Higher Education SPROUT Project

Phase I (2018-2022) Achievement Highlights Summary

Combining Theory and Practice” as its focus. In regard to overall achievements, MCU effectively combines the University information system and UCAN platform to keep tabs on student ability development status. The effectiveness of this has also been affirmed by the Youth Development Administration of the MOE, with MCU serving as the North District Convener of “Colleges and Universities Career Development Promotion Subsidy Project.” In order to enhance students’ media literacy skills, MCU strengthened media literacy education; performance in this area was affirmed by the MOE as MCU became the lead institution of the “Higher Education Media Literacy Teaching Development Program” and was tapped as the North District Resource Center host institution. In line with the 2019 syllabus, cultivation of core competencies was proposed as the theme of curriculum development. MCU was awarded by the Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) for Professionalized Student Recruitment Development Project, which is the top among all universities nationwide. In the Global Views magazine’s 2021Taiwan University Ranking, MCU ranked no. 7 in humanities, law and business among the best universities nationwide; and has a great leap from No. 29 to No.18 in “teaching performance.”

Sub-Project A: Implement Teaching Innovation Sub-Project

I. Develop Innovative Teaching Mode

1. Through teaching innovative courses, MCU enables students to understand how to learn innovatively, obtain cross-disciplinary knowledge and apply it in life, so as to enhance students' learning motivation, strengthen teaching effectiveness, and integrate teaching with digital learning platforms. The daily count of digital platform use reached 17,000.
2. The promotion of Teaching Practice Research Program received great results and the number of projects granted increased gradually from 2018 to 2022; 50 projects were granted MOE subsidy in 2022, which is ranked number one among universities nationwide.
3. MCU arranges teaching assistants to provide academic counseling. The success rate for students who received mid-term warnings but did not fall into the final warning at the end of semester is over 83% and the success rate of preventing drop-out is 99.3%, which are good results.

II. Reinforce Basic Competencies

1. To enhance students’ abilities in logical and computational thinking, using Schools as units, MCU arranged programming courses that match the features of each School. The number of students who took programming-related courses in the 2021-22 AY was 100% of the students in the undergraduate programs.
2. In terms of reinforcing the basic abilities of students, MCU has completed 274 test blueprints, 190 test analysis reports, and 516 career course maps in the past four years.
3. First-year English courses are fully digitized to flipped teaching mode, with a general test system and test question database to enhance students’ language skills. The average number of students for taking these courses each year is 7,768 people.
4. In terms of enhancing Mandarin capacity, MCU adapted practical teaching methods to cultivate Chinese and official document writing skills, an average of 3,467 people pass the basic Chinese capacity test every year.
5. For general education, MCU launched “10 Pillars Education” that promotes Morals, Knowledge, Health/Sports, Teamwork, Aesthetics, Planning, Communication, Technology, Internationalization, Employability, with an average passing rate of 89.1%.

II. Establish cross-disciplinary learning environment

1. In the cross-disciplinary learning environment, MCU has opened a total of 129 micro-credit courses in four years, with an average of 1,288 students taking them each year. In order to improve the last mile of studying, students engaged in off-campus internships for the past four years has reached 44.66%; a total of 438 students participated in 7+1 full-time internships.
2. For dual teacher cross-disciplinary learning, MCU introduced professional teachers from the industry to a total of 494 courses, and a total of 14 cross-school and cross-disciplinary courses were offered.

