Kan-nan Chen, Vice President for Administrative Affairs Po-yuan Kao, deans of all colleges, chairs of all departments, faculty representatives and administrative directors. Founder Clement C. P. Chang emphasized that this seminar was extremely important, and it would discuss the death and life of any department and institute and the future development of TKU. If any department or institute were on the observing list without passing the Ministry evaluations, it would be forced to stop enrolling students. The director of the Center for Leaning and Teaching, Hsin-yih Shyu suggested the theme of “Dam Hai Ton Chou” by showing some self-made cartoons, implying that in the same boat all should strive in one mind and one will for the National Quality Award and the pass of all evaluations of departments and institutes.

Among the six special reports, Vice President for Academic Affairs Kan-nan Chen’s topic was “Achieving the Ideal Effects of the Evaluations of Departments and Institutes by Highlighting the Characteristics of TKU.” He believed that the evaluations would center on students’ studies and on showing the unique characteristics of the departments and institutes in accordance with TKU management policies. Po-yuan Kao’s topic was “Raising the Evaluation Effects by Making Good Use of Administrative Resources.” He pointed out that administrative offices should be alert and reform, turning the passive attitude into the active one, turning single unit strength into the unified whole, changing the monologue into the dialog, turning efficiency into substantive benefits. He also welcomed the personnel of academic units to visit the administrative units.

In addition, the Dean of Academic Affairs Huan-chao Keh promised that his office could provide information about evaluation references and standards to departments and institutes for their references. For example, the rate between the admission and the enrollment of the freshmen, courses offered in foreign languages, the statistics of the graduate students supervised by professors, etc. Giving the necessary time for handling, departments and institutes could apply for all these references for their needs. The Dean of Student Affairs, Ding-an Chiang pointed out that his office could provide seven kinds of resources including the undergraduate supervisor system, personal and carrier planning, scholarships and bursaries. It could also provide related statistics data to departments for their evaluation need. The Dean of the General Affairs, Hoang-ell Jeng explained that his office could provide needed space and comfortable environment arrangements as well as other supports during the evaluation time. There would be more than 200 Evaluation Committee members coming to TKU, and the Office of General Affairs would help provide a suitable place to receive them. Moreover the Office also suggested that all signs of evaluation routes and places be well-planned in advance and it would help out with any occurring problems concerning routes. Further, Tamkang Times Director & Editor-in-Chief, Yu-pei Ma confirmed that Tamkang Times would help departments and institutes to propagate or publicize the evaluations. She also explained that Tamkang Times’ special edition about the wild card effect guided by the Founder Clement C. P Chang last year would be helpful for departments and institutes to show their achievements for the evaluations. ( ~Dean X. Wang )