For an institution to attain continuous operation, it is necessary to maintain constant pursuits of advancement and improvement. Tamkang University has a distinctive culture that is based firmly upon this belief; therefore, it has allowed Tamkang to become a leading institution in academic innovation and development.

Center for Learning and Teaching

With the purposes of improving teaching and enhancing learning outcomes, the Center for Learning and Teaching was inaugurated in August of 2006 in accordance with the Teaching Excellence Project of the Ministry of Education. By integrating the previous Center for Distance Education, Center for Higher Education Research and Evaluation, and Instructional Technology Section, the CLT currently consists of four sections, namely, the Teacher Professional Development Section, the Student Learning Support Section, the Educational Evaluation Section and the Distance Education Development Section. The CLT aims to provide a high quality learning and teaching environment for all students and faculty at Tamkang by incorporating research planning, curriculum design, counseling, evaluations, integration of digital teaching and learning, and distance education.

E-Learning Executive Master's Program in Educational Technology

In 2006, the Ministry of Education (MOE) started the trial projects of E-Learning Executive Master's Programs. 17 programs from 15 universities applied and only three schools' five programs stood out, including TKU's Educational Technology. The goal of this program is to cultivate the profession of educational technology and instructional design. It also provides in-service teachers with opportunities of acquiring academic degrees.

This program was launched in spring of 2007, which offers courses about e-learning theories and application, instructional design, multimedia production, training, project management, etc.. More than half of this program's courses are certified by MOE. This is a blended learning program and most of the interactions among students and teachers are executed through the e-learning platform, with facilitation of an online teaching assistant and on line learning materials.

E-learning Executive Master's Program of Business Administration (EMBA) in Global Chinese Management

The program is the first EMBA program, which is qualified and authorized by The Ministry of Education to deliver the master degree through e-learning (distance learning) mode in Taiwan. The interaction and learning between teachers and students are based on the internet channel, and the face to face classroom teaching may also be arranged when necessary. The responsible teachers will be qualified and chosen from a pool of 200 teachers, which consists of two colleges: Business and Management. The study timeframe in this program is 2~4 years, and the minimum graduate credit is 36(not including thesis).

Wind Engineering Research Center(WERC-TKU)

Established in 1998, on the solid foundation of the previous Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory, the Wind Engineering Research Center at Tamkang University (WREC-TKU) is the leading wind engineering research institute in Taiwan. The goal of WERC-TKU is aiming to pursue academic excellence and provide solutions to engineering practices as well. Our research team covers a wide range of varieties in the field of wind engineering, such as tall building aerodynamics, cable supported bridges, large span roof structures, mitigation of wind-induced vibration, indoor and urban ventilation, wind tunnel testing, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, full scale monitoring, Information Technology (IT) applications and wind code developing. Over the past decade, we have strengthened the center academically by conducting the academic activities including numerous integrated research projects for government agencies such as National Science Council (NSC) and Architecture and Building Research Institute (ABRI) and several international conferences, workshops and seminars. On the engineering practice side, besides a great number of wind tunnel tests for pedestrian comfort evaluation and design wind load, we have developed a user-friendly expert system for the current Taiwan building wind code. This free-of-charge wind code expert system has been opened to use and received excellent assessments by many design practitioners. The long term milestone of the center is to become a world renowned wind engineering research institute and a first class wind engineering solution provider for the local wind engineering community.

Energy and Photovoltaic Materials Research Center (EPMR Center)

The Energy and Photovoltaic Materials Research Center, established in 2007, is composed of the specialties in Chemical Engineering and Materials Engineering. The research is focused on the applications of renewable energy resources and the development of new photovoltaic materials, including the performance improvement of solar collection devices and the development of organic photovoltaic cell and special photovoltaic materials. The research outcomes can contribute to the progress of energy technologies, energy-related systems, such as solar collectors, photovoltaic/thermal hybrid solar systems, and fuel cells.

Center for Water Resources Management and Policy Research

Established in 1999, the Center for Water Resources Management and Policy Research serves as a consulting institute to the government. In order to provide the government, industry and the general public with accurate policies, strategies and knowledge on water resources, in addition to collecting information on water resources, the Center has also consulted experts in areas of social studies, economics, political sciences and law. Since its establishment, the Center has been appointed by the National Science Council, the Council of Agriculture, and the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs to conduct hundreds of research projects. In 2001, an evaluation conducted by the Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that Tamkang's Center for Water Resources Management and Policy Research won the "first place" among its eight affiliated research centers.

