2019 Fo Guang University
Fo Guang System Electronic Newsletter
A Look Back at the 2018 FGS University Presidents Forum
The 2018 FGS University Presidents Forum consisted of four days of meetings from November 1st to 4th and was held at Fo Guang University, Nanhua University, and Fo Guang Shan. This is the third year that the FGS University Presidents Forum has been held since it was established and the forum has grown year after year. For 2018, guests from 17 countries, 44 universities, and nearly 90 school presidents and scholars were invited to participate in this forum. During these four days of meetings and activities, school presidents and scholars gathered together to discuss and share different cultural views and views of Buddhism. Topics that were discussed included “University Governance and International Exchange,” “Buddhist Education and Modern Life,” “Buddhist Thought and Contemporary Culture,” and any other topics that were related to university governance or Buddhist education. These discussions were centered on Buddhist thought, modern life, contemporary culture, and moral education. It is hoped that Taiwan can benefit from Buddhism with the integration of Buddhist thought into education, the application of Buddhist thought into one’s daily life, and the utilization of modern technology to spread Buddhism.
On the last day of the FGS University Presidents Forum, Master Hsing Yun made a rare visit to the Fo Guang Shan conference hall. Master Hsing Yun was very happy that the school presidents and scholars were able to make the trip to Fo Guang Shan and presented them with gifts as gratitude for their dedication to education and the promotion of Buddhism.
Yang Chao-hsiang, the chancellor of the Fo Guang Shan University System, said that the forum has grown year after year and that each school president and Buddhist scholar tries their best to share their personal experiences and collectively care about the future and development of Buddhist universities. He added that he hopes that every year during the forum, professors and experts from different universities can share their educational experiences and engage in academic exchanges, continue to work hard to cultivate talents all over the world, help promote Buddhist education to become a focus of the world academic community, and to practice the teachings of the great compassionate Buddha to foster happiness to all of mankind.
The FGS University Presidents Forum has set a great example of how an international exchange of ideas should be conducted.Different countries and cultures worked together to promote university education.The school presidents and scholars of different countries are already looking forward to the arrival of the fourth FGS University Presidents Forum.After enjoying a documentary film of the 2018 FGS University Presidents Forum made by the Fo Guang University Department of Communications, the third FGS University Presidents Forum officially concluded at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum.
A “Gold Medal” Display of Academic Excellence
Fo Guang University has recently achieved great academic success from the joint efforts of the teachers and students.According to a survey conducted by 1111 Human Resource Agency and China Times Weekly on “2019’s Universities That Corporations Love,” Fo Guang University placed third in “Eastern Taiwan and Offshore Islands Employers’ Favorites” and also placed first in the small private universities division in “Universities With Young Prospects That Corporations Are Most Optimistic About.”This represents that the performance of the school management and efforts put forth by the faculty, staff, teachers, and students has been well recognized in the corporate world.
In addition, the students of the Department of Product and Media Design are continuing to excel in their projects. This year, they broke all previous records and had 24 works nominated for the “Red Dot Design Award” and 12 works nominated for the “Golden Pin Design Award.” In order to keep up with current social trends, Lee Shichen and Zheng Shaoyen designed “FGW,” an electric vehicle combined with the popular exercise equipment, the spinning cycle. This design allows for a transportation device to be able to convert into an exercise machine and it was awarded the silver medal in the “KYMCO Motorcycle Design Competition Cup.” Zhang Xuanming and Tsai Yixian were responsible for the design of “VANCY,” a shrimp-styled beach cleaning vehicle. This design simplifies the beach cleaning process to allow the world’s ocean to be able to return to their natural ecological state and was awarded the gold medal in the “2019 ND Super Star Design Award.” The designs of these works were particularly eye-catching and spectacular.
