National Taichung University
Encyclopedia
The Locals’ Best, The Nation’s Leading, And The World’s Famous University
National Taichung University of Education (NTCU) is a university with proud legacy. Founded in 1899 at the Confucian Temple in Changhwa and moved to the current site in 1923, the University has prepared not only excellent teachers but also talents in different fields, such as court judges, lawyers, entrepreneurs, politicians, and engineers. The University pursues its mission through erudition and excellence in education and fosters the enrichment and fulfillment of the whole person. Its guiding principles have been “refinement, creativity, and new prospect.” It emphasizes student-centered teaching, stresses both scientific and humanistic education, and advocates professionalism with critical thinking. Pursuing the goal as the regional, national, and global famous university, NTCU expects to be excellent because of its students, and expects its students to be excellent because of NTCU.In 2005, the University was renamed National Taichung University, consisting of the College of Education, College of Humanities and Liberal Arts, and College of Mathematics and Information Science. In 2008, departments of management were established, and would be developed for the future college of management. On one hand, the University has taken an active transformation to create new prospects, become competitive, and encourage diversity; on the other hand, it carries on its early mission of educating quality teachers. With such distinctive features, the school is to be an educational university of the new era.
In view of the rise of the mainland Chinese market and the growing global interest in Chinese language, the University will take the advantage of Chinese teaching and make use of the existing Chinese language teaching resources. It plans for students to be exposed to the international job market and the exchange of Chinese language teaching with Thailand, Malaysia and mainland China.
In terms of the academics, the Teachers Department of the University is developing the famous mathematics self-learning system in the world, which is a breakthrough in remedial teaching. The Department of Digital Content and Technology is developing the field of digital learning through the theories and practices of digital learning content. The Department of Music and Department of Fine Arts are planning to incorporate the digital art and creative industry with an aim to help students be prepared for a more challenging job market after graduation. As for providing students with work experience, the University has signed industry-academic cooperation agreements with various corporations and implemented International Part-time Employment Strategies to expand the employment opportunities of students.
With the advantages in the fields of education and art, NTCU has been a leader in the middle area of Taiwan. It will continue to develop features for each academic department, to expand professional fields, to be one of the global leading research institutes, and in the rapid process of internalization, to become a renowned university.
History
- 1. In 1899, the school was established in Changhua Wunwu Temple.
- 2. In 1902, the school was suspended and the students were transferred to the Taiwan Mandarin School and Tainan Normal School.
- 3. In April 1923, the School was reestablished and classes were temporarily held in the Taichung Public School building (formerly named Chung-Hsiao Elementary School). A practical program was established with a maximum study period of seven years.
- 4. In April 1928, the main building (Administration Building) of the School was completed and an affiliated elementary school was established.
- 5. In April 1943, the School was upgraded to a teachers school (junior college).
- 6. In August 1945, the Japanese occupation of Taiwan ended when the government of Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, and the affiliation of the school with the Taiwan Governor-General Administration also ended.
- 7. In December 1945, the Nationalist government took over the School, which was renamed the Taiwan Provincial Taichung Normal School. A three-year program of general courses was instituted for junior high and vocational junior high graduates.
- 8. In September 1960, the School was upgraded and renamed the Taiwan Provincial Junior Teachers College, and a three-year program of elementary education courses was instituted for general and special education teachers, and senior high and vocational senior high graduates.
- 9. In August 1963, the School initiated a five-year day program and an evening-school program for the training of elementary school teachers.
- 10. In July 1987, the School was upgraded and renamed the Taiwan Provincial Taichung Teachers College, which was composed of the Elementary Education Department, Language and Literacy Education Department, Social Studies Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Department, and Early Childhood Teacher Education Program.
- 11. In July 1991, the College became affiliated with the Ministry of Education and was renamed the National Taichung Teachers College.