Center for Tibetan Studies

Internationalization, humanitarianism and politics constitute the three main features of the Center for Tibetan Studies. In accordance with Tamkang Globalization and Future-oriented Education objectives, and as a response to the concern of His Holiness Dalai Lama to promote Tibetan Studies in academic institutions in Taiwan, in August of 2005, Tamkang set up the Center for Tibetan Studies, which is the first academic unit on Tibetan issues in all the universities in Taiwan. The Center focuses mainly on religion, history, and linguistics studies, and conducts both academic and applied research. The academic research aims to explore aspects of the Tibetan history, religion, language; and the applied research aims to examine the application of the Tibetan language worldwide. The Center organizes symposiums, colloquia and lectures regularly with invited scholars and experts to discuss topics in religion, arts and folklores. The Center also holds Tibetan arts exhibitions, prayer and blessing sessions and book clubs to stay current in Tibetan studies.

Center for the Culture of Chinese Liquor

In order to have a better understanding of the history and culture of Chinese liquor, and its relations to politics, economics, societies, military affairs, technology, arts and humanities, Tamkang established the Center for the Culture of Chinese Liquor in November, 2003. The Center's collection includes liquor bottles and containers of historical values. The number of collectibles has reached 3,000 and is still growing. Moreover, the Center hosts liquor tasting every season. The Center has also constructed a "Digital Museum of Chinese Liquor" website providing pictures, information, forum, news, history and search function of well-known Chinese liquor. The Center's exhibition has always attracted large groups of viewers and media, and has also become a distinguished feature of Tamkang.

Research Office of Popular Novels

In 1995, Tamkang established a Research Office of Popular Novels to promote the research and development of the Chinese Wuxia Novels from the literary, social and cultural aspects. The Office has also set up a "Chinese Wuxia Literature" website for readers to search and exchange information on Wuxia Novels. After years of collecting and organizing, the Office currently has 15,000 books, making it the world's most complete library of popular Wuxia Novels. Moreover, the International Conference on Jing Yong Wuxia Novels, held by the Office in 2005, has brought great appeal to the academic community.

Center of Resources for the Blind

With the belief of a non-discrimination education, Dr. Clement C.P. Chang, founder of Tamkang University, unprecedentedly recruited visually impaired students into the Department of Chinese in 1969. With the guideline and support from the Ministry of Education, Tamkang has since been dedicated to the research and development of adaptive computer systems for the visually impaired; from the hardware of the "Braille Touch Screen" and the "Intelligent Sound Synthesizer," to the software of the "Instant Chinese Braille Two-Way Translator" and "Book-without-Words Input Method," as well as applications of "Training of Adaptive Computer Systems for the Visually Impaired," "Construction and Maintenance of the Website for the Visually Impaired," "Chinese-based E-Library for the Visually Impaired," "Counseling Service," and "Learning Assistance Center for Visually Impaired College Students." With these developments, the visually impaired students will be able to read, write and surf the Internet by using the adaptive computer systems. The technology not only helps them in learning, but also sets a foundation for their future employment opportunities. Currently, Tamkang has 170 mentally/physically impaired students throughout different colleges.

Master's Program in Robotics Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering

Since 2000, Tamkang has been conducting the robot-soccer research project and participating in tournaments nationally and internationally with outstanding results. The Lab has since developed small RoboSot (robot-soccer), medium RoboSot, and HuroSot (humanoid robot). The Lab's first generation medium RoboSot won first place at the 2003°B2006°B2007 FIRA Robot Soccer World Cup. On the basis of the previous excellent performance, the Master's Program in Robotics Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering was founded in 2007. "Intelligent Evolution" and "Embedded Systems" are the two main categories of the Institute of Robotics Engineering. The main topic is how to combine the domain knowledge of artificial intelligence, evolution computation, sensor technology, image process, wireless communication, human machine interface, mobile platform, system chips, embedded systems, mechatronics, and robotics to design intelligent robots. In the future, Tamkang will place its focus on more challenging medium RoboSot and HuroSot, and eventually, apply the technique and technology to the development of other robots in the industry.

Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center

In the year 2000 on the fiftieth anniversary of Tamkang, the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center of Tamkang University was established, named after Madame Carrie Chang, the former head of the Board of Trustees. In order to build up musical education and raise the environment and standard of music appreciation on campus, the university established the Carrie Chang Music Hall on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the school, November 11, 2002. The Research Office of Chinese Calligraphy is the only institution among all the colleges and universities nationwide that has been established to research calligraphy. It actively promotes various activities to popularize calligraphy, to establish overseas exchanges, and to develop research into the instruction of calligraphy. The Maritime Museum has a collection of more than sixty model ships from fifteen countries, ranging from the 15th ~17th century ships to futuristic superconductor-powered vessels. Tamkang University set up the objective to elevate the level of the environment of artistic education, increase artistic appreciation and interest by means of exhibitions, performances, instruction, promotion, collection, etc., and to carry out exchanges among teachers, students, society, and the international community, with the hope of achieving an integration of art and education, and of the campus and the community.

