Higher Education SPROUT Project

Following the merger with Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology in August 2024, Tzu Chi University has demonstrated significant benefits from integrating higher education with technical and vocational education. By strengthening the consolidation of Tzu Chi’s global mission resources, the University has achieved substantial and sustained improvements across multiple institutional development dimensions.

I. Teaching Innovation and Advancement

1. Advancing Diverse Faculty Promotion Pathways and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

    The University continues to strengthen faculty development through diversified faculty promotion pathways and the advancement of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. In the 113 academic year, a total of 13 Teaching Practice Research Projects were approved by the Ministry of Education, representing an approval rate exceeding 50%, demonstrating the University’s commitment to pedagogical innovation and scholarly teaching.

2.   University students consistently achieve outstanding results in national professional examinations, outperforming national averages across major disciplines. The results reflect the University’s strong capability in cultivating professional competence. Key outcomes include:

2.1  Nursing licensure pass rates: 92.75% (Bachelor), 87.74% (Four-year Technical), and 80.47% (Five-Year Junior College Program), all significantly exceeding the national average of 57.96%.

2.2  Physical Therapist Examination: 77.78%, nearly 2.98 times the national average (26.08%).

2.3 Social Worker Examination: 80%, 2.64 times the national average (30.27%).

Teacher Qualification Examination: 89.47%, surpassing the national average of 57.02%.

2.4  Physician, Chinese Medicine Physician, Medical Laboratory Scientist, and Radiological Technologist pass rates all remain consistently above national performance levels.

National Examination Performance Comparison Table

3. Continued enhancement of bilingual education and interdisciplinary learning to strengthen students’ language proficiency and cross-disciplinary competencies.

The University continued to receive MOE funding through the Program on Bilingual Education for Students in Colleges (BEST) and the New Engineering Education Method Experiment and Construction (NEEMEC) Project. In 2024, the University applied to join the MOE Cross-Disciplinary Bachelor Program in 2025. The University also signed MOUs with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and HTC to jointly promote “AI Virtual Humans for Healthcare and Education,” including the development of a generative AI–based virtual patient database. These initiatives enhance students’ foreign language proficiency, interdisciplinary competencies, self-directed learning, and problem-solving abilities.

3.1  Foreign language certificate completions increased from 288 (AY112) to 318 (AY113), marking a 10.42% growth.

3.2  EMI course participation reached 28% among second-year undergraduates and 20.4% among master's students.

3.3  Enrollment in certificate and micro-credential programs increased from 3,515 to 3,988 students, reflecting a 13.46% increase.

3.4  Enrollment in digital technology interdisciplinary programs continued to grow over three consecutive terms (350 → 605 → 644 students).

4. With dedicated guidance, students have achieved outstanding results in external professional certifications and competitions.

Supported by faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary coursework, students achieved notable success in various competitions:

