中長程計劃

Mid-to-Long-Term Development Plan of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fo Guang University

Formulated based on the 114–118 Academic Year Mid-term University Development Plan and the foundational strengths of the College.

I. Foundations of the Mid-to-Long-Term Development Plan

1. Integrating Founding Spirit and Departmental Resources to Lay the Foundation for College Development

Established on August 1, 2025, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at Fo Guang University was formed through the merger of the former College of Humanities and the College of Social Sciences. This integration is not merely an organizational adjustment but a strategic response to trends in higher education resource integration, interdisciplinary learning, and characteristic development.
Its historical roots trace back to the "Fo Guang College of Humanities and Social Sciences" founded in 2000. It carries the educational ideal of "A Million People Founding a School" promoted by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of Fo Guang Shan. It also highlights the university's fundamental mission: establishing the institution through a humanistic spirit and practicing educational goals through social concern.

2. Cultivating Academic Traditions to Form a Robust Teaching and Research Framework

The College has long cultivated expertise in fields such as Chinese, Foreign Languages, History, Religious Studies, Psychology, Social Work, Public Administration, and International Affairs, establishing an academic framework that balances humanistic depth with a social practice orientation.
This foundation enables the College to build upon its existing professional strengths to further promote interdisciplinary integration and innovation in talent cultivation, creating a development model that balances academic rigor with the capacity to respond to social needs.

3. Constructing a College-Level Talent Cultivation Framework Centered on Educational Goals and Core Competencies

The College’s educational goals are to "cultivate talents with humanistic care and social practice abilities," "cultivate individuals with self-reflection and autonomous learning capabilities," and "cultivate professionals with expertise and interdisciplinary application skills."
Five core competencies—Humanistic Literacy and Social Concern, Professional Literacy and Interdisciplinary Application, Language Expression and Communication Coordination, Self-awareness and Autonomous Learning, and Rational Thinking and Teamwork—serve as the essential basis for curriculum design, teaching enhancement, student learning support, and the advancement of college affairs.

4. Integrating Master’s Program Characteristics with Digital Transformation to Open New Horizons for College Development）

Building on the "College-Centered" educational foundation of the former College of Humanities, the College integrates academic strengths in Chinese, Foreign Languages, History, and Religious Studies into a college-level Master’s program framework, with continuous support from each department for faculty and curriculum design.
Under this framework, the College’s Master’s programs emphasize a "triad" development direction: "Humanistic Heritage, Digital Transformation, and Social Practice."
Starting from the 114th academic year, a core required course, "Digital Humanities Research Methods," will be introduced. This course integrates AI digital technology and specialized academic research into formal training, serving as a vital starting point for the convergence of humanities and technology.

II. Key Directions for the Short-Term Plan (Academic Year 114)

1. Integrating Administrative Systems to Lay the Foundation for Development

In the first year following the merger, the College will prioritize the integration of administrative systems, institutional coordination, and curriculum structures to establish a stable and consistent operational mechanism, serving as the foundation for mid-to-long-term development.
As the College was recently formed by merging the former College of Humanities and the College of Social Sciences, the primary task for the 114th academic year is to complete the integration of administrative mechanisms, curriculum maps, faculty collaboration, and college-level development indicators.
Through institutionalized college governance and horizontal coordination, the College will gradually establish a unified development pace, reducing the friction costs of the initial merger phase and creating clearer links between departmental activities and college-level objectives.

2. Constructing Interdisciplinary