- 12. In August 1992, the College established the Graduate Institute of Elementary Education (renamed the Graduate Institute of Elementary and Secondary Education in August 1995), the Department of Early Childhood Education, and the Department of Fine Arts and Crafts Education.
- 13. In August 1993, the College established the Department of Music Education and the Department of Special Education.
- 14. In August 1997, the College established the Graduate Institute of Educational Measurement and Statistics.
- 15. In August 1998, the College established the Department of Physical Education and the Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, and divided the Mathematics and Science Education Department into the Department of Mathematics Education and the Department of Natural Science Education (including the master's program).
- 16. In August 1999, the College established a master's program in the Department of Mathematics Education.
- 17. In August 2000, the College established the Graduate Institute of Counseling and Educational Psychology and a doctoral program in the Graduate Institute of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- 18. In August 2001, the College established the Graduate Institute of Special Education and Assistive Technology and a master's program in the Department of Language and Literacy Education.
- 19. In August 2002, the College established a master's program in the Department of Social Studies Education.
- 20. In August 2003, the College established the Department of Early Childhood Education and a master's program in the Department of Fine Arts and Crafts.
- 21. In August 2004, the College established the Department of Taiwanese Languages, the Department of Information Science, a doctoral program in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, the Graduate Institute of Curriculum and Instruction, the Graduate Institute of Instructional Technology, and the Graduate Institute of Early Intervention. The Graduate Institute of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Elementary Education were combined and named the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- 22. In August 2005, the College was upgraded and renamed the National Taichung University, and the Department of English Education, the Department of Digital Content and Technology, the master's program in the Department of Physical Education, the master's program in the Department of Music Education, and the doctoral program in the Graduate Institute of Educational Measurement and Statistics were all established.
- 23. In August 2006, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was renamed the Department of Education; the Department of Fine Arts and Crafts Education was renamed the Department of Fine Arts; the Department of Music Education was renamed the Department of Music; the Department of Natural Science Education was renamed the Department of Science Application and Dissemination; the Department of English Education was renamed the Department of English; the Graduate Institute of Counseling and Educational Psychology established an undergraduate program and was renamed the Department of Counseling and Applied Psychology; the Graduate Institute of Special Education and Assistive Technology was merged into the Department of Special Education; and the Graduate Institute of Instructional Technology was merged into the Department of Digital Content and Technology.
- 24. In August 2008, the University added the Department of International Business, the Graduate Institute of Business Administration, the Graduate Institute of Tourism and Recreation Management, and the Bachelor Degree Program of Cultural and Creative Industrial Development.
- 25. In January 2009, NTCU set up the Contact Office for National Taichung University in Bangkok Thailand and also contracted with Rajamangala University of Technology in Thailand.
- 26. In March 2009, NTCU contracted and consulted joint program with Kent State University, USA.
- 27. In April 2009, NTCU contracted with Changchun Normal University, China.
- 28. In June 2009, NTCU contracted with Ashland University, USA. Department of Social Studies Education, NTCU, signed up the memorandum of joint program with Kent State University.
- 29. In July 2009, NTCU held the 2009 China and Taiwan student debate competition. NTCU contracted with University of Da Nang, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi University, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, …etc, in Vietnam and Zhangzhou City University, China.
- 30. In October 2009, NTCU opened up the overseas Chinese Language MA Program.
- 31. In December 2009, NTCU established Sustainable Tourism Center and contracted with Zhanjiang Normal University, China.
- 32. In January 2010, NTCU was honorably awarded “2008 Friendly Campus” from MOE and contracted with HUE University, College of Sciences and Humanities in HUE, College of Education in HUE, and College of Economics in HUE, Vietnam.
- 33. In February 2010, “Teacher Model ‧ Poetry Trail” public art on campus (「師道‧詩道」校園公共藝術) was opened.
- 34. In April 2010, NTCU contracted with Tianjin Normal University.
- 35. In June 2010, NTCU contracted with Osaka Kyoiku University, Japan.