• Thirteen Nursing students completed EWMA international wound-care training.
• Students are encouraged to obtain international ICT professional certifications. The pass rate for the ACP-InDesign international certification reached 98.3%, and the pass rate for Certiport’s ITS–Python international certification reached 100%.
• Ya-Chu Chang, an undergraduate student in the School of Medicine, received First Place and the Best Social Impact Award in the University Division of the “2025 Grand Challenge Taiwan SDGs English Poster Competition.”
• Ruksana Akter Ruma, a doctoral student at the Institute of Medical Science, received the 18^th TSC Thesis Award, the IEEE Best Conference Paper Award, the SDGs English Poster First Prize, and the Biomimicry Design Competition awards, among others.
• Memoona Farooq, a master’s student in the Department of Information Technology and Management, received the Best Conference Paper Award at the 2025 IEEE 5th International Conference on E-business and Internet-Based Systems (ICEIB).
• Chieh-Jung Chen, a master’s student in the Department of Information Technology and Management, was awarded the Outstanding Paper Presentation Award at the 36th International Conference on Information Management. A student team from the Department of Biomedical Engineering received the “Sustainable City Award” (New Taipei City Secretariat Award) in the University and Youth Innovation Division of the 11th Taiwan Bionic Design Competition.
• Students from the Department of Nursing won First Place in the “Medical and Nursing Category” of the Group Division at the 13th Professional English–Japanese Terminology and Dictation Competition. Additionally, Chen-Hsuan Ku, a third-year student in the five-year Junior College Nursing Program, earned Second Place in the Individual Division.
• Students from the Department of Nursing won First Place in the “Medical and Nursing Category” of the Group Division at the 13th Professional English–Japanese Terminology and Dictation Competition. In addition, Chen-Hsuan Ku, a third-year student in the five-year Junior College Nursing Program, received Second Place in the Individual Division.
• Three student productions were shortlisted for the 22nd Golden Sound Awards, organized by National Education Radio.
  Furthermore, second-year students Ying-Yu Huang and Chin-En Hsu were shortlisted for the 5th Silver Voice Journalism Awards (University Division – News Reporting Award) with their work “Public–Private Partnerships: Bringing Rehabilitation to Rural Elders.”
• The student-produced podcast “POV Podcast” received an Excellence Award in the Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation’s Face Equality Multimedia Competition.
• Hosted by the College of Intelligent and Sustainable Management, students from the University collectively earned 12 major awards.
• 2nd National Intergenerational Program Curriculum and Teaching Aids Competition:
  Students from the Department of Child Development and Family Studies Department of Communication Studies received the following awards:
  – Program Design Category: 1 Gold, 1 Bronze, and 1 Honorable Mention
  – Teaching Material: 1 Bronze and 1 Honorable Mention

5. Recognition for Achievements in Digital Teaching:

The course “The Research History of Biomolecules” received the 2025 Open Education Excellent Course Award (OCW Category – Merit Award). Over the past ten years, the University has launched more than 43 online courses, benefiting over 100,000 learners. These courses encompass a diverse range of fields, including the humanities, medicine, technology, and sustainable development. Through digital learning, students develop self-directed learning skills, interdisciplinary thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Faculty members integrate sustainability and local issues into course content, aligning with the SDGs and the University’s commitment to social responsibility.

II. Fulfilling Social Responsibility

      The University continues to advance its University Social Responsibility (USR) initiatives, strengthening long-term community engagement and garnering national recognition.

1. Continued Recognition for the “Silent Mentor” Education Program:
    The University’s commitment to humanistic medical education was reaffirmed, with the program “Holistic Medical Care: Cultivating Medical Humanities and Professionalism through Selfless Altruism” receiving the SNQ National Quality Award – Public Service Category Certification. As of October 2024, the University’s Simulation Medicine Center has conducted 18 simulation surgery courses, offered free of charge to 512 practicing physicians from 15 medical associations and the Ministry of National Defense Medical Affairs Bureau, helping them enhance clinical skills. In addition, 32 advanced emergency medical technicians from the fire departments of Hualien, Taitung, and Kaohsiung participated to strengthen prehospital emergency response and improve lifesaving success rates.
    The Silent Mentor Program of TCU, guided by the philosophy of “Holistic Medical Humanity and Professional Excellence through Selfless Dedication,” received the SNQ National Quality Award in the Public Service category. This recognition affirms the University’s sustained contributions to humanistic medical education.

2. Medical Faculty Honored as “2025 Outstanding Physicians.”

    Professor Jui-Chih Chang (Department of  Cardiovascular Surgery) and Associate Professor Po-Kai Wang (Department of Anesthesiology), both alumni of the University, were selected as “2025 Outstanding Physicians,” awarded by CommonHealth Magazine in collaboration with 30 national medical specialty associations, recognizing their clinical excellence and humanitarian service.

