Aletheia University is a university in Tamsui, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

 founded by George Leslie Mackay

George Leslie Mackay

George Leslie Mackay was the first Presbyterian missionary to northern Formosa . He served with the Canadian Presbyterian Mission. Mackay is among the best known Westerners to have lived in Taiwan.-Early life:...

 as the Tamsui Oxford (University) College. It has close links to the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan was planted in Taiwan in the 19th century by Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell Snr of the Presbyterian Church of England and Dr George Leslie Mackay of the Presbyterian Church in Canada....

, and is the oldest institution of higher learning in Taiwan.

History

Dr. George Leslie Mackay

George Leslie Mackay

George Leslie Mackay was the first Presbyterian missionary to northern Formosa . He served with the Canadian Presbyterian Mission. Mackay is among the best known Westerners to have lived in Taiwan.-Early life:...

, a missionary from the Canada Presbyterian Church (predecessor of The Presbyterian Church in Canada

Presbyterian Church in Canada

The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...

), accomplished remarkable work in evangelism, education, publishing and medicine after arriving in Tamsui in 1872. Soon after arriving Mackay chose a piece of land on a hilltop in the Pao-tai-pu area of Tamsui, planned the design of the main building and personally supervised its construction. When the building, funded in large part by contributions from the residents of Oxford County

Oxford County, Ontario

Oxford County is a regional municipality and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Southern portion of the province. The regional seat is in Woodstock...

 in Ontario, Canada, was completed in 1882, he named the school Oxford College as a gesture of thanks to its benefactors. The original Chinese name of the school meant “The Hall of Reason of the University.” The original curriculum

Curriculum

See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...

 included courses in theology

Theology

Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

, Bible studies

Bible study (Christian)

In Christianity, Bible study is the study of the Bible by ordinary people as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Some denominations may call this devotion or devotional acts; however in other denominations devotion has other meanings...

 and reason

Reason

Reason is a term that refers to the capacity human beings have to make sense of things, to establish and verify facts, and to change or justify practices, institutions, and beliefs. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, ...

 as well as sociology

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...

, logic

Logic

In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...

, Classical Chinese literature, Chinese history, the natural sciences and general courses in medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

, anatomy

Anatomy

Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...

, and clinical practice. The school marked the beginning of general education curricula in Taiwan and is today Taiwan's oldest institution of higher learning.

Since 1994 the school has operated as a four-year independent college. Initially designated Tamsui Oxford University College, the school opened a branch campus in Matou, Tainan County in 1996 offering two-year and four-year college education.

The school has borne the name Aletheia University, after the Greek word for truth, since August 1999. The university comprises eight colleges: Humanities, Mathematics, Finance, Management, Tourism, Languages, Knowledge Economics, and Sports Knowledge. Four graduate programs are offered in Humanistic Studies, Mathematical Science, Management Science, and Finance & Economics.

External links

• Aletheia University official website