- 36. In August 2010, the English name of University was renamed the National Taichung University of Education (NTCU).
- 37. In August 2010, Dr. Yang Szu-Wei reappointed as the president of NTCU.
University profile and statistics
- Distribution of Faculty by Rank
- Professors: 46 (23.83%)
- Associate Professors: 86 (44.55%)
- Assistant Professors: 49(26.94%)
- Instructors: 9 (4.66%)
- Educational Background of Faculty
- Doctorate: 164 (84.97%)
- Master's: 29 (15.02%)
- Number of Students: 4,654
- Undergraduates: 3,129(67.23%)
- Graduate Students: 717(15.41%)
- Doctoral Students: 94(2.02%)
- Extension Education: 714(15.34%)
- Total Area of the University: 12.0827 hectares
- Main (Minsheng) Campus: 7.9227 hectares
- Yingtsai Campus : 2.06 hectares
- Affiliated Experimental Elementary School: 2.1 hectares
- Total Floor Space: 97,382 square meters
Academic departments
- College of Education
- Department of Education (with MA/PhD)
- Department of Special Education (with MA)
- Department of Physical Education (with MA)
- Department of Early Childhood Education (with MA)
- Graduate Institute of Educational Measurement and Statistics (with PhD)
- College of Management
- Department of International Business
- Bachelor Degree Program of Cultural & Creative Industrial Development
- Master Program of Business Administration
- Master Program of Sustainable Tourism and Recreation Management
- College of Science
- Department of Mathematics Education (with MS)
- Department of Computer and Information Science (with MS)
- Department of Digital Content and Technology (with MS)
- Department of Science Application and Dissemination (with MS)
- College of Humanities
- Department of Regional and Social Development (with MA)
- Department of Taiwanese Languages and Literature
- Department of Language and Literacy Education (with MA/PhD)
- Department of English
- Department of Counseling and Applied Psychology (with MA)
- Department of Music (with MA)
- Department of Fine Arts (with MA)
- National Taichung University of Education official English website (For foreign students)
Campus life
Participation in societies and clubs, offers both educational and entertainment experiences for our students. The university has over 40 more different student societies and clubs, they appeal to the various interests of the students, such as academic studies, recreation, music, social service, art, …etc. There are also over 10 different sport teams that students can join. Student organizations are very active and they produce outstanding performances. For example, the famous Da Han Chinese Music Orchestra has won championships in national music competitions and was invited to perform overseas in many occasions. Moreover, our Xu Feng Wind Music Club has won the privilege of performing regularly at the National Wind Music Festival every year. The Social Service Club and Scouts Group went out and held many activities all the time. Student Ambassador Group regularly recruits new members every year. Through a series of professional trainings, the Student Ambassador Group has an absolute representative of our school. Moreover, the university café, operated by our own students, presents a unique style among the many universities. Such extracurricular opportunities and experiences help students to explore themselves and learn to think logically and critically. Students also increase their competitive edge and are better prepared before they enter into the job market. The annual Humanities and Liberal Arts Festival consists of music、drama、photography、arts、dance、literature, NTCU not only provides the space for creation and exhibition but also shares it’s abundant art atmosphere with the neighborhood and promoting the cultural value of our school in Taichung city.International students
NTCU recruits international students. NTCU actively promotes exchange students programs with partner universities. Until now, NTCU has affiliated 89 partner-universities in America, Europe and Asia in many countries. According to the General Academic Cooperation Agreement with partner universities, both parties can send exchange students to the other university. It is expected that more and more international students will study in NTCU. Furthermore, many departments in NTCU are planning to open dual degree programs. NTCU has the excellent environment and high quality in education, and provides international students with varied scholarship, accommodation, and job opportunities in winter and summer vacations.International Academic Exchange
National Taichung University of Education(NTCU) has encouraged its faculty and students to proceed academic cooperation and has established a number of partner schools in Asia, United States of America, Europe and so forth in order to broaden worldwide perspective. For the faculty, encouraging faculty to pursue further education, engaging in international academic cooperation, participate in international seminars, and publish articles in international-known periodicals; for students, every year NTCU help students financially to participate in foreign activities such as exchange students, summer study abroad, international voluntary, international competition, and study abroad. Facing the global village age coming, NTCU sincerely invites foreign scholars, and students to visit or study. Annually every department holds many international seminars as well as provides Chinese language and Taiwanese Culture Camp. This camp provides foreign students an opportunity to learn Chinese language and experience Taiwanese culture. NTCU open its admission for oversea students, and provide international students scholarship and living cost, and opportunities for winter and summer vacation part-time jobs. In the future, NTCU strives for dual degree cooperation with partner schools to better its fame and academic level.Research
National Taichung University of Education (NTCU) has endeavored to improve the capacity of research and innovation, aimed at applying resources effectively and focused on the advancement and promotion of research results.A large number of budgets are annually distributed to subsidize the faculty, departments and research centers. Furthermore, NTCU actively strives for cooperating opportunities with the Ministry of Education, National Science Council and industries, in basic research, industrial-academic cooperative programs and technology transfers.
