China's first encounters with western science and technology proved extremely painful. During the Opium War, the land of Confucius awoke to the sound of gunfire from foreign warships. Later, in 1860, when foreign troops entered Peking and destroyed the Summer Palace, the necessity of learning modern technology was made more manifest than ever. The government began to send students abroad to study military strategy and logistics; it also hired foreign advisors to build factories and to construct battleships and other armaments. The Chung Cheng Institute of Technology is a direct descendant of those earlier efforts to give China a defense industry.
After the overthrow of the Manchu government and the establishment of the Republic in 1911, the new Republican government opened the Army Institute of Technology in the city of Hankow to train high school students for three years in science and technology related to national defense. These students were later to play a leading role in the War of Resistance against Japan. Following the move to Taiwan, the Institute became an academy, offering four years of specialized studies. In 1968, by order of President Chiang Kai-shek, the academy, the Army Institute of Technology, the Navy Institute of Technology, and the Surveying School were consolidated into one institution - The Chung Cheng Institute of Technology. Today, the Institute, located on 67 hectares of land, is the most selective school in the country. Of seven thousand applicants each year, only 300 are selected as students.
Why do students struggle so hard to get into Chung Chen? A third year shipbuilding student, T'ien Yao-jen, speaks for his classmates. He says that the teachers' qualifications, the equipment, and the environment itself are all of the best. Because of theoretical work and practical experience in school, it is easy to find a good job after graduation. In general, if one's aim is to help strengthen the country while developing his own skills, this route is the best course of study to follow.
Since the founding of the school twelve years ago, many changes have occurred. Small plantings have developed into mighty trees. Construction of the many different classrooms, laboratories, on-campus factories and other buildings have been completed. The campus itself is simple and orderly: Broad and long roads criss-cross each other. Majestic buildings make a walk through the campus truly invigorating. Walking along, one catches glimpses of students in green uniforms, their heads held high, their bodies straight, but comfortable. A sense of dignity is everywhere, as it should be, for here are trained only the most promising and talented young men of the Republic of China.
The late President Chiang Kai-shek once said: "Without the study of science, there can be no national defense; without national defense there can be no country. Modern national defense must have science education as its basis." He also said: "To educate and train students in the sciences is the primary goal of this school. Therefore it is our duty to insure that only the best personnel and finest equipment are made available to our students, regardless of the monetary cost."
Of the present 366 full time faculty members, some twenty five percent hold PhD degrees, and sixty percent have MA's. Many military specialists are also asked to contribute their services, as are civilian experts in several fields. Altogether, the faculty is an imposing one, as are the equipment and laboratory facilities. As an example, the Vehicle Building Machine Shop has every kind of tool necessary for vehicle maintenance and repair. By working in this and similar shops, the students, by the time of graduation, know both theory and practice.
Students can take courses in the Research, Natural Science, or Engineering Divisions, and the Vocational Division. There are PhD programs in physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, navigation and shipbuilding. MS programs offer the same courses as the PhD, with the addition of a course in systems engineering.
Students are cared for in every possible way at Chung Cheng. Tuition, room and board, uniforms and school supplies are all provided free. Student food is the same as that of military officers. In addition, each student receives a special food allowance and receives other forms of preferential treatment.
Military discipline is strictly enforced at the school. Before beginning classes, all freshmen must receive three months of basic military training, and all facets of school life, including personal life styles, behavior and dormitory life are in accordance with the demands of a simple, austere, military life.
The principal of the school, Lieutenant General Wu Tsuo-hai stresses: "We seek to cultivate two aspects of each individual student. one is his role as a military officer; the other is his role as an outstanding future leader in science and technology." Furthermore, he continued: "We want to develop the ability to think, a good temperament, knowledge and discipline."
What are the students' opinions about the military restrictions imposed on them? According to third year physics student, Shen Ta: "Although its a military lifestyle, one accepts it on the basis that many strict demands are made in order to provide us with essential training and knowledge. That's all there is to it. All of us feel that a well regulated life is helpful to us in our studies."
According to school estimates, approximately two thirds of the student body remain at school to study on holidays. A professor in the electrical engineering department explains the reason for this: "The workload of science and technology students is heavier than that of students in the humanities, law or business. In addition, our equipment is quite complete, and the demands of the professors are great, so the students have a lot of responsibility. This all adds to the atmosphere of diligence perceived at this school. Moreover, our students are tightly selected. The students view studying at Chung Cheng as an opportunity, so they devote every moment of their available time to their studies. To these students, studying is enjoyable!"
When the college or vocational students graduate, most go to various departments of the defense establishment. The most outstanding students and those considered to have promising potential are afforded opportunities to go abroad for advanced study. More than half the faculty at Chung Cheng are people who have trained abroad.
Despite the school's rigorous schedule, social life is not neglected. There are eighteen clubs on the campus, divided into academic clubs, clubs for learning special techniques or hobbies, and health and recreation clubs. As in other schools, clubs are thought to foster friendly relations among students and help members to learn from each others' experiences. From time to time, there are joint meetings and contests of various kinds between Chung Cheng and other schools.
Since the school's inception, 8,500 undergraduates have received diplomas, 2,116 students have graduated from the vocational school, and 356 MS and PhD diplomas have been granted. More than 11,000 graduated students have gone out from Chung Cheng.
Chung Cheng graduates are by no means restricted to military careers. Graduates have become chairmen of boards, general managers, factory chiefs, engineers and similar positions. Other students have found academic careers as professors in Taiwan's most respected universities.
Asked to compare Chung Cheng with similar schools, the chairman of the political warfare department, Major General Wen Shou-feng, said, "We like to think that we resemble America's West Point in many respects." Then he jokingly added: "For example, on weekends both places have many pretty girls waiting in the reception rooms to see their boyfriends. Women in any country have an eye for quality!"
[Picture Caption]
1. Located in Tahsi, Taoyuan County, the Chung Cheng Technical Institute is the highest educational body in the Republic of China for training personnel in science and technology for service in the Defense Ministry. 2. This monument erected in the middle of the school campus serves as a source of inspiration for all the students.
1. The observatory. 2. The Vocational School Building. 3. A student uses a laser rangefinder he built himself. 4 & 5. Laboratory. 6. A teacher describes the principles of boat design. 7. An airplane built by the department of navigation.
1. Students in electrical engineering use computer terminals. 2 & 3. Laboratory. 4. Chairman of the political warfare department, Wen Shou-feng (right) eats together with students.
1. Athletic facilities at Chung Cheng have been completed. This is a view of the swimming pool. 2 & 4. Students playing rugby. 3. The students' dormitory is constantly inspected to insure that everything is kept clean and orderly at all times.
This monument erected in the middle of the school campus serves as a source of inspiration for all the students.
A student uses a laser rangefinder he built himself.
2. The Vocational School Building.
3. A student uses a laser rangefinder he built himself.
A teacher describes the principles of boat design.
An airplane built by the department of navigation.
Students in electrical engineering use computer terminals.
Chairman of the political warfare department, Wen Shou-feng （right） eats together with students.
Athletic facilities at Chung Cheng have been completed. This is a view of the swimming pool.
The students' dormitory is constantly inspected to insure that everything is kept clean and orderly at all times.
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