Tamkang University (TKU) graduates are enterprises’ most favorite and ranked first among all private universities around the nation, according to the results released by a survey conducted by the “Cheers” magazine, the Common Wealth Group, on April 10, 2003.

The same survey showed that TKU won the first place among the private universities around Taiwan for the eighth consecutive years. In terms of all the universities (public and private), TKU ranked eighth, a little fall when compared with the seventh last year.

TKU graduates showed great abilities in communication, coordination and self-expression, which won admiration from the enterprises.

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and National Taiwan University (NTU) were ranked first and second among all the universities around Taiwan, followed by National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), National Tsinghua University (NTHU), and National Chengchi University (NCCU). Although TKU was ranked the eighth among the universities around Taiwan, the total amount of weighted indexes exceeded more than 100 points of Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) was ranked the ninth. TKU even was listed ahead of National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYU), National Central University (NCU) and National Chungshing University (NCSU).

In the industrial-wise, TKU graduates were ranked the fifth and fourth in service and banking industries, respectively and even in the manufacture of high-tech industries, TKU was ranked the eighth but was the first among the private universities.

TKU President Dr. Chang Horng-jinh said that he was satisfied with the performance of TKU graduates among the enterprises, whose outstanding performances deserve commendation, Chang said.

The survey also showed that the graduates of private universities are more flexible, willing to learn and more coordinative than those of public universities, who showed lower pressure resistance, loyalty, coordinative ability, and teamwork spirit. Lee Chi-sheng, member of the Administration Department of Canon Co., Ltd., pointed out that the ability to express oneself and the flexibility of students of TKU and Fu Jen Catholic University are better than those of public universities. In view of international vision and foreign language ability, students of public universities remain better than those of private schools.

At the same time, accompanying the economic recovery, more than 60 percent of employers plan to recruit new comers this year. About 90 percent of employers believed that the quality of undergraduate students was declining year by year. The enrollment rate of the universities for next year will reach up to 110 percent. At present, the bachelors are mainly arranged to do general administrative work while the Masters professional work. Over 41 percent of employers are planning to hire graduates with Master degrees. This indicates that the bachelor degree becomes less popular and real capacity becomes more important than the prestige of school names.

Besides, over 61 percent of employers said that the academic degree is not a guarantee for the employment because competence will be a priority for employment. Many renowned entrepreneurs in Taiwan have had great achievement without having a remarkable academic background.

They have always cited TKU Alumnus Lee Shao-tang, general manager of U.S. Oracle Inc. as an example saying that Lee started his work with bachelor degree and never went abroad for advanced study. He was promoted to the rank of general manager of IBM Group with his strong ambition. The Oracle Inc. invited him to assume the post of General Manager three years ago. This proves that the academic degree is not absolute but ability is key to victory.