IV. Cultivate talents for core industries

1. In terms of the results of cultivating core industry talents, MCU promotes software cultivation, smart robots, IoT maker board research and development, and new agriculture development, so that our students are equipped with the ability to enter core industries and devote themselves to the industrial directions promoted by the nation. MCU teams have won 11 gold, 3 silver and 15 bronze medals in the FIRA RoboWorld Cup in the recent 5 years and 17 gold, 16 silver and 5 bronze medals in the International Intelligent RoboSports Cup in the same period.
2. The University completed faculty member professional field inventory and promoted ABCD new generation innovative courses. In terms of cultivating students' innovative and entrepreneurial abilities, a campus entrepreneurship counseling platform has been established, and entrepreneurship courses have been offered. A total of 35 students have completed the courses, and more than 500 students have participated in campus entrepreneurship activities. Students have received entrepreneurship-related subsidies from the Ministry of Education totaling 1.4 million NTD. Moreover, students have established 5 actual companies and their participation in off-campus competitions as won more than 30 awards.
3. In order to enable graduates to apply what they have learned, the University follows up on our graduates; successfully tracking upwards of 70% of all graduates. In the past four years, the average employer satisfaction rate is 4.21, which is above the target value of the previous years. Through the cultivation of students' employability, the overall employment rate of students one year after graduation has increased, with an average employment rate of 69.17%, the average rate of continuing education is 14.21%, the rate for entering military service is 1.69%, and the unemployment rate is 4.34%. The overall employment rate of students three years after graduation continues to grow. The average employment rate is 83.06%, the average rate of continuing to study is 6.19%, the rate for entering military service is 1.41%, and the unemployment rate is 3.54%. The overall rate of those not employed has dropped.

V. Innovate the entrepreneurship environment

1. Through the “Ming Chuan University Entrepreneurship Base,” MCU integrated the resources of all Schools, Departments and the Innovation & Incubation Center to refine the Innovative Entrepreneurship Focused Course Programs to the 4 focus areas of Smart living, Healthcare, Cultural creativity, and Innovative services.

VI. Cultivate students’ employability 

1. In terms of cultivating students' employability, the university launched practical special projects to integrate technology into different majors, and complete preparation of off-campus internships programs to enhance students' employment abilities.
2. To advance students’ self-learning ability and research energy, MCU encouraged students to participate in the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Undergraduate Student Research Projects. In 2022, 125 MCU student projects were awarded the NSTC Undergraduate Student Research Grants. The total number of student grants awarded to MCU students has exceeded 100 projects for 9 consecutive years, ranking top four nationwide and second among all private universities, and top among private comprehensive universities for three consecutive years.

Sub-Project B: Enhancing Global Mobility Sub-Project

I. Establish international learning environment

1. In 2022-23 AY, the number of overseas students matriculating toward a degree at MCU is 2076 students, which is top three among all institutions, a ranking MCU has held for four consecutive years; MCU ranks top among private institutions nationwide in this regard. Students’ nationalities total 97 over these years.
2. MCU has outstanding achievements in the fields of management and tourism. MCU’s Hospitality & Tourism Management ranked 44th globally in the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2021, which is the top among all universities in Taiwan; Ming Chuan University's "Tourism and Leisure Management" field has achieved outstanding results for the number of papers in important journals and the number of papers in top journals. It has been among the top 100 in the world for four consecutive years, and ranked first in Taiwan for two consecutive years.

II. Optimize foreign language teaching

1. MCU established eight English-taught undergraduate programs and set up digital English instructional materials on the university's teaching platform in order to revitalize English teaching. Currently, online English teaching has been fully implemented for all first-year students.
2. Aside from English, MCU actively encourages students to learn a second foreign language. In 2022, a total of 3,513 people took second foreign language classes, of which more than 300 took a Southeast Asian language class every semester.

III. Enhance Programs Completely Taught in English

1. The university has planned 4-year English Medium Instruction (EMI) to improve students’ English ability, with similar planning underway for Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Asian languages, and other second foreign languages.

IV. Deepen International Participation of Faculty Members

1. MCU International College was granted MOE subsidy (accredited category) in The BEST Program to Cultivate Accredited EMI Colleges. Nationwide, only MCU and NCCU received accredited category subsidies from the BEST program in Taiwan, MCU being the only private university.

V. Expand Students’ Overseas Vision

1. To expand students’ international vision, the university actively promotes  students’ international mobility. Every year, there are 1,300 students participating in related activities (including both online and offline), which shows the steady growth and good results of the university in developing international mobility.
2. The university has earned MSCHE accreditation and has become the first U.S-Accredited University in Asia. Moreover, the School of Management has earned AACSB accreditation. Such accreditation is an assurance of the teaching quality of the university.

