Exhibition for Purdue NCKU Project Inaugurated in NCKU Museum
Tainan, TAIWAN, Jan. 20, 2009--- Throughout the 20th Century, the United States provided significant financial support via US-Aid Program to revamp the Asia-Pacific region since 1950’s. The support was in the form of creating universities, setting up scholarships for the brightest of the bright and sustained assistance to universities during their fledging stages, promoting their academic growth. In this respect, the strong academic and financial support from Purdue University to NCKU in the areas of science and engineering, from 1953 to 1963, is an important manifestation of this effort by the United States.
In order to commemorate this great and important period, on January 19th 2009 at the University Museum of NCKU, Purdue University and NCKU jointly inaugurated an exhibition showcasing the history of this period. The exhibition will run through December 2009.
The joint NCKU-Purdue exhibition showcases the profound relationship that both universities have shared since the US-Aid period. The exhibition displays photos, manuscripts, US-funded instruments, documentaries and 3D simulated architectural models. The exhibition also illustrates the efforts and achievements contributed by professors from both universities.
Among the distinguished guests who attended the inauguration ceremony was, from NCKU, President Michael M.C. Lai, Dr. Jenny Su, Vice President for International Affairs, Dr. H.S. Yan, NCKU Museum Director; from Purdue University was Dr. Klod Kokini, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Vince Bralts, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, and Dr. George McCabe, Associate Dean of the College of Science. Finally, the Branch Chief, Mr. Christian M. Castro, of the Kaohsiung Branch Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) was also in attendance.
The Purdue-NCKU Project was part of the US-Aid program which resulted from the Korean War. In those ten years, US financial aid, amounting to nearly 100 million New Taiwanese Dollars (NTD), approximately 3 million USD, was invested into NCKU.
Reflecting on this period where NCKU made palpable maturation, Academician Michael M. C. Lai, President of NCKU said that today’s exhibition is much more than a museum exhibition opening. It is a historical occasion that honors and underscores a past event and renews a friendship that started more than a half century ago. President Lai paid homage to the pioneers of NCKU who paved the way for NCKU in becoming one of the leading universities in Taiwan today. He also expressed gratitude to Purdue University who has played such a pivotal role for NCKU to reach what it is today. “This exhibit reminds us all of what two universities can achieve with dedication and passion for education,” President Lai added.
President Lai of NCKU said that assistance from the United States Government and NGO’s to Asia Pacific was profound and palpable. This included the creation of private and public universities, scholarship and sustained assistance to fledgling universities. President Lai also mentioned the statement of Mr. Barack Obama, the President-Elect of the United Stated that “restoring the reputation of the United States will be one of his administration’s highest priorities.” “I hope what the US had done in the 20 the century, in assisting Asia Pacific in building its intellectual infrastructure, such as the Purdue-NCKU project will be part of his building block of restoration,” concluded President Lai.
According to President Lai, the Purdue-NCKU project, which began in 1952 and completed in 1962, was part of the US-Aid Program that brought a remarkable amount of educational assistance to universities in the Asia Pacific region. Purdue University, an outstanding US land-grant university in engineering and science, had many similar characteristics as Tainan Provincial College of Engineering, the name of NCKU then. In addition to financial support, Purdue University introduced new teaching methods and courses, and modernized the entire campus. The most significant of its efforts were the Purdue professors that were sent to NCKU to advice the administration, research and teaching while the NCKU faculties were sent to Purdue University for studies.
It must be underscored that Professor R. Norris Shreve chaired the delegation of Purdue professors who traveled often to NCKU in those ten years to serve as academic consultants. He and other Purdue academics and administrators worked seamlessly with NCKU counterparts to create one of the most profound educational reforms, with new curriculums and devices. Cooperation with Purdue University directly benefited NCKU with new campus buildings, facilities upgrades, new lab instruments, enhanced library collections, and scholarships for NCKU educators to earn advanced degrees abroad. Under these reforms and assistance, NCKU was promoted from a college into a university in 1956.