While Master Hsing Yun is committed to university education, he also actively promotes sports activities. After being established 10 years ago, the 2018 Fo Guang University women’s basketball team became the first team in school history to finally win the Division I Women’s UBA Championship. This season’s finals MVP Chen Menghsin was also awarded the finals Rookie Award and Most Assists Award, being the first rookie in league history to win all three awards at once. The Fo Guang University women’s basketball team had come close to winning the championship several times since it was established in 2007 only to have been eliminated in the finals, but this year they finally won in a hard-fought championship. This year, the addition of key players from the previous two seasons of the HBL Championship teams from Pumen Senior High School finally made the successful championship of this season possible. Fo Guang University was finally able to proudly wave the school flag and sing the school anthem in the Taipei Arena at this important milestone for the university’s commitment to the sport of basketball.
Campus Life
On the subject of student activities, in order to cultivate students’ international views and increase overseas
volunteer and learning opportunities, Fo Guang University has partnered with Fo Guan Shan’s Global Overseas Branches to form the “2019 Fo Guang University South African International Volunteers – Love Africa.” The Office of Student Affairs Extracurricular Activities Division led eight students to two orphanages in Africa, the “Zithobeni Kids Care Centre,” the “Rethabiseng Kids Care Centre” and two local elementary schools, the “Monampane Primary School,” the “Hlapogadi Primary School” for 26 days of volunteer work. During the trip, Fo Guang University volunteers also participated in Nan Hua Temple’s annual “Chinese New Year Gathering Evening Party and Chinese Cultural Carnival.” On the day of the evening party and carnival, no one was judged by the color of their skin and everybody celebrated happily together as one big family, enjoying the moment, praying, and lighting candles together to welcome the new year. Also on the day of the carnival, the Fo Guang University volunteers specially prepared uniquely-shaped balloons to let both the foreign visitors and locals feel the Chinese New Year’s atmosphere and spread of Chinese culture.
In response to the Ministry of Education’s New Southbound Talent Development Program, Fo Guang University’s Office of Southbound Talent Development has begun a “Chinese Cultural Workshop” in the Philippines along with teachers from different offices teaching special classes about calligraphy and the board game Go. From March 7th to 10th, Fo Guang University’s Office of Southbound Talent Development traveled to Fo Guang Shan University System’s Guang Ming College and the Philippines’ Overseas Branch’s Mabuhay Temple to hold classes. Chen Shangmao, director of the Office of Southbound Talent Development, indicated that students displayed high enthusiasm and willingness to learn during classes and expressed positive feedback from local schools about the program. Guang Ming College has already begun talks with Fo Guang University in planning for future Chinese Cultural Courses to be offered. It is hoped that these efforts will encourage Filipino students to come to Taiwan to continue their studies.
In the Taiwan’s Higher Education System, Fo Guang University is the only university with a “Go Development Center.” In order to spread Go overseas, an organized delegation trip was made to the US Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple and the University of the West. Master Hui Dong of Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple also agrees with the educational benefits of Go, but indicated that there is a limited amount of qualified Go instructors and therefore they are quite hard to find. In response, Hsu Wen-chieh, the Chief Secretary of Fo Guang University, has promised to look into better opportunities for overseas branches internships or volunteer programs when he returns to Taiwan. These opportunities will not only be limited to Go and may include other special subjects from Fo Guang University such as vegetarianism in the hopes of creating a stronger partnership between Fo Guang University and various overseas branches. Otto Chang, president of the University of the West, and various high-ranking supervisors personally conducted and held a meeting discussing in depth different topics regarding partnership opportunities between Fo Guang University and the University of the West. President Chang not only expressed his welcoming enthusiasm, but also hopes that Fo Guang University students that specialize in Go can educate others with their expertise and allow students of the University of the West to also become knowledgeable about Go.