3.  Significant Achievements in Service-Learning Programs in AY113

     In the 113 academic year, the University offered 40 service-learning courses with 1,261 student enrollments, generating 18,316 beneficiary interactions. Additionally, 164 service-learning activities were conducted, involving 23,732 participants from both faculty and students, which benefited 47,267 community members.

     3.1  The University’s International Service-Learning Volunteer Team received Second Place in the “Intergenerational Innovative Practice – School Division” of the   MOE’s 2025 “Youth–Senior Co-Creation for a Shared Future” Awards with the project “Intergenerational Co-Creation and Cross-Disciplinary Learning: A Healthy Aging Promotion Initiative.”

    3.2  The “Heart Seed Volunteer Team” of the University’s Teacher Education Center was recognized as an Outstanding Volunteer Service Team in the MOE’s 2024 (AY 114) Volunteer Service Awards.

    3.3  Since Academic Year 2023, the University has continued promoting the Online Tutoring Program, partnering with Fengbin Junior High School, Fuyuan Junior High School, Fuyuan Elementary School, and Ruisui Junior High School in Hualien. Approximately 80 university students from 17 departments across five colleges participated, offering academic tutoring, social-emotional learning, AI literacy, and other support to help rural students grow and thrive.

4. University-wide Mobilization for Post-Disaster Reconstruction in Guangfu:

    On September 23, 2024, the overflow of the Mataian River landslide dam caused severe flooding in Guangfu Township, Hualien. The University immediately activated its emergency support mechanism, and all students, faculty, and staff residing in Guangfu were confirmed safe. Beginning on September 25, volunteer teams composed of University faculty and students were dispatched to assist in post-disaster recovery efforts. As of October 12, more than 670 volunteer engagements (excluding independent individual visits) from across the University participated in the Guangfu recovery initiative. Beyond helping residents remove debris and clean their homes, faculty and students from various departments applied their professional expertise—transforming academic training into meaningful volunteer service and gaining valuable clinical and practical experience. These contributions included: Professional service teams contributed as follows:

     4.1  Faculty and students from the School of Medicine, the Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine Program, the School of Pharmacy, and the Department of Nursing joined the Tzu Chi Medical Mission to provide clinical and community health services.

     4.2  Department of Physical Therapy:
     The “Physical Therapy Station” was established at Guangfu Sugar Factory to offer manual therapy and exercise therapy, helping relieve muscle tension among rescue workers and local residents.

    4.3  Department of Child Development and Family Studies:
    Faculty and students supported the Guangfu Parent–Child Center by assisting with material sorting and distribution, as well as providing play-based activities for children, which gave parents much-needed respite.

    4.4  Department of Social Work:
     In collaboration with the Hualien County Department of Social Welfare, students assisted with sorting and organizing disaster relief materials at the center.

    4.5  College of Information Technology and Management:
     After schools in Guangfu resumed in-person classes, faculty members visited campuses to assess students’ return-to-school conditions and resource needs, with the University providing full support.

    4.6  Department of Nursing:
     Launched a post-disaster public health education initiative, producing educational materials and animated videos on post-disaster disease prevention, including plague, parasitic infections, melioidosis, and gastrointestinal illnesses.

    4.7  Master Program in Sustainability and Disaster Management and the USR Project Team:
     The USR team led students into affected farmlands to conduct soil rehabilitation experiments. Using rice husks, straw, and microbial enzyme amendments, they planted pioneer species such as forage grass, ryegrass, and vetch to identify suitable post-disaster soil restoration methods—rebuilding organic matter, microbial activity, and soil structure to restore ecological vitality.

From the earliest response to the final stages of recovery, Tzu Chi University has stood firmly with Guangfu.”
(For the full record of TCU faculty and students’ participation in the Guangfu recovery efforts, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rhkmPsR1Yg)

5.  Excellence in Safety and Environmental Management:
    The University has long been committed to building a safe, healthy, and hazard-free working environment. Through active promotion of autonomous safety and health management, the University received the “Gold Award for Zero-Accident Work Hours” from the Taiwan Industrial Safety and Health Association of R.O.C. and the “Outstanding Regional Joint Prevention Organization Award” from the Ministry of Environment, demonstrating the firm commitment to and continued achievement of a “zero-accident” workplace.

