Tamkang University President Dr. Chang Horng-jinh instructed at the 85th Administrative Meeting on Feb. 21, 2003, saying that regulations governing subsidies to the priority departments and institutes should be amended and the strategic focal subsidies regulations would replace the established regulations.

That is to say the subsidies will be used on the “important academic research and development” within the budget but no longer be used on the priority department and institute, which will be put into practice year by year from next semester.

The established regulations, which came into effect in 1995, set that only a department, which offers undergraduate, master and doctoral programs, is qualified to apply for the subsidies. The winning department or institute will obtain subsidies for four consecutive years. Therefore, there might be some departments that would continue to obtain the subsidies for many years while those without master and doctoral programs would have no chance to apply for the subsidies.

Chang said that the subsidies should be accompanied by the real effect and those awarded departments should have their exclusive characteristics in academic subject. Therefore, the established regulations should have to change, Chang said.

The amendment of the regulations governing subsidies to the priority departments and institutes has been approved at the 85th Administrative Meeting held on Feb. 21. Under the amended regulations, the department or the institute which has obtained the subsidies should submit annual report to the ad hoc screening committee chaired by Dr. Feng Chao-kang, Vice President for Academic Affairs, for screening.

The committee will suggest TKU President to cancel the subsidies to the department and the institute, if they do not use the money properly on academic purposes and give the subsidies to other department and institute for important academic research. Dr. Feng said that a lot of academic results are achieved by the aid of such subsidy and help upgrade TKU reputation and image since the subsidy regulations came into effect in 1995. In order to meet the current trend, the established regulations would make adjustment, Dr. Feng said.

At present, eight departments and institutes have received subsidies based on the established regulations. But the established regulations will no longer be applicable from the 2003 academic year. Dr. Feng said that he would convene a meeting inviting deans of colleges in the near future to work out the regulations to subsidize the important academic research. The new regulations will be effective in the 2004 academic year, if the Administrative Meeting approve them, Dr. Feng said.

The school authorities will reduce the subsidies of two priority departments or institutes from the 2004 academic year. The subsidies will be changed to use on the important academic research and development instead. At the same time, the school authorities will encourage the department/ institute, which has already obtained the subsidies, to make the best use of it. If the implementation is not satisfactory, the ad hoc committee will suggest TKU President to halt the subsidies, Dr. Feng added.