MOE organizes the 10th National Forum Directors and the 50th Academic Awards Presentation Ceremony

At 2:00 pm on December 28 the Ministry of Education (MOE) organized at the National Central Library the 10th National Forum Directors (2006) and the 50th Academic Awards Presentation Ceremony. To honor the glory of the National Forum Directors and Academic Awards, President Chen Shui-bian, Premier Su Tseng-chang and Education Minister Tu Cheng-sheng attended the event in person to show their respect for the winners.

Besides congratulating the winners, President Chen in his ceremonial address encouraged them to pass on their wisdom and knowledge in order to set an example for young students. President Chen also point out, it needed the full cooperation among the government, the industry and the academics in order to enhance level of research and teaching in Taiwan. By separating teachers from the government system and by amending the University Law, the government has given greater flexibility and a self-determined academic environment to colleagues and universities so that they could develop individual features.

According to Premier Su, the 5-year International First Class University and Top Research Center Development Plan run by the Executive Yuan with a total budget of $50bn and the Teaching Excellence Program with an annual budget of $5bn displayed the government's efforts and devotion to help universities develop individual characteristics and create excellent environments for academic development. The premier wished that winners could show the international society the power and fruit of their efforts for the total, sustainable development of Taiwan.

In his address Minister Tu pointed out, instead of sound reputation and advanced facilities, world leading universities earned their fames for excellent academic achievements and contributions to enhance the human civilization. The development of academic research was internationally recognized as a key indicator of university evaluation, and the National Forum and Academic Awards are the benchmark of learning to scholars engaging in academic research.

Besides praising the academic achievements and contributions of winners, Minister Tu also congratulated them and wished them to set up an examples for the domestic academic circle and so to guide young students understand more about the society, explore the truth and enter the world of knowledge as seniors in the academic circle. In addition to competitive scholarships and grants, MOE amended the University Law and other regulations to provide universities a more diversified and self-determined academic environment to engage in academic innovations and development.

The ten winners of the National Forum Directors this year included: Professor Lao Sze-kwang of Huafan University and Professor Huang Yi-long of National Tsing Hua University for the Humanities and Sociology Category; Professor Yu Jing of National Tsing Hua University and Professor Lee Hoong-chien and Professor Wing-huen Ip of National Central University for the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Category; Professor Chang Ching-fong of National Taiwan Ocean University and Professor Chen Pei-jer of National Taiwan University for the Biology, Medicine and Agricultural Science Category; and Professor Hsieh Shou-shing of National Sun Yat-sen University, Professor Hsiue Ging-ho of National Tsing Hua University and Professor Lee Tsu-tian of National Taipei University of Science and Technology for the Engineering and Applied Science Category. Additionally, professors Huang Yi-long, Lao Sze-kwang, Yu Jing, Hsieh Shou-shing and Lee Tsu-tian were second-time winners of the National Forum.

The twelve winners of the Academic Awards this year included: Research Fellow Poo Mu-chou of Academia Sinica, Professor Cheng Bor-shiuan of National Taiwan University, and Professor Liang Ting-peng of National Sun Yat-sen University for the Humanities and Sociology Category; Professor Chen Chiun-chuan and Professor Chung Sun-lin of National Taiwan University and Professor Chi Yun of National Tsing Hua University for the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Category; Professor Gean, Po-wu of National Cheng Kung University, Research Fellow Chung Bon-chu of Academia Sinica, and Professor Chang Mei-hwei of National Taiwan University for the Medicine and Agricultural Science Category; and Professor Chen Liang-gee of National Taiwan University, Professor Lin Yi-bing of National Chao Tung University, and Professor Tseng Tseung-yuen of National Taipei University of Science and Technology for the Engineering and Applied Science Category. It was glad to see that two of the twenty-two winners were females specializing in biology, medicine and agricultural science, suggesting that the academic achievements of female scholars were no second to that of male scholars in Taiwan.

Besides introducing the important contents in academic research and the profile of winners with short films, Professor Lee Tsu-tian, winner of the Eminent Academic Personnel in the National Forum, and Professor Chang Mei-hwei, winner of the Eminent Academic Personnel in the Academic Awards, delivered their appreciation speeches. The ceremony was bustled with warmth and happiness with the presence of the relatives and students of winners.