6.  National Recognition in Emerging Drug Detection:
    Following the Ministry of Justice’s designation of Isotonitazene as a Schedule II controlled substance, the Center for Drug Analysis of TCU became the first institution in Taiwan to obtain certification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to conduct this test, marking a significant national advancement in combating emerging drugs.

III. Industry–Academia Collaboration and Innovation

     The University continues to demonstrate strong performance in innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry–academia partnerships. Both faculty and students have achieved outstanding results in research, invention, and startup development, making significant contributions to regional and national industrial advancement.

1.  Outstanding Faculty Research Achievements: Multiple Scholars Ranked World's Top 2% Scientists 2025.

    Seven full-time and clinically affiliated faculty members were selected for the “World’s Top 2% Scientists 2025 – Career Impact Ranking,” and nine faculty members were listed in the annual ranking, demonstrating their long-term contributions and international influence in scientific research.

2.  Professor Cheng-Wei Lee (Department of Medicine and Engineering) was invited to join Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society—one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scientific organizations—recognizing his contributions in molecular cell biology and cancer research.

3.  Excellence in Teaching: Faculty Successfully Cultivate High-Performing Students

4.  A graduate of the Teacher Education Center, Han-Heng Tsai from the Department of Nursing, received the Ministry of Education’s 2024–2025 Excellence in Teaching Internship Award for her outstanding and compassionate instructional performance.

    4.1  Honorary President Wen-Jui Lo received a Gold Medal and the Special Award from the German Inventors Association for his invention of a “Portable, Non-Electric Backwash Water Purification Device.”

   4.2  A faculty–student innovation team from the College of Nursing earned a Gold Medal and a Silver Medal for two innovative medical devices: the “Multi-Point Medical Tubing Fixation and Adjustment Device” and the “Intelligent Restraint System.”

5.  Significant Achievements in Entrepreneurship Education:
    For six consecutive years, the University has received MOE funding under the “Program for Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education.” In Academic Year 113, the University supported the establishment of 13 student innovation and entrepreneurship teams. Student teams continued to excel in national entrepreneurship competitions, achieving the following honors:

    5.1  A student team from the Department of Nursing was selected as a Top 10 finalist in the “2025 Hualien Youth Dreamer Program” and won the Silver Award in the 20th National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (War Strategies Competition).

    5.2  Joint teams from the Departments of Health Administration won one First Prize and two Second Prizes in the “University Entrepreneurship Simulation Learning Platform Competition.”

   5.3  Three teams from the Department of Business Management received Action Incentive Awards in the 2025 Hualien Youth Local Industry Engagement Project Competition.

   5.4  A student team from the Department of Nursing won one First Prize and one Third Prize in the 9th National Compassion Technology Innovation Competition.

6.  Industry–Academia Collaboration to Promote Sustainable Application of the Silent Mentor Program:
    In partnership with Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and Lixel Inc., the University is advancing the sustainable application of the “Silent Mentor” program. By leveraging Lixel’s cutting-edge glasses-free 3D holography and mid-air interaction technology, the bodies of Silent Mentors have been transformed into digitized, three-dimensional instructional resources, resulting in Taiwan’s first Virtual Cadaver Surgical Simulation Textbook and opening a new chapter in medical education. The “Silent Mentor—Legacy of Body Donation” project was honored with the 22nd National Innovation Award.

The project “Silent Mentor – Legacy of Body Teaching Program” received recognition at the 22nd National Innovation Awards.

