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The Shuang-Qing Lecture Series, an annual campus lecture series sponsored by Chairman San-Hsiung Hung of the Shuang-Qing Cultural and Educational Foundation and Taipei Medical University (TMU) Board Member Ling-Yu Chen, and organized by TMU's Center for General Education and Center for Humanities and Arts, has compiled the highlights of its lectures into a new book, Life Practices of Ten Pathfinders: Interdisciplinary Reflections from the Shuang-Qing Lecture Series.

To help students entering the medical field build a humanistic foundation and a broad perspective, the foundation gifted the book to all of TMU's incoming students for the 2026–27 academic year. Board Member Chen attended the presentation ceremony on behalf of the foundation, hoping to inspire the new generation with warm yet steadfast critical thinking.

In her remarks, Board Member Chen said that she and Chairman Hung have long been committed to education and the humanities. True to their original vision of "one new insight into the humanities every month," the Shuang-Qing Lecture Series has invited distinguished scholars and practitioners from across Taiwan to share their experiences on campus, deepening the university's culture of humanities and the arts through interdisciplinary dialogue. Sharing her personal motto, "Choose the harder road; carry the heavier load," she encouraged students to take on responsibility and face difficulties without fear in their studies and future challenges, drawing strength from the life choices of the ten pathfinders featured in the book to find their own aspirations and direction in life.

On behalf of TMU's faculty and students, President Mai-Szu Wu expressed sincere gratitude to the foundation, Chairman Hung and Board Member Chen. "Learning in medicine and the life sciences requires not only excellent professional skills but also care for humanity and the ability to think deeply," he said. "This book is an ideal guide to help new students broaden their horizons and reflect inwardly. I encourage every incoming student to read it carefully and, while exploring their professional fields, to build a broad humanistic foundation."

In recent years, TMU's general education program has responded to the needs of the times through three pillars: an iterative teaching model, course clusters centered on sustainable development issues, and classic reading with reflective writing. More than a collection of lectures, Life Practices of Ten Pathfinders is a cross-generational text that brings together professional competence and humanistic care. The Center for General Education will integrate the book into two required first-year courses, Freshman Seminar and Mushan Humanities Lectures, using its examples to inspire self-directed learning and reflective writing. Before entering clinical training, students will learn to understand the life stories behind illness and to recognize ethical values, growing into knowledgeable citizens with empathy, critical thinking and a sense of social responsibility.

TMU sincerely thanks the Shuang-Qing Cultural and Educational Foundation, Chairman Hung and Board Member Chen for their long-standing support and generosity. This back-to-school gift not only enriches the humanities on campus but will also guide TMU students to move forward with confidence and purpose on their long journey of learning and medical practice. (Text: Center for General Education)

Related SDGs: SDG 4, SDG 3