【Reported by Shi-qing Huang, Tamkang Times】There is no shortage of convenient stores in Taiwan from 7-11, Family Mart and many other varieties. In fact, you can’t walk 5 minutes in any direction, without running into convenient store in Taipei city. They offer a wide range of services aside from from groceries including reserving tickets, travel services and allowing us to pay for our monthly bills. On December 4th TKU and the Ministry of Interior held a press conference for the Promotion of the Citizen Digital Certificate, or smart cards for purchasing convenience.

Currently students can take a look at their grades report at campus vending machines and online, but there are limitations because students need a bank account to make an online purchase or come to campus to find a vending machine. TKU is now cooperating with 7-11 so that students can use smart cards at the ibon machines so that they can purchase their grade reports even more easily. The combining of the Citizen Digital Certificate with the ibon service, is a safe and effective way to view grades anytime while staying close to home.

Chief Information Officer, Chin-hwa Kuo, expressed, “In the near future, the university’s automation system will include administration, education, and work services that will be both safe and efficient for the transference of data. It is my vision to continue to improve upon the efficiency of our services, making everything more efficient as we continue to form an information-oriented and future-oriented university. The Citizen Digital Certificate has many uses that can be modified and soon everyone can have an efficient electronic lifestyle.”