On April 27th, Fo Guang University held its Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony and District Get-Together Carnival at the university’s gymnasium. This year, Yilan’s local communities, government organizations, and other groups were invited to participate in the field day to encourage exercise and to promote good health. Abbot Master Jue Lai pointed out that Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated with a ritual where devotees shower Buddha statues with water to symbolize cleansing the body and mind to enable one to carry out good deeds, make positive remarks, and think good thoughts. Fo Guang University President Yang Chao-hsiang also expressed his sincere gratitude towards Lanyang Temple Abbot Master Jue Lai, all monks, and male and female devotees for gathering and participating every year at Fo Guang University’s Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony and wishes that all Fo Guang University teachers and students can learn to be grateful, cleanse their bodies and minds, and begin a fresh start in life.
volunteer and learning opportunities, Fo Guang University has partnered with Fo Guan Shan’s Global Overseas Branches to form the “2019 Fo Guang University South African International Volunteers – Love Africa.” The Office of Student Affairs Extracurricular Activities Division led eight students to two orphanages in Africa, the “Zithobeni Kids Care Centre,” the “Rethabiseng Kids Care Centre” and two local elementary schools, the “Monampane Primary School,” the “Hlapogadi Primary School” for 26 days of volunteer work. During the trip, Fo Guang University volunteers also participated in Nan Hua Temple’s annual “Chinese New Year Gathering Evening Party and Chinese Cultural Carnival.” On the day of the evening party and carnival, no one was judged by the color of their skin and everybody celebrated happily together as one big family, enjoying the moment, praying, and lighting candles together to welcome the new year. Also on the day of the carnival, the Fo Guang University volunteers specially prepared uniquely-shaped balloons to let both the foreign visitors and locals feel the Chinese New Year’s atmosphere and spread of Chinese culture.
In response to the Ministry of Education’s New Southbound Talent Development Program, Fo Guang University’s Office of Southbound Talent Development has begun a “Chinese Cultural Workshop” in the Philippines along with teachers from different offices teaching special classes about calligraphy and the board game Go. From March 7th to 10th, Fo Guang University’s Office of Southbound Talent Development traveled to Fo Guang Shan University System’s Guang Ming College and the Philippines’ Overseas Branch’s Mabuhay Temple to hold classes. Chen Shangmao, director of the Office of Southbound Talent Development, indicated that students displayed high enthusiasm and willingness to learn during classes and expressed positive feedback from local schools about the program. Guang Ming College has already begun talks with Fo Guang University in planning for future Chinese Cultural Courses to be offered. It is hoped that these efforts will encourage Filipino students to come to Taiwan to continue their studies.
In the Taiwan’s Higher Education System, Fo Guang University is the only university with a “Go Development Center.” In order to spread Go overseas, an organized delegation trip was made to the US Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple and the University of the West. Master Hui Dong of Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple also agrees with the educational benefits of Go, but indicated that there is a limited amount of qualified Go instructors and therefore they are quite hard to find. In response, Hsu Wen-chieh, the Chief Secretary of Fo Guang University, has promised to look into better opportunities for overseas branches internships or volunteer programs when he returns to Taiwan. These opportunities will not only be limited to Go and may include other special subjects from Fo Guang University such as vegetarianism in the hopes of creating a stronger partnership between Fo Guang University and various overseas branches. Otto Chang, president of the University of the West, and various high-ranking supervisors personally conducted and held a meeting discussing in depth different topics regarding partnership opportunities between Fo Guang University and the University of the West. President Chang not only expressed his welcoming enthusiasm, but also hopes that Fo Guang University students that specialize in Go can educate others with their expertise and allow students of the University of the West to also become knowledgeable about Go.
On April 27th, Fo Guang University held its Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony and District Get-Together Carnival at the university’s gymnasium. This year, Yilan’s local communities, government organizations, and other groups were invited to participate in the field day to encourage exercise and to promote good health. Abbot Master Jue Lai pointed out that Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated with a ritual where devotees shower Buddha statues with water to symbolize cleansing the body and mind to enable one to carry out good deeds, make positive remarks, and think good thoughts. Fo Guang University President Yang Chao-hsiang also expressed his sincere gratitude towards Lanyang Temple Abbot Master Jue Lai, all monks, and male and female devotees for gathering and participating every year at Fo Guang University’s Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony and wishes that all Fo Guang University teachers and students can learn to be grateful, cleanse their bodies and minds, and begin a fresh start in life.