Sub-Project C:  Improve Public Nature of Higher Education

I. Complete Disadvantaged Students Admission System

1. The university provides a series of counseling steps for disadvantaged students, which provides complete plans and measures to reduce stress and increase learning energy during their study period.
2. The university established Indigenous Students’ Resource Center to strengthen counseling for indigenous students.

II. Complete Disadvantaged Students Counseling System

1. Based on the idea of learning replacing work study, the university encourages students to actively participate in several learning counseling courses and activities to strengthen self-learning performance and career development. The university also established stimulus procedures for disadvantaged students based on learning results to care for financially disadvantaged students’ living and learning needs.
2. The number of financially disadvantaged students increased from 1,742 people to 1,985 people during the period of 2018-19 AY to 2022-23 AY. The number of indigenous students has increased from 151 people to 231 people during the period of 2020-21 AY to 2022-23 AY, which shows the importance and responsibilities of taking care of disadvantaged students.
3. For assisting financially disadvantaged students with enrollment, on the day before the new semester starts, the university provides free accommodation and transportation subsidies for students from outlying islands and remote areas. Students residing on Kinmen and Matsu can be interviewed for admission online.
4. The total number of financially disadvantaged students accounted for 13% of the total number of undergraduate students in 2022. About 75% of financially disadvantaged students participated in several learning counseling measures (1,530 participants in 2018 and 1,519 participants in 2022). The remaining quarter of students didn’t participate in related study counseling activities since their academic performance was good or they opted out based on their preference. 3,946 grants to disadvantaged students were awarded in 2018 and 4,177 grants in 2022. Related award scholarships have increased from NTD. 12.69 million to NTD. 14.59 million in 2022.
5. The average academic score of indigenous students improved from 70.15 points to 75.41 points during the period from 2018-19 AY to 2022-23 AY, with support from various study counseling measures.
6. The university focuses on 10 Pillars Education; 44% of all enrolled students passed related evaluation, 118, or 6%, of financially disadvantaged students passed the evaluation.
7. Each year, financially disadvantaged students earned about 300 certificates; 260 students participated in off-campus internships, and 10 students participated in overseas volunteer service. Although the number of financially disadvantaged students participating in the activities mentioned above has grown, there is still a gap compared with the average student.

III. Fundraising and Work Study System

1. The university established an external fundraising system from 2017-18 AY for those disadvantaged students supported by the Higher Education Sprout Project Office. As of November 2022, NTD. 27 million has been raised. The annual average funds raised total over NTD. 5 million, and the execution rate for program funding has reached 100%.
2. In order to use funds equitably, justly and accountably to help financially disadvantaged students, the university established procedures regarding stimulus awards for financially disadvantaged students and indigenous students’ learning counseling.
3. The university had helped 1,282 financially disadvantaged students apply for 2021-22 AY MOE Epidemic Relief Subsidy of more than NTD. 9.58 million, also helped 568 students apply for Accommodation Rental Fee Subsidy of more than NTD. 2.47 million, through which 1,850 students received subsidies totaling more than NTD. 12 million. Nearly all financially disadvantaged students of the university received subsidies, which helped their families overcome economic difficulties during the epidemic period. Moreover, the university raised NTD. 995,000 for overseas Chinese students and international students as accommodation subsidies during the epidemic period, benefitting 199 students.
4. In order to help financially and culturally disadvantaged students study and live in Taiwan at ease, the university established procedures regarding stimulus awards for fundraising. The Ming Chuan University Assistance and Guidance Fund for Disadvantaged Students raises more than NTD. 5 million every year.

