In order to implement the total quality management (TQM), Tamkang University (TKU) will set up a “Tamkang Quality Award (TQA)” which is expected to begin from the 2004 academic year.

TKU President Chang Horng-jinh said that this was a very good idea but needed practical regulations to accomplish it. An ad hoc committee will be organized to work out the relative regulations. Vice President for Administrative Affairs, Dr. Flora C. I. Chang will be the convener.

The proposed “TQA” will be carried out in accordance with national quality award (NQA) with the aim of encouraging all the TKU faculty and staff to fulfill an overall quality management so as to upgrade the quality of education and services to build a good image for the organization.

Chang made the remarks while presiding over the first meeting of the Educational Quality Control Committee for the 2002 Academic Year on Dec. 18. During the meeting, the Division of Educational Quality Management, Educational Development Center (EDC) proposed that a “TQA” should be set up to encourage those who have a good performance in carrying out the total quality management (TQM). The award will be divided into two categories—individual and group. Certificates and prize money will be conferred. One group and three individuals will be selected for their outstanding performance in carrying out the TQM. Winners of group and individual will receive NT$150,000 and NT$100,000 cash award respectively, and will be cited at the yearend recreational party. An ad hoc committee will be set up next semester to execute the screening and preparatory work. It will become operational in the 2004 academic year.

Dr. Flora C.I. Chang, Vice President for Administrative Affairs, said, “we had already proposed such an idea at the TQM meeting in the 1998 academic year and the promotion of TQM movement in TKU will reach its tenth year in 2004. Those who perform well in executing the quality control deserve the prize.” Lo Yun-chih, Director, Personnel Office, hoped that the current regulations for selecting outstanding faculty and staff members would be integrated into the proposed award. Hung Chin-jen, Dean of General Affairs, hoped that the reward would also include those blue-collar workers who cover more than one-fourth of the TKU total faculty and staff members.