Ming Chuan University (MCU; Chinese: 銘傳大學; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Bêng-thoân Tāi-ha̍k) is a private university with four campuses in Taipei, Taoyuan and Kinmen in Taiwan, as well as one in Michigan, United States. MCU also has international education centers in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. Additionally, it collaborates with universities such as Fuzhou University and Xiamen University of Technology to establish joint college.[2]

Ming Chuan University
銘傳大學
Ming Chuan University seal
Motto誠樸敬毅[1]
Motto in English
Honesty, Modesty, Respect, Fortitude
TypePrivate
Established1957; 67 years ago (1957)
PresidentHsuan-Shih Lee (李選士)
Undergraduates17,628 (2018)
Postgraduates1,414
Location
Taiwan, United States
CampusTaipei, Taoyuan, Kinmen, Michigan, U.S.
AffiliationsU12 Consortium
Websitehttp://www.mcu.edu.tw/
Ming Chuan University
Traditional Chinese銘傳大學
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMíngchuán Dàxué
Southern Min
Hokkien POJBêng-thoân Tāi-ha̍k
Ming Chuan University

MCU was founded by Pao Teh-Ming (包德明) and her husband Lee Ying-Chao. The university was named after the progressive Qing Dynasty governor of Taiwan Liu Mingchuan.

MCU is a member of the Excellent Long-Established University Consortium of Taiwan (ELECT). The consortium includes 13 universities, such as Fu Jen Catholic University, Soochow University, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taipei Medical University, among others.[3]

MCU is the first university in Asia to receive accreditation from the United States of America by the MSCHE (Middle States Commission on Higher Education), and it is also the only university in Taiwan with such accreditation.[4] The university has also obtained accreditation from CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) and AACSB.[5][6]

History

edit

Ming Chuan University was founded in 1957 by Dr. Teh-Ming Pao and Dr. Ying-Chao Lee. It was Taiwan's first women's business school (women's college). Dr. Teh-Ming Pao, its first president, had the most significant influence on its development. When the government had just moved to Taiwan and the economy was lagging, with an urgent need to nurture business professionals, Dr. Pao founded the school in the interests of national development, at the same time raising awareness of the talents and rights of women and facilitating their contributions to society. She began preparations in Fall 1956 and on March 25, 1957, the Ministry of Education approved its founding. It began operation the following Fall.

 
Taipei Campus

The original plan called for Ming Chuan to be located in Danshui. However, a descendant of Liu Ming-Chuan, Madam Liu, was having difficulty maintaining Ming Chuan Orphanage that she had established on Zhong-Shan North Road. She found Dr. Pao willing to take over Ming Chuan Orphanage, which was later converted into the school of the same name. In five years following its establishment the school was twice moved and rebuilt, finally being relocated to its present site in the Shihlin District in 1962. Dr. Pao borrowed funds so that construction could be completed all at once.

Since MCU began as a commercial college, the original three-year day school consisted of three programs: Banking and Insurance, Accounting and Statistics, and International Trade and Business Administration. In 1960, Secretarial Science was added and Ming Chuan became part of the national junior college joint entrance examination program. The former four departments were formed into an evening program added in 1963. In 1964, the day school added a Commercial Mathematics department and Secretarial Science was added to the evening program. A five-year program for junior high school graduates was established in the same year and grew to an enrollment of 1400. The Ministry of Education of the ROC promoted Ming Chuan to senior college status on July 16, 1990.

 
Jihe Campus

After more than 30 years of development, Ming Chuan's campus on Mount Fu was full to capacity. In 1967, the school purchased gently sloping ground in Guishan Township (now Guishan District) of Taoyuan County (now Taoyuan City).

In 1995, at the invitation of the Kinmen County Education Advancement Investigation Team, Ming Chuan established a campus in Kinmen, thus becoming a comprehensive university with three campuses. Success at Kinmen led the Ministry of Education to approve MCU's establishment of Matsu Executive Master's Programs to promote higher education in Kinmen and Matsu and further Pao's dream “to serve the island residents”,[7] recognizing the right of all to an education.

In 2011, the university began holding an annual International Student Paper Competition sponsored by Taiwan ICDF, and finalist papers are published in the Journal of International Cooperation.[8]

With the introduction of ICDF (International Corporation and Development Fund) scholarships, the university has become known for its large international population. Ming Chuan opened its Michigan Campus at Saginaw Valley State University in 2014.[9]

Entrusted by the government, MCU is responsible for managing the Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Program.[10] In addition, MCU is responsible for hosting Taiwan's international youth exchange program.[11]

MCU signed the Taiwan Huayu BEST Program partnership with Rice University and University of Oklahoma.[12][13]

Campus life and traditions

edit
 
School Service Vehicle

Mascot

The university's mascot is a whale.[14]

Emblem and flag

The university flag, like the flag of Taiwan, is red, white, and blue. The emblem follows the color of the flag, with an ascending eagle and three curved figures from the bottom to the top.[14]

Plum-blossom examination seating arrangement

First introduced during the women's business school period, this system is characterized by uniform examination schedules throughout the entire school.  Exam information is uniformly released by the school and seat assignments are randomized. Each pair of adjacent students takes different subjects in the examination. Any student caught cheating during the exam is subject to expulsion according to regulations.[15]

All pass Candies

This activity is one of the traditions at MCU. Seniors traditionally give a small gift to their juniors before exams, wishing them success in their midterms and finals.[16]

Ming Chuan University F.C.