IV. Advance Quality and Quantity of Faculty

1. The university continuously recruits high-quality faculty members whose areas of specialization meet department goals and course design meets industry needs. The university has recruited 39 faculty members in the past 3 years for a current teacher-student ratio of 1:22.46.
2. The university has established a complete teaching evaluation and faculty members evaluation system as the basis for teacher rewards. With the flexible salary system, the university provides appropriate incentives and support to promote faculty members actively participating in sustainable teaching development. Over the past four years, flexible salary payments have been issued 1,192 times with a total amount of NTD. 45.36 million.
3. The university promotes a diversified faculty promotion system for those faculty members who devote themselves to teaching, industry-academia collaboration, and research and who have achieved specified results so that they can apply for promotions accordingly. During the period from 2018-19 AY to 2021-22 AY, two faculty members passed Teaching Research Track promotion, one passed Applied Research Track promotion, and two passed Works Track promotion.

V. Publicize University Affairs

1. In response to the new media era, the university has established a public university website, APP, Facebook page, Internet Television Station, and print media Ming Chuan Weekly to release the latest news and publicize university performance results. For establishing a system of publicizing university affairs information, the university established a School Affairs and Financial Information Disclosure Area wherein information on university affairs, financial information, alumni’s post-graduation choices and satisfaction, tuition and fees, along with financial aid, is released.
2. There are student representatives participating in university decision-making bodies, from the university affairs committee to the curriculum committees of each department. The number of participants meets all related requirements. To ensure students’ right to appeal, student representatives on the Student Appeal and Review Committee can speak and vote during the meetings. During the period of 2021-22 AY, student representatives participated in a total 35 school meetings and Meet-the-Faculty Seminars.

Sub-Project D: Implement Social Responsibility

I. Complete Community Service

1. MCU is an international university with multiple campuses. The university promotes in-depth community service between faculty members and students around Taipei Campus, Taoyuan Campus and Kinmen Location to address local issues, fulfill social responsibility of the university and create win-win situations. The main characteristics of MCU fulfilling its social responsibility are that the university uses a triple-empower mechanism to advance multi-campus contributions in professional fields, multi-industry cooperation and multi-department regional partnerships to execute cross-disciplinary, cross-industry, and cross-specialization practices.
2. From 2018 to 2022, MCU developed external field projects in Taipei Tamsui River Area, Taoyuan, Kinmen Area, and Yilan County with participation of 10 Schools. The resulting 64 Social Responsibility Projects included the promotion of five USR experience sharing seminars on the theory and practice of Aquaponics Farm, interdisciplinary courses, practical micro-credit courses, and research topic discussions. A total of 2,852 students participated in 133 professional service learning courses.

II. Care for the Environment and Humanity

1. The School of Health Technology has been deeply involved in localized medical care. Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan City Fuxing District Office, and Guider Technology Co., Ltd. cooperate to promote the health protection activities of smart medical AI electronic watches to Atayal people in Fuxing District. Taiwan Indigenous Television and e-newsletter assist in deepening the benefits for local people.
2. The School of Design assisted in regenerating the indigenous tribe in Fuxing District, Taoyuan City, by combining the wisdom of the traditional experience of the tribe, Ming Chuan Architecture Department implementation of sustainable innovation and the use of digital new media for the indigenous tribes. Besides enhancing the younger generation's awareness of their own cultural preservation, the tribe can continue to pass on the heritage of their indigenous Atayal culture. The course "Architecture on the Mountain" provided by the Architecture Department won the Special Award for Co-creation of Agriculture in the "2020 Higher Education Institution Rural Co-construction Practice Project" held by the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau of the Executive Yuan.
3. MCU Kinmen Location promotes vocational training programs for new residents to reverse their unfavorable social and economic situations. We provided multiple training courses for new residents in Kinmen area and photographed 5 works on "Life in the Golden World". In addition, various baking and leisure courses are held every year for Kinmen residents to learn for free and enhance lifelong learning in Kinmen; more than 2,000 people participate per year.
4. The School of Design established a professional "Disaster Prevention (Reduction) Planning Research Service Center" in Taiwan’s Northern Region to promote urban environmental sustainability, guide community residents, along with primary and secondary school students, to understand disasters and climate change, and cooperated with 10 communities and primary and secondary schools from 2020 to 2022 who joined a disaster prevention (reduction) alliance.