By doing so, NTCU not only relates its research studies with reality and practical matters, but also achieves the purpose of application.
During these years, NTCU has accomplished: 1. an increasing of published papers, 2. a considerable rise in the volume of research projects and outputs, and, 3. a rising amount of numbers and money of industrial-academic cooperative projects.
Faculty professional development
The major tasks of university teachers are research, providing services and teaching. In recent years, in addition to emphasizing the research and services of teachers, a new focus of Taiwan higher education which is how to improve teaching quality has been developed. On February 1, 2007, the Center for Faculty Professional Development was established with an aim to assist the school faculty in improving teaching quality.The missions of the center are to assist new-coming teachers in getting to know the university and promote their interaction with other teachers, to hold workshops of teaching knowledge and skills for teachers, to establish teaching resources classrooms with complete facilities and assist teachers in developing digital teaching materials, and to systematize teaching assistants, release the teaching burden and improve the teaching and learning qualities. The ultimate goal is to inherit the extraordinary traditions and create innovation education.
Library resources and services
The library is located at the north side of the campus. Elegant appearance merged tradition and modern provides the faculty a comfortable and premium circumstances. The library collection currently has more than 810,000 items, which includes 337,874 volumes of Chinese and foreign books, 170,580 kinds of e-books, 682 kinds of serials publications, 11,480 kinds of e-journals, 73 kinds of databases, 18,997 audio materials, 269,917 filmcards and newspapers, maps … etc. The library is well-known as its complete and professional education-related materials, and the humanity and art-related books hold the next large part of collections according to the NTCU focus on refined and professional education and extending art domain.The library has 622 seats for individual reading, study rooms and discussion room for individual needs. There are various sorts of multimedia film and audio information reserved in the audiovisual room for teaching, self-learning, and leisure use. Internet and other equipments are thoroughly set up and each floor has an area of information search. Besides, the library offers many convenience services, such as check in/out, reading, copy, reference advice, user recommendations, data search, interlibrary cooperation, video-on-demand services. By education program and irregular database training, the library planned many book resources and held “the library tour for freshman” annually to fulfill the needs of teaching and learning activities.
In order to expand the resources, the library has joined in many collaboration with other organizations, such as interlibrary cooperation check in/out and academic e-resources consortia. As a member of the Association of University Libraries in Central Taiwan, the library and other 13 libraries provide convenient and popular book-lending services cooperatively. Now the library continues to promote digital services on campus, and completed the system of reviewing NTCU journals and master/doctor essays in order to reserve the NTCU academic achievements.