Through the assistance of Purdue, NCKU produced a myriad of alumni whose efforts and achievements can be seen in many critical areas in Taiwan’s economy and industries; Dr. Klod Kokini, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering from Purdue University acclaimed that NCKU’s engineering graduates are on the forefront, contributing, leading, and greatly influencing Taiwan’s economy and growth, as well as engineering and science throughout the country, Asia and the world. “We have been so pleased to have had an impact on the development of the science and engineering program at NCKU, and we are delighted to see the growth and success that has occurred – not just in these disciplines, but throughout your comprehensive university, which is truly impressive and well-respected,” said Dr. Klod Kokini.
Dr. Kokini also provided some data about student number. According to Dr. Kokini, there are 266 students from Taiwan studying at Purdue, top ten home locations of the international students in Purdue University, and 20 of our outstanding faculty are from Taiwan. Since 2001, 118 Purdue students have studied abroad in Taiwan, which has been a significant increase in the last five years. Purdue also has many outstanding alumni in Taiwan, including several faculty members at NCKU. “These examples illustrate the connections betweens us. We are very pleased with these relationships and look ahead to forging strong collaborations in the future,” added Dr. Kokini.
AIT Kaohsiung Branch Chief, Mr. Christian M. Castro, said that the exhibition for Purdue-NCKU project not only represents the generosity and assistance from the United States to Taiwan, but also identifies the friendship between USA and Taiwan.
Two of NCKU Professors who were part of the project more than half a century ago, Dr. H.S. Shi (史惠順) and Dr. King-Nien Woo (吳慶年), were given special recognition in this ceremony. Dr. Shi reminded his studies in Purdue University, which is still vivid in his memories and expressed his greatest wish is that the Purdue-NCKU project can be continued so that more Taiwanese students can go to Purdue University to have academic exchange.
According to the exhibit, between 1953 and June 1963, nearly 1.6 million US dollars and 53 million NT dollars in US Aid had been infused into what is today NCKU. Funds attributable to US Aid accounted for 90% of the school’s total budget during this period! Out of US Aid, over US$748,000 was allocated to the purchase of teaching equipment, instruments and books; more than US$703,000 was used for Purdue advisor salaries and travel expenses; and some US$135,000 was used to support oversea study for NCKU educators & staffs. The largest portion of US Aid funds denominated in NT dollars, an amount totaling over NT$33 million, was spent on campus construction.
The general physics laboratories of Tainan Technical College were primarily stocked with instruments and equipments from Japan. While precise, durable and often interchangeable across a number of equipment platforms, they were not available in quantities sufficient to serve the needs of a large and expanding student body. Purdue advisor R.W. Lefler led the comprehensive overhaul of laboratories; replacing Japanese-era workrooms and equipment designed for small-scale research work with classroom laboratories providing space for many students to work simultaneously.
Prior to the arrival of Purdue advisors, the general physics lab used no textbooks, but was rather taught by large class lecture. Students had to rely on their own notes to keep up with class progress. The Perdue Project transformed the physics classroom from an exercise in knowledge memorization to a hands-on experience emphasizing experimentation and practice. Laboratory courses and practical training received greater emphasis. Students were required to clean up classroom and labs after use. The use of visual aids also took increasing importance. Syllabi for all courses were updated and faculties were instructed to evaluate student performance to a higher standard.
About Purdue University.
Purdue University, highly ranked in the nation’s top public universities by U.S. News & World Report, is globally renowned for academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and outreach. Overall, Purdue has earned 18 top-10 academic rankings and 34 top-20 rankings from national ranking agencies. A Purdue education at the West Lafayette, Indiana, Campus — and other locations in the University’s statewide land-grant system — is a giant step toward lifelong success. Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, the first and last men to walk on the moon, are among 22 Purdue graduates to have been selected by NASA for space flight. You, too, can leave footprints on this Big Ten campus of 39,100 students. With your choice of more than 200 majors and programs in ten colleges and schools, follow a direct path to a rewarding life and join more than 400,800 living Boilermaker alumni around the world.
About National Cheng Kung University.
NCKU is located in the ancient city of Tainan, which is approximately 250 kilometers south of Taipei. It is connected to all major cities in Taiwan by the recently initiated state-of-the-art Taiwan High Speed Rail. With three quarters of a century of distinguished history, with well over 130,000 powerful alumni now dotting the globe, many have achieved supreme successes in arts, business, education, science, technology and healthcare and are ready and willing to assist, with 22,000 academic selective students and 1200 academically significant faculty members currently, both have healthy dosage of international flavor, with enormous regional support, and with a permeating culture of proactive intellectual growth on the world’s stage, NCKU in Tainan, Taiwan, has evolved from its engineering genesis to become a powerful comprehensive, research and international university in Asia Pacific.
