National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) yesterday held a groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of its Yue-han Hall (月涵堂) in Taipei, which is to be used by its Taipei School of Economics and Political Science (TSE).
Three former ministers of education, Wu Ching-ji (吳清基), Chiang Wei-ling (蔣偉寧) and Yeh Jiunn-rong (葉俊榮), as well as former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), attended the ceremony.
Yue-han Hall has profound meaning to the university, NTHU president John Kao (高為元) said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
As its front building has been designated a historic building, it would be preserved and repaired according to the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act (文化資產保存法), he said, adding that the rear structure would be demolished and replaced by a 12-story building with a three-level basement, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Ko said that while Japan has the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, the US has Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Singapore has the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Taiwan lacks an academy for politicians.
Politicians need proper training and cannot rely on self-exploration, he said, adding that he is looking forward to TSE’s establishment.
TSE Foundation chairperson Huang Huang-hsiung (黃煌雄) said that three years and 10 months after signing a contract to establish the TSE, NTHU has fulfilled its commitment by converting Yue-han Hall into the TSE Building.
Former NTHU president Hocheng Hong (賀陳弘) said the TSE has the geographic advantage of being close to Hsinchu Science Park and is discussing talent cultivation projects for teachers and students with the London School of Economics and Political Science.
National Taiwan University (NTU) president Chen Wen-chang (陳文章) told the University Council that NTU’s new School of Economics and Political Science would begin enrolling students next year, with 15 students in each program.
NTU’s proposal to establish a School of Economics and Political Science was approved by the Ministry of Education, enabling it to launch a graduate program of economics and political science, and another program of finance.
There are many universities and research facilities around the world, including in the US, Europe and Japan, that want to cooperate with the School of Economics and Political Science, and they are discussing student exchanges and joint dual-degree mechanisms with the university, Chen said.
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