In conjunction with the celebration of the 45th founding anniversary of the Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University (TKU), TKU Chemistry Departmental Alumni Association (TKUCDAA) held a series of colorful celebration activities.

The establishment of the Association’s Donguan Chapter in February 2003 climaxed the celebration activities. The Association’s Shanghai Chapter will be set up in November.

Tung Kuo-chang, President of the TKUCDAA, said that the graduates of the Chemistry Department have built a “powerful TKU Chemistry group” scattering throughout Taiwan industrial circle since the first graduate of the department stepped into the society fifty-one years ago. During the past 50 more years, alumni or alumna who graduated in early days have rendered their assistance to their younger schoolmates. They have shaped up a good mutual and interactive organization, Tung said. Meanwhile, with the local industry ‘stepping’ toward the west, Mainland China, members of TK Chemistry Group would not be absent from the trend, Tung said, adding that the TKUCDAA with 1,649 members registered would do their best to feed back the Chemistry Department of their alma mater.

Tseng Jung-hua, Secretary General of TKUCDAA, pointed out that the number of TKUCDAA members working or investing in Mainland China has reached a total of 216. TKUCDAA took the opportunity of their returning to Taiwan for Chinese Lunar New year to gather together at a dinner party on Feb. 6, 2003. During the gathering, Donguan Chapter, TKYCDAA was formally set up and elected Chuang Wei-yen, Chairperson of Baoda Co., Ltd., in Donguan, as President of TKUCDAA’s Donguan Chapter. Chuang, a graduate of the 10th class of Department of Chemistry, who is also Vice President of the Chamber of Taiwanese Businessmen Association in Guandong, said that the Chapter has projected to hold four gatherings every year and is planning to set up business strategic alliance among TKUCDAA members and local business or industry in Mainland China and to build a communicable bridge between enterprises across the Taiwan Strait.

Other important cadres of the Chapter include Lin Sui-lai, Chairperson of Yushengtai Co. Ltd. in Fujian; Lee Shih-hsing, Chairperson of Chinlibao Co., Ltd. in Jungshan, Guantung; Yu Chen-ming, Chairperson of Leader Painting Co., Ltd. in Huangjiang, Guandong; and Liu Huan-chang, General Manager of Hungho Electronic Co., Ltd. of China Glory Group.

Tseng said that TKUCDAA is now on the track. The association will work out a working outline for next year in every December. The activities projected for this year include members of TKUCDAA on Mainland coming back to Taiwan in February, sponsoring biotech or electronic forum in April, holding a scientific technology camp for children of members of TKUCDAA in July, and giving an orientation with freshmen and their parents in October. In addition, TKUCDAA will send inquiry to its members requiring them to provide job opportunities for graduates-to-be in March and application forms filled by graduates-to-be will be received by TKUCDAA in May. TKUCDAA has also supported Departmental Chemistry Association to make field visit to enterprises with the hope that all the departmental graduates are guaranteed to be directly employed after graduating from school.

TKUCDAA has chosen 660 outstanding alumni among the 1,649 registered members and has published the name list on the departmental journal, which will be a great help for seniors when job hunting.