In order to commemorate this great and important period, on January 19th 2009 at the University Museum of NCKU, Purdue University and NCKU jointly inaugurated an exhibition showcasing the history of this period. The exhibition will run through December 2009.
The joint NCKU-Purdue exhibition showcases the profound relationship that both universities have shared since the US-Aid period. The exhibition displays photos, manuscripts, US-funded instruments, documentaries and 3D simulated architectural models. The exhibition also illustrates the efforts and achievements contributed by professors from both universities.
Among the distinguished guests who attended the inauguration ceremony was, from NCKU, President Michael M.C. Lai, Dr. Jenny Su, Vice President for International Affairs, Dr. H.S. Yan, NCKU Museum Director; from Purdue University was Dr. Klod Kokini, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Vince Bralts, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, and Dr. George McCabe, Associate Dean of the College of Science. Finally, the Branch Chief, Mr. Christian M. Castro, of the Kaohsiung Branch Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) was also in attendance.
The Purdue-NCKU Project was part of the US-Aid program which resulted from the Korean War. In those ten years, US financial aid, amounting to nearly 100 million New Taiwanese Dollars (NTD), approximately 3 million USD, was invested into NCKU.
Reflecting on this period where NCKU made palpable maturation, Academician Michael M. C. Lai, President of NCKU said that today’s exhibition is much more than a museum exhibition opening. It is a historical occasion that honors and underscores a past event and renews a friendship that started more than a half century ago. President Lai paid homage to the pioneers of NCKU who paved the way for NCKU in becoming one of the leading universities in Taiwan today. He also expressed gratitude to Purdue University who has played such a pivotal role for NCKU to reach what it is today. “This exhibit reminds us all of what two universities can achieve with dedication and passion for education,” President Lai added.
President Lai of NCKU said that assistance from the United States Government and NGO’s to Asia Pacific was profound and palpable. This included the creation of private and public universities, scholarship and sustained assistance to fledgling universities. President Lai also mentioned the statement of Mr. Barack Obama, the President-Elect of the United Stated that “restoring the reputation of the United States will be one of his administration’s highest priorities.” “I hope what the US had done in the 20 the century, in assisting Asia Pacific in building its intellectual infrastructure, such as the Purdue-NCKU project will be part of his building block of restoration,” concluded President Lai.
According to President Lai, the Purdue-NCKU project, which began in 1952 and completed in 1962, was part of the US-Aid Program that brought a remarkable amount of educational assistance to universities in the Asia Pacific region. Purdue University, an outstanding US land-grant university in engineering and science, had many similar characteristics as Tainan Provincial College of Engineering, the name of NCKU then. In addition to financial support, Purdue University introduced new teaching methods and courses, and modernized the entire campus. The most significant of its efforts were the Purdue professors that were sent to NCKU to advice the administration, research and teaching while the NCKU faculties were sent to Purdue University for studies.
It must be underscored that Professor R. Norris Shreve chaired the delegation of Purdue professors who traveled often to NCKU in those ten years to serve as academic consultants. He and other Purdue academics and administrators worked seamlessly with NCKU counterparts to create one of the most profound educational reforms, with new curriculums and devices. Cooperation with Purdue University directly benefited NCKU with new campus buildings, facilities upgrades, new lab instruments, enhanced library collections, and scholarships for NCKU educators to earn advanced degrees abroad. Under these reforms and assistance, NCKU was promoted from a college into a university in 1956.
Through the assistance of Purdue, NCKU produced a myriad of alumni whose efforts and achievements can be seen in many critical areas in Taiwan’s economy and industries; Dr. Klod Kokini, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering from Purdue University acclaimed that NCKU’s engineering graduates are on the forefront, contributing, leading, and greatly influencing Taiwan’s economy and growth, as well as engineering and science throughout the country, Asia and the world. “We have been so pleased to have had an impact on the development of the science and engineering program at NCKU, and we are delighted to see the growth and success that has occurred – not just in these disciplines, but throughout your comprehensive university, which is truly impressive and well-respected,” said Dr. Klod Kokini.