III. Connections with Local Industry

1. The School of Health Technology brought the concept of environmental sustainability onto the campus. Ming Chuan University, ASE Group and Da-Gang Elementary School cooperated to create an "Aquaponics Farm" at Da-Gang Elementary School, allowing the elderly and children to experience ecology and to convey the concept of caring for the earth. This has been reported through multiple online videos and media to spread and deepen the local benefits.
2. The School of Communication assisted new residents in Taipei in combining local community resources, promotion and disbursement through online communities, promoting employment for new residents by improving their work ability and family economic support, and completing the applications for 21 new residents' entrepreneurial micro-video works. Through media literacy, food and agriculture education, we have worked together with primary schools to complete two media literacy animations to promote multicultural life.
3. The School of Tourism has been concerned about the Guishan area of Taoyuan City for a long time, excavating the local cultural characteristics and story memories, awakening the local humanistic spirit to reshape the local identity. Applying the concept of integrated marketing and tourism innovation to hold Guishan back streets, rural culture, Taste of Family experience activities, opening the 333 (Shanshanshan) Settlement green life channel and market to establish a travel axis that bears benefits across regions.
4. The School of Tourism promoted local leisure agricultural tourism in Taoyuan, conducted international etiquette and reception training for local young farmers, implemented farm diagnosis and planning. Through environmental guidance, international students created new ideas for leisure agriculture and produce green leisure marketing, resulting in a VR/AR technology marketing preparation plan and sustainable leisure agriculture field planning report.

Sub-project E: Academic Affairs Research Linkage

    I. Promote University Affairs Research Energy

1. The institution has established a cloud information warehouse for university affairs research, a university affairs research analysis platform, and a university affairs research application platform. We continue to enrich the depth and breadth of the collection in the Student Learning Outcomes Database, so that the data columns of the institution database can match the structure of the higher education database. The university affairs research storage system has completed 35 collated data tables.
2. Through Cloud IR Information Platform, the institution has integrated relevant on-campus information, deepened the analysis of university affairs, and used relevance and effectiveness analysis of university affairs research topics such as teaching and research in SDGs as the basis for university affairs decision-making.
3. In order to comprehensively promote university affairs research and analysis, the institution has established a University Affairs Research Analysis Platform, with the aim to create a friendly environment for data analysis through the cloud, so that administrators and staff can conduct statistical analysis on topics of concern, creating a data-based atmosphere on campus.

II. Deepen Issue Analysis for University Affairs

1. The institution integrates internal and external information, conducts enrollment strategy analysis, and predicts students' placement as a reference for enrollment strategies of each School and Department. In 2021-22 academic year, High School Star enrollment vacancy ratio was 7.20%, which was 8.33% lower than that in 2020-21 academic year; in 2021-22 academic year, the university’s freshman registration rate was 97.05%, and 5 departments reached 100% registration rate.
2. The university affairs research focuses foremost on Student Learning Outcomes and on conducting correlation research and analysis by analyzing student data from enrollment to learning through to graduation. Moreover, the course status of withdrawing students is analyzed to understand any connections among students' failed subjects, identify courses with the most fundamental problems and implement remedial instruction as early as possible, so as to reduce the rate of withdrawal.
3. For English learning, aiming at the implementation of flipped-teaching for instruction of English and the implementation of distance teaching for domestic and foreign students under the epidemic situation, a teaching and learning effectiveness analysis will be carried out as a basis for improving online teaching in the post-epidemic era.
4. The departmental semester achievement system mainly collects teaching activities, course grades, learning outcomes and other data to establish each department’s semester achievements. Its content includes semester grade distribution, faculty course achievements, core competencies, research and development energy statistics as well as information on other department achievements, providing departments a basis for self-improvement to ensure effective improvement of students' learning outcomes.