Fu Jen Catholic University is guided by Ex corde Ecclesia in its administration of the school and its pursuit of holistic education on the basis of Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Holiness. The school places an emphasis on humanistic care and concern and service to society as its core ideals, and is constantly improving the learning environment for both teachers and students, gradually progressing towards a Catholic school which prides itself on health and medical care as well as creative design as its specialties.
In dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the school was quick to launch its ‘Elevating Teaching, Continued Learning During the Pandemic’ complementary program, implementing its five key strategies (improved and innovative teaching, strengthening practical use of knowledge, encouraging self-learning, emphasis on humanistic care and concern, and strengthening international outlook). Leveraging on school funding, whilst also receiving a boost by way of funding from the Higher Education Sprout Project, the school was able to actualize its vision of ‘First in the Nation, Uniquely FJCU’ in various areas – gaining international acclaim, affirmation of the school’s teaching excellence, improved student learning efficiency, as well as bagging awards at international competitions:
For the purpose of actualizing the Higher Education Sprout Project’s (HESP) vision of enhancing international competitiveness as well as developing multiple university features and nurturing talents for the new era, FJCU’s Higher Education Sprout Project Office is helmed by the FJCU President, with the Vice-President for Academic Affairs as the vice-chair, the Dean of Academic Affairs as chief administrator, and the head of the Faculty Development and Instructional Resources Center as deputy chief administrator. The team is committed to enhancing the quality of the school and spurring its multi-faceted development, as well as facilitating the school in elevating its international competitiveness and to build leading research centers, two key prongs of the HESP.
The school received a total of NT$87,103,227 in funding from the HESP in 2020, and as shown in Appendix I it received NT$7,617,800 for academic assistance (indigenous and disadvantaged students), and as shown in Appendix II it received NT$880,000 for indigenous students counselling (inclusive of funding from the MOE and the Council of Indigenous Peoples), and NT$300,000 for research on publicity for higher education. Due to page limit, for other areas, please refer to the FJCU HESP website as well as the Educators – Teaching Achievements Platform website.
FJCU’s HESP goals for 2021 to 2022 are as follows:
1. To become the leading university in the nation in the area of health and medical care, as well as creative design (extension of phase one).
In 2017, both the affiliated Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital and the Fu Jen Creative Design Center was established, leveraging on the rich resources of the school’s 12 colleges to create an interdisciplinary learning atmosphere conducive to cultivating health and medical care and creative design as specialty areas.
2. Focusing on interdisciplinary colleges, enhancing a learning atmosphere of interdisciplinary learning that puts knowledge into practice, and dares to innovate (adjustment of phase two).
In 2021, FJCU established its interdisciplinary college, integrating the resources of the existing 12 colleges to spur the offering of modules centered on interdisciplinary integration, industrial outlook, digital learning, aesthetic literacy, as well as modules tied to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The school places an emphasis on student learning, cultivating interdisciplinary cooperation, putting knowledge into practice, and encouraging self-learning, so as to develop students that are swiftly able to have their finger on the pulse of society and burgeoning industrial trends.
3. Spurring cooperation both within the school and externally, integrating resources, clear communication, as well as innovative service (adjustment of phase two).
Through administrative restructuring, a new role of Vice-President of Resource and Business Development as well as the newly-minted Office of Business Development both represent an active step in the school’s integration of resources both within the school and externally. The school strives to push win-win strategies that stretch the dollar with regard to funding. Through maintaining teacher-student LINE messaging groups, offering course diagnosis and services by the Student Counselling Center, students and teachers alike feel a sense of connection to the school. To tackle the challenges of an academic semester under the coronavirus pandemic, the school is innovative in providing unlimited cloud storage, and was a step ahead of the pack in promoting the offering of modules online – these initiatives were well-received by both teachers and students.
4. Establishing the FJCU University Social Responsibility (USR) Center, actualizing the mission and ethos of a Catholic university (addition to phase two).
The FJCU USR project centers on the revitalization of indigenous areas, sustainable development in the Xinzhuang, Wugu, and Taishan areas, eliminating poverty and hunger, as well as the spurring of health and wellness. Currently, on top of providing medical services for the community in the Xinzhuang, Wugu, and Taishan areas by the FJCU Hospital, the school also implements a food bank project. The FJCU Service Learning Center, as well as the Indigenous Students Resource Center and the Center for the Promotion of Revitalization of Indigenous Areas – both a first in the nation – lends their strength in these efforts.
5. Guided by its directive of ‘First in the Nation, Uniquely FJCU’, the school’s performance on the international stage continues to shine – be it in terms of world university rankings, publishing of research papers, or at international competitions. In recent years, with a boost supplied by the HESP, there is a cultivation of FJCU pride in both FJCU teachers and students alike, as the school seeks to soar towards greater heights.