Dr. Kokini also provided some data about student number. According to Dr. Kokini, there are 266 students from Taiwan studying at Purdue, top ten home locations of the international students in Purdue University, and 20 of our outstanding faculty are from Taiwan. Since 2001, 118 Purdue students have studied abroad in Taiwan, which has been a significant increase in the last five years. Purdue also has many outstanding alumni in Taiwan, including several faculty members at NCKU. “These examples illustrate the connections betweens us. We are very pleased with these relationships and look ahead to forging strong collaborations in the future,” added Dr. Kokini.
AIT Kaohsiung Branch Chief, Mr. Christian M. Castro, said that the exhibition for Purdue-NCKU project not only represents the generosity and assistance from the United States to Taiwan, but also identifies the friendship between USA and Taiwan.
Two of NCKU Professors who were part of the project more than half a century ago, Dr. H.S. Shi (史惠順) and Dr. King-Nien Woo (吳慶年), were given special recognition in this ceremony. Dr. Shi reminded his studies in Purdue University, which is still vivid in his memories and expressed his greatest wish is that the Purdue-NCKU project can be continued so that more Taiwanese students can go to Purdue University to have academic exchange.
According to the exhibit, between 1953 and June 1963, nearly 1.6 million US dollars and 53 million NT dollars in US Aid had been infused into what is today NCKU. Funds attributable to US Aid accounted for 90% of the school’s total budget during this period! Out of US Aid, over US$748,000 was allocated to the purchase of teaching equipment, instruments and books; more than US$703,000 was used for Purdue advisor salaries and travel expenses; and some US$135,000 was used to support oversea study for NCKU educators & staffs. The largest portion of US Aid funds denominated in NT dollars, an amount totaling over NT$33 million, was spent on campus construction.
The general physics laboratories of Tainan Technical College were primarily stocked with instruments and equipments from Japan. While precise, durable and often interchangeable across a number of equipment platforms, they were not available in quantities sufficient to serve the needs of a large and expanding student body. Purdue advisor R.W. Lefler led the comprehensive overhaul of laboratories; replacing Japanese-era workrooms and equipment designed for small-scale research work with classroom laboratories providing space for many students to work simultaneously.
Prior to the arrival of Purdue advisors, the general physics lab used no textbooks, but was rather taught by large class lecture. Students had to rely on their own notes to keep up with class progress. The Perdue Project transformed the physics classroom from an exercise in knowledge memorization to a hands-on experience emphasizing experimentation and practice. Laboratory courses and practical training received greater emphasis. Students were required to clean up classroom and labs after use. The use of visual aids also took increasing importance. Syllabi for all courses were updated and faculties were instructed to evaluate student performance to a higher standard.
About Purdue University.
Purdue University, highly ranked in the nation’s top public universities by U.S. News & World Report, is globally renowned for academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and outreach. Overall, Purdue has earned 18 top-10 academic rankings and 34 top-20 rankings from national ranking agencies. A Purdue education at the West Lafayette, Indiana, Campus — and other locations in the University’s statewide land-grant system — is a giant step toward lifelong success. Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, the first and last men to walk on the moon, are among 22 Purdue graduates to have been selected by NASA for space flight. You, too, can leave footprints on this Big Ten campus of 39,100 students. With your choice of more than 200 majors and programs in ten colleges and schools, follow a direct path to a rewarding life and join more than 400,800 living Boilermaker alumni around the world.
About National Cheng Kung University.
NCKU is located in the ancient city of Tainan, which is approximately 250 kilometers south of Taipei. It is connected to all major cities in Taiwan by the recently initiated state-of-the-art Taiwan High Speed Rail. With three quarters of a century of distinguished history, with well over 130,000 powerful alumni now dotting the globe, many have achieved supreme successes in arts, business, education, science, technology and healthcare and are ready and willing to assist, with 22,000 academic selective students and 1200 academically significant faculty members currently, both have healthy dosage of international flavor, with enormous regional support, and with a permeating culture of proactive intellectual growth on the world’s stage, NCKU in Tainan, Taiwan, has evolved from its engineering genesis to become a powerful comprehensive, research and international university in Asia Pacific.
Click Num:
Share
