In 2018 Taiwan University Rankings, TCU is Fourth in Percentage of International Students

Text: Jia-Yi Lee, Alice Wang
Translation: J.B. Willis, Steve J. Lin

Global Views Monthly recently released its 2018 Taiwan University Rankings. TCU was ranked sixth among medical universities, and ninth among private universities. Compared to other Taiwanese universities, TCU is fourth in percentage of international students, and twelfth in teaching performance. TCU has once again proved its outstanding educational quality.

Global Views Monthly commented that there is a big disparity between eastern Taiwan and western Taiwan, especially in higher education. Tzu Chi University isn’t located in populous western Taiwan, yet it has outgrown its limitations, and furthermore, its achievements have surpassed many universities in western Taiwan.

TCU’s President Pen-Jung Wang pointed out: “Compared to other Taiwanese universities, our freshmen may not be the best, but they outshine the students of other universities, when they are ready to graduate.” Two TCU students were first in the 2016 National Licensing Examination of Physical Therapist and Medical Laboratory Scientist, respectively. Chinese Medicine students also did very well in the National Licensing Examination of Chinese Medicine Practitioner; all students passed the exam in 2016; moreover, two students were in first place in the 2017 Phase I Exam and 2018 Phase II Exam, correspondingly. TCU pioneered an operation simulation to teach anatomy, which enables students to acquire skills and knowledge from their Silent Mentors, and furthermore, the spirit of unselfish giving. The Silent Mentor Program has attracted many faculty members around the world to come to TCU, to gain firsthand experience regarding how TCU implements this unique way in teaching anatomy.

TCU’s student population is over 3,000, and among them, 10.6% are international students. This is a big increase, from only 3% in 2012-2013. In terms of nationality, Malaysia is number one. To many Taiwanese students, Hualien is located far away from populous western Taiwan. Yet, in the eyes of these international students, Hualien is the right place for preparing themselves to connect with the world. Because of the presence of these international students, Taiwanese students have been inspired to enlarge their global perspective, and enhanced their international mobility.

TCU’s two campuses are located in eastern Taiwan. Fortunately, TCU is associated with Tzu Chi Foundation, which has abundant global resources. Tzu Chi Foundation has offices and daily operations around the world, so TCU graduates are in high demand, and many TCU alumni are working for Tzu Chi affiliates around the world. To well-prepare its students, TCU provides grants to let students take part in various international competitions, join international exchanges or overseas service-learning opportunities. One in ten students has received a TCU grant to go overseas. Yong Yee Siang is from Malaysia, and Sailent Simaremare is from Indonesia. Both of them went to the UN in 2017 for their internships. They stayed at the UN for seven weeks, and while there, they became acquainted with many young men and women from other parts of the world, and learned how they could work together for the betterment of this world. Tzu Chi Foundation is highly regarded globally, and thus TCU students have more opportunities to participate in many activities associated with various renowned international organizations.

TCU treasures its students, and hence provides plentiful learning resources for them. Thailand’s Mahidol University Hospitals offers scholarships for Thailand’s high school graduates to study at TCU, and after completing their undergraduate programs, they are required to go back to Thailand and serve there. A student from Thailand, Takhum Chonlatee, graduated from TCU in 2018. He wished to apply Tzu Chi’s humanistic culture and advanced healthcare practices at his workplace in Thailand.

Global Views Monthly’s 2018 Taiwan University Rankings are based on 34 key indicators, and TCU did very well in several of them. TCU is fifth in student/faculty ratio, eighth in school expenditures per student, fifth in annual increments of school expenditures, and twelfth in teaching performance.

TCU equips its students with skills, knowledge and humanistic culture, to assist them to excel in the workplace, prepare for advanced studies, or pass various licensing exams. TCU also offers various scholarships or financial aid to help the underprivileged complete their desired education.