National Chiayi University was honored with the Outstanding School Prize in the 6th Arts Education Contribution Award by the MOE in 2019. On Dec. 23rd, Tzeng Yu-fen, Chairperson of the Music Department, College of Humanities and Arts, received the prize on behalf of the university at the National Taiwan Arts Education Center. The award is organized by the National Taiwan Arts Education Center and is presented to recognize groups or individuals for their substantial contribution to the solidification and promotion of arts education, and long-time dedication to the profession of arts education. The award is also given to recognize their contribution in inspiring students and the public to appreciate and perceive the beauty, as well as creating a society of good will through daily observation or practices.

　　NCYU, a comprehensive university recognized by its history and scale in the Yunlin and Chiayi region, serves as the first successful model for integration into a higher education university in Taiwan. It is known for its unwavering devotion to cultivating knowledge and an artistic character in the students. The diverse arts event “NCYU Arts Season (Festival)” has been held on an annual basis since 2012 with a view to stimulating an interest in art among NCYU teachers, students and the public through a micellany of arts performances and thematic exhibitions.

　　Over the years, the NCYU Music Department Symphony and Wind Ensemble have been carrying out exchanges in different parts of the world, such as the United States, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. These marked one of the first exchanges ever conducted in foreign countries by colleges and universities nationwide. In addition to active performances, the teachers and students of the Music Department have been orchestrating musicals each year. Not only did their musicals performed on and off campus have been met with high praise, but the high quality local arts events have been well received by the public. In 2018, “the Interdisciplinary Program of Performing Arts and Marketing” was established in conjunction with the Higher Education Enhancement Project, and distinguished teachers have been recruited to cultivate professionals with diverse knowledge in both performing arts and marketing. The objective is to gradually turn arts education into interdisciplinary intellectual learning, close the education-jobs gap, and allow the students to be immersed in an educational environment that provides a wide range of practical and marketable skills while receiving technical and theoretical training.

　　NCYU has been assisting the Chiayi City Government each year in organizing a medley of arts activities, including “Chiayi City lnternational Band Festival,” “Wind Band Director Workshop,” “Wind Ensemble Festival Summer Camp,” and ex-situ training of the “Asia Youth Orchestra,” by proactively providing professional services and resources. Morever, NCYU is committed to enhancing the quality and quantity of arts events in the Yunlin and Chiayi region, providing space for exhibitions and performances, stimulating enthusiasm of the public in artistic participation, and achieving effective collaboration among the sectors of government, academia, and industry.

　　According to NCYU President Chyung Ay, as 2019 marks the the centennial anniversary of NCYU, the MOE’s Arts Education Contribution Award represents a further recognition of its success. In the days to come, NCYU will continue its effort to “raise the overall art literacy by solidifying arts education,” devote itself to art education, and fulfill the social responsibility as a university.