In a recent evaluation of overseas Chinese student guidance services, Tamkang University received an award for excellence. The evaluation was made by the Ministry of Education, which assessed over 100 universities around Taiwan and presented awards to the top three. The awards will distributed at a ceremony held at the National Taiwan Library on Sep 22.

The President of Tamkang University, Dr. Flora Chia-I Chang, said the International and Mainland Student Guidance Section (formerly the Overseas Chinese Student Guidance Section) has always displayed exceptional service and care in looking after overseas Chinese students. Their efforts, she added, have helped to mold these students into a tight knit group that participates in various school activities.

In the 2010-2011 academic year, Tamkang was home to 705 overseas Chinese students. The Section Chief of the International and Mainland Student Guidance Section, Chen Pei-fen, said the Section provides overseas Chinese students with assistance and guidance on matters ranging from study to lifestyle to scholarships and subsidies. Each semester, the Section grants close to NT $500,000 worth of scholarships to overseas Chinese and Mainland students, allowing them to focus on their studies, worry-free, while away from home. It also assists in organizing major events, such as performances by the Malaysian Chinese Lion Dance Group and the Overseas Chinese Cultural Exhibition.

Second year graduate student, Wilbur Huang from Indonesia, has been studying at Tamkang for six years. He said that “the teachers at Tamkang really look after us. It’s just like one large family”.