It was established by Ming Chuan University and serves as the football club for the Taiwan University Football Association, Taiwan Football Premier League, and Taiwan Second Division Football League.[17] The club has achieved both championship and runner-up titles.[18] The club plays their home matches on the Taoyuan campus of MCU.[19]

In 1979, Dr. Teh-Ming Pao established the MCU women's football team. It was a core known as the "Mulan" in the ROC women's national football team at that time. The team having won three championships in the AFC Women's Asian Cup during the 1970s. Influenced by this, the unofficial women's football world championship was held in Taiwan in 1981, and it is regarded as a motivating factor for the establishment of the Germany women's national football team.[20][21]

Academic program overview

edit
 
Kinmen Campus

[22]

MCU collaborates with Saginaw Valley State University, and they have a branch campus located in the state of Michigan.

MCU collaborates with overseas universities such as the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and SANNO University. They have established international education centers in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and other locations. The university also collaborates with some Chinese universities to establish colleges locally, including the establishment of the Ocean College in collaboration with Fuzhou University, the Liu Mingchuan College in collaboration with Hefei Normal University, and the Straits School of Business and Trade in collaboration with Xiamen University of Technology.[2]

International College at MCU is the first institution in Taiwan offering degrees through classes conducted completely in English.[2]

Ranking and reputation

edit
Ming Chuan University rankings
Global – Overall
RUR World[23]956 (2024)
THE World[24]1501+ (2024)
Regional – Overall
QS Asia[25]701–750 (2025)
THE Asia[25]601+ (2024)
National – Overall
THE National[25]35–45 (2024)

MCU is the first university in Asia to receive accreditation from the United States (MSCHE), and it is also the only university in Taiwan with such accreditation.[4] The university has also obtained accreditation from CHEA.[6]

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - Hospitality & Tourism Management

2019: 51-75; 2020: 37; 2021: 44; 2022: 51-75 (1st in Taiwan)[26]

World University Ranking: 956

Subject Rankings - Humanities: 785[27]

Asia:701-750

Eastern Asia:325[28]

  • Global Views Monthly Taiwan's Best University Rankings:

Universities focusing on humanities and social sciences: 7th

private university: 14th

Internationality: 5th[29]

Notable alumni

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "MCU Motto". MCU. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Ming Chuan Global Education System – 銘傳全球教育系統" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  3. ^ "聯盟簡介". u9.tku.edu.tw. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  4. ^ a b "Accreditation".
  5. ^ "Aacsb | 銘傳管理學院".
  6. ^ a b CHEA (March 2, 2024). "Search Institutions: Ming Chuan University". CHEA.
  7. ^ "Matsu".
  8. ^ "2013 International Development Cooperation Student Paper Competition". Taiwan ICDF. 2014. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  9. ^ Grand Opening of Ming Chuan University’s Michigan Campus (at SVSU)
  10. ^ "銘傳大學委辦臺灣獎學金及華語文獎學金計畫 展現推動國際交流與合作的實力". Ming Chuan University (in Chinese). 2024-07-29. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  11. ^ "2023國際青年大使名單揭曉 銘傳承辦培訓出團活動". Ming Chuan University (in Chinese). 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  12. ^ "駐休士頓辦事處蕭伊芳處長於12月5日偕教育組楊淑雅組長前往有「南方哈佛」美稱之萊斯大學(Rice University)出席外交部捐贈該校與銘傳大學「台美華語文教學校對校合作計畫」典禮". 駐休士頓台北經濟文化辦事處 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston (in Chinese). 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  13. ^ "19 Universities in Taiwan & the US Sign Taiwan Huayu BEST Program MOUs at NAFSA 2022 Launching New Education Partnerships". Ministry of Education. 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  14. ^ a b "MCU".
  15. ^ "Midterm Examinations Next Week!". 銘傳一週|Ming Chuan Weekly (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  16. ^ "大學有請". www.mcu.edu.tw. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  17. ^ "球隊介紹 - 中華民國足球協會CTFA". www.ctfa.com.tw. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  18. ^ 人間福報. "首屆大專足球聯賽 銘傳封王 | 青少年園地". 人間福報 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  19. ^ "Untitled Page". www1.mcu.edu.tw. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  20. ^ 國際化,雙語編排,文化整合,全球華人的雜誌, 台灣光華雜誌 Taiwan Panorama |. "中華木蘭女足隊,三度蟬聯亞洲盃冠軍 - 台灣光華雜誌". 台灣光華雜誌 Taiwan Panorama | 國際化,雙語編排,文化整合,全球華人的雜誌 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "木蘭女足促成德國女足 德國導演蒞銘傳拍攝". 銘傳一週|Ming Chuan Weekly (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  22. ^ "Academics | 銘傳大學". Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  23. ^ "Ming Chuan University". Times Higher Education (THE). 21 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Ming Chuan University". ROUND UNIVERSITY RANKING. 18 June 2024.
  25. ^ a b c "Ming Chuan University". Times Higher Education (THE). 21 June 2023.
  26. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  27. ^ "Ming Chuan University". roundranking.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  28. ^ "Ming Chuan University". Top Universities. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  29. ^ "2023最佳大學出列:愈特色,愈出色|遠見雜誌". 2023最佳大學出列:愈特色,愈出色|遠見雜誌 (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-12-07.
edit

25°05′18″N 121°31′40″E / 25.0882°N 121.5279°E / 25.0882; 121.5279