The Bronze Sculpture of the Five Tigers

"The Five-tiger Hill" is the permanent location of our Tamsui Campus. The range of Mt. Tatuen wriggles downward up to the Hu-tou Shan (Mt. Tiger's Head), which separates into five ridges. Our university is situated on the fourth ridge. The bronze sculpture depicting five tigers embracing one another is the work by Wang Shiu-chi and stands in front of the Shao-mo Memorial Gymnasium. Representing Tamkangians' "Hu Hu Shen Fong" (meaning "vitality"), vigorous body, and the spirit of bravery. On the pillar-base of the monument is Founder Clement C.P. Chang's essay: "The Five-tiger Hill: A Sketch."

Tamkang Golden Eagle

The Tamkang Golden Eagle Award for the Tamkang elites was initiated in 1987. by two former chairmen of the Board of Trustees of Tamkang University: Dr. Clement C.P. Chang and Mr. Lin Tien-fu. The Award is the highest honor of the university; it is set up to glorify Tamkangians that have made a great contribution to the country, rendered useful services to society, created welfare for humankind, and given something back to their alma mater. The Award is in the form of a golden eagle spreading its wings, symbolizing Tamkangians, like a flying eagle in the sky, majestically overlooking the earth below.

The members of the Golden Eagle Association have recently shaped a golden eagle bronze statue in order to show their gratitude to and pay back the alma mater. The statue will be set up in the Fu Yuan Garden on the Tamsui Campus to encourage the students and allow them and visitors alike to view and appreciate it.

Lucky Dolphins Milestone Statue

Situated in the roundabout at the top end of the Lantern Road is the work by a well-known contemporary sculptor Wang Shiu-chi. The dolphins were chosen as an auspicious symbol of our university as the result of a poll of students from all our campuses. Dolphins are the most agile and smartest mammals in the ocean; they are endowed with surprising innate ability to swim across the four seas. Engraved on the pillar-base of the milestone are four lines of phrases that Founder Clement C.P. Chang often quote to encourage Tamkangians: "Let's establish a firm foothold at Tamkang University/ Hold the whole world in view/Grasp the latest information/and create a bright future."

Total Quality Management (TQM) Applied To Teaching Quality Assurance

In order to achieve continuous improvement of the school's teaching quality and enhance students' core competencies before entering the job market, our school begins the trial program of "TQM applied to teaching quality assurance" in the academic year 2007 and will launch the project officially in the academic year 2008. The management system is developed by the major axes as missions of meeting the requirements of our country and society, controlling the trends of the job market and accomplishing the expectation of alumni and parents to attain the objectives of enhancing students' satisfaction, teaching quality, administrative efficiency, etc.; it is structured by way of the PDCA cycle to scheme the entire system. It is first to establish the teaching objectives, determine the professional core competencies achieving these objectives and set up the evaluation pointers of the professional core competencies; then followed by designing courses, providing education resources, learning and teaching; finalized by evaluating the pros and cons, which are references as well to improve the system, through performance evaluation, assessment, questionnaire, investigation on job-hunting intention of fresh graduates, survey of graduates' employment, the situation of students taking certificate exams, and the result of accreditation/evaluation of each department/graduate institute. Relying upon the horizontal connection and integration between each department/graduate institute/college and administrative units, the "TQM applied to teaching quality assurance" mechanism is able to work. In addition to continuously improving the teaching quality and performance to satisfy the customers'/students' needs, the TQM system can also help the departments/graduate institutes/colleges attain better scores in various performance reviews.

The Tamkang Quality Award

The Tamkang Quality Award is presented in order to achieve a comprehensive management approach to quality. This award is given to academic units or departments which have performed effectively. The aim of this award is to recognize colleagues who have implemented comprehensive management on equality, and encourage contributions to research, promotion, and implementation of quality management. Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center has been selected to receive the award of NT$150,000 for the 2006 academic year.

e-Calligraphy System

In a cross-disciplinary research development, Tamkang has changed the writing method of the traditional calligraphy by developing an e-Calligraphy system that allows calligraphy writing without the four treasures in the study, namely, paper, writing brushes, ink stones and ink sticks. With an "e-brush," users of the system can write on a digital writing board with different size and thickness strokes. The system is compatible with Power Point presentation, video, audio recording and other multimedia functions. It can also be used for instructional purposes such as assisting instructors in arithmetical or grammatical analyses, explanations and corrections.