Information system service
The Computer Center provides information system and networking services for the faculty. All buildings are connected with optical fiber networks and provided campus-wide wireless network access. Each dorm room has information network access points. In the male dorm, each student has an independent network access point equipped with 1.5M bps download and upload bandwidths. In addition, wireless access points have been set up throughout the campus including outdoors and all major buildings. Students can make use of the Internet to study anytime, and anywhere. The Computer and Network Center has seven computer labs. Each is equipped with twenty to forty more personal computers and an educational broadcasting system to support computer courses. Furthermore, the Computer and Network Center also assists the Office of Academic Affairs in promoting an e-teaching project and offers an efficient learning platform to improve learning results. The major information systems and services include the following:- National Taichung University’s Administrative System
- FTP space, on-line forum, blog and wiki services
- E-learning system
- Campus portal
- PC troubleshooting service
- Laboratory practice and printing service
- Site licensed software including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Office XP/2003/2007, and antivirus software.
Career services
The goals of the Career Development program are to help students fully develop their potential and successfully find employment upon their graduation. In order to achieve these goals, this program would cooperate with all administrative offices, the Student Counseling Center, and the resources from the society.In order to meet the goals of the Career Development program, the works of the program has nine dimensions:
- Organizing workshops and studies related to the career planning and placement for students to understand the job market.
- Planning speeches related to the trends of the job market for students to be able to update their information
- Mastering job fairs for students to widen up their opportunities
- Renewing the information of business and companies for students to get the picture of the trends
- Establishing the industry-academy cooperation
- Training volunteers for career consulting
- Placing and updating information for student career planning
- Tracing alumni job searching and advanced study progress
- Studying the issues of career planning for further research and study
The Division featured career services in the basic NTCU purposes to guide the future teachers and to create multiple work chances suited to the market trend.
General education
The mission of the general education program is to train students’ communication abilities in humanity, society, and technology and to develop their personality with the aggressive action, lifelong learning, refined and outstanding citizenship.Starting from 2004, the General Education courses were divided into six categories. Students are required to take a minimum of 18 credits from at least five out of the six categories to get proportionate development in knowledge of general education:
- Languages and Literature (2 credits): domestic languages, foreign languages, appreciation of literature, classics, etc.
- Humanities and Social Science (4 credits): philosophy, social sciences, cultural studies, law, civic education, interpersonal communication, etc.
- Mathematics and Information Science (4 credits): mathematics, natural sciences, technology and information science, etc.
- Art education (4 credits): music, fine arts, dance, etc.
- Physical and Health education (2 credits): health education, sports, physical education, etc.
- Comprehensive education (2 credits): national defense education, general education lecture series, science and technology integration, etc.
In addition to general education courses, all the students are also required to take ten credits of basic core courses, which include Freshman Chinese, English, and Physical Education. In order to improve students’ learning and performance ability, they are required to take the periodic proficiency tests and any kinds of language tests with NTCU subsidization.
Teacher education
The Teacher Education Center (TEC) aims at preparing a small amount but high-quality teachers. Through a thorough and credible selection process, the Center identifies outstanding applicants who are most willing and most suitable to be teachers. Only the selected students will be able to take the education program, which emphasizes both theories and practices. The goal of the education program is to develop knowledgeable, graceful, professional educators with specific expertise.The Teacher Education Center consists of two divisions: (1) Curriculum and Instruction; (2) Practicum and Counseling. The Division of Curriculum and Instruction is in charge of: (1) the selection of applicants for elementary education, young children education, special education, and general education programs; (2) the curriculum plan and course selection of the education programs; and (3) the selection, training, and evaluation of the Scholarship for Excellence in Teacher Education. The Division of Practicum and Guidance is responsible for: (1) organizing activities of education guidance for the local areas; (2) assisting students in their teacher education practicum, graduate internship, and teacher education forum; (3) accrediting the teacher qualification examination; and (4) publishing pamphlets or journals related to teacher education.
NTCU teacher education features in its teacher education practicum that links with local community. The practicum intends to enhance the learning about professional courses from service experiences, to help students become culturally sensitive, and to prepare loving and dedicated educators.