7.  Establishment of the Net-Zero Green Talent Eastern Training Center:
    A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Environment to establish the “Eastern Region Net-Zero Green Talent Training Center” at Tzu Chi University. This initiative aims to integrate sustainability education resources, enhance students’ awareness of green industries, and strengthen the cultivation of local green talent.As of November 24 in the 114th academic year, a total of 123 participants—including 20 faculty and staff members and 16 students from Tzu Chi University—had enrolled in the Center’s training courses. Among them, 91 participants successfully completed the program and received the “Net-Zero Green Talent Training Program Certificate of Completion” issued by the MOENV, including 14 TCU students who earned this qualification.

IV. Enhancing the Public Value of Higher Education

     The educational quality of TCU has been recognized by reputable domestic and international institutions, with notable achievements in supporting disadvantaged students, promoting lifelong learning, and enhancing health resources for older adults.

1.  Global Recognition: Ranked 64th Worldwide in SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-Being”

    The University ranked 64th globally in SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-Being” in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, demonstrating excellence in health promotion, medical service, and community well-being.

2.  Full Accreditation with the Maximum Six-Year Validation Period
    In the 113th Academic Year Institutional Evaluation conducted by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT), the University successfully passed all four evaluation categories and was granted a six-year accreditation period. This outcome affirms the institution’s excellence in governance, educational quality assurance, and continuous improvement

3.  All six technical and vocational departments at our University successfully passed the Ministry of Education’s Teaching Quality Assurance Review, each receiving a five-year accreditation. The review was conducted under the Higher Education Teaching Quality Assurance Service Project by the Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA), a professional evaluation body recognized by the Ministry of Education. These results reflect the high quality of teaching and the university's ongoing efforts to improve its technical and vocational programs.

4.  Indigenous Student Resource Center Recognized as “Outstanding Indigenous Support Center”

    The University was recognized by the Ministry of Education as an “Outstanding Indigenous Student Resource Center” for the 2024–2025 academic year, acknowledging its commitment to cultural support and indigenous student success.

The Center’s staff member, Mr. Jan Shao-Wen, was also honored as an “Outstanding Indigenous Affairs Officer” at the higher education level.

Additionally, 80.4% of indigenous students obtained certification in their indigenous language, demonstrating the effectiveness of cultural and linguistic support initiatives.

5.  Lifelong Learning Advancement: “Third Age University” and Micro-Credential Programs

    In alignment with MOE lifelong learning policies, TCU participated in the “Third Life University” Pilot Program, offering two microcredit programs:
– Smart Health and Life Management Program (15 participants)
– Self-Growth and Job Transition Program (10 participants)

6.  Two disability-prevention programs were recognized by the Hualien County Health Bureau under the “Program for Preventing and Delaying Disability in Older Adults.”

    6.1  Professor Tsung-Yi Chen (Center for Physical Education) received Second Place in the New Program Category for an individualized Adaptive Exercise Program integrating nutrition planning and home assignments to delay aging among older adults.

    6.2  Lecturer Hsin-Yen Tsai (Department of Nursing) received Third Place in the Existing Program Category for her long-term work in dementia community centers using Elastic Resistance Exercises, incorporating stretching, balance, aerobic, and resistance training to enhance muscle strength and slow functional decline.

※Enhanced International Student Support Systems with Significant Increase in Satisfaction

1.  Institutional Research Center surveys indicate that international student satisfaction improved from 3.48 (AY109) to 4.06 (AY113) on 5-Point Likert Scales

, reflecting significant enhancements in administrative, academic, and daily life support.

2.  The number of international students increased from 387 (AY113) to 424 (AY114), marking a 9.56% growth.

3. Establishment of the MOE-Approved International Preparatory Program

    The Ministry of Education approved the establishment of the University’s International Preparatory Program with an enrollment quota of 90 international students.

4.  The program offers one year of Chinese language preparatory courses, followed by pathways into degree programs, thereby strengthening Mandarin proficiency and supporting the cultivation of cross-border talent.