News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　A wide variety of exciting events have been organized to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the National Chiayi University. On the morning of Oct. 31st, “Letter of Intent Signing Ceremony between Chiayi City Government and National Chiayi University and Unveiling Ceremony of the Former Main Gate of TPCJTC: Glory Regained” were held jointly with the Chiayi City Government on the Linsen campus. Five of the first graduates of Taiwan Provincial Chiayi Junior Teachers College, or TPCJTC, were invited to attend the unveiling ceremony of the former main gate of TPCJTC. All the five alumni, including Lin Shui-Yun, Lai Ru-Qi, Zhang Rui-Cai, Chen Wan-Guo and Xie Cheng-Han, are retired presidents of eduacational institutes. On the same day, Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-Hui, on behalf of the Chiayi City Government, signed a letter of intent on six major aspects with NCYU. Together with the TPCJTC alumni, they bore witness to the historic moment of the unveiling of TPCNS’ former main gate on the Linsen campus.

　　This year marks the centennial anniversary of NCYU. A century ago, Kagi Agricultural and Forestry School, or Kano, was founded against all odds in Shanzihding, Chiayi City, in 1919. And in 1957, Taiwan Provincial Chiayi Normal School was established on the now Linsen campus. After the merger of National Chiayi Teachers College and National Chiayi Institute of Technology in 2000, it became a comprehensive university that marked a milestone in the history of NCYU. While being a successful model for integration into a higher education university in Taiwan, it is the longest-standing comprehensive university in the Yunlin and Chiayi region. To bring alumni and Chiayi citizens back to days of old, the university had decided to reveal the former main gates of TPCJTC and Kano as part of a series of centennial anniversary celebrations. The former main gate of Kano on the Sinmin campus remained where it is today, while both the new and old gates coexisting on the Linsen campus attracted attention from the Chiayi citizens and alumni of the university.

　　The TPCNS’s former main gate reminds the alumni and Chiayi citizens of the fond memories of the past. Recently, “Chia Yuan,” a neighborhood long-term care center, was established on the Linsen campus of NCYU to provide advanced care to seniors in Chiayi. In addition to the unveiling ceremony of the former main gate, the signing ceremony also took place. To fulfill its social responsibility as a university and contribute to the development of a smart city in a joint effort with the Chiayi City Government, NCYU signed the letter of intent with the Chiayi City Government. The letter of intent covers six major aspects: teacher development and popular science education; sports economy and resource integration; animal protection and health care, and food safety; foreign languages, tourism, humanities and arts; planting and conservation, environmental beautification; and technological development and regional revitalization. Both parties are expected to work together in partnership and collaboration, cultivate professionals, and integrate regional resources, with the ultimate goal of improving public health literacy and well-being. The unveiling of the former main gate accentuated the devotion NCYU has shown in maintaining the cultural assets and historical heritage of the campus. It was also testament to the fact that NCYU will shoulder the responsibility and pass on the mission as an educator, and become a landmark in history.

　　An alumnus of TPCJTC, Xie Cheng-Han thanked the alma mater for its teaching and training that allowed them to carry out their mission as an educator, and inspire and provide education for all people for over forty years, so that they could cultivate professionals and leaders for the country, and contribute their part to the country. He also thanked the alma mater for revealing the former main gate of TPCNS, which transported them back to the good old days. He was honored to behold the letter of intent signing ceremony between NCYU and the Chiayi City Government, and was glad to know that both the university and city government have been working together to revive the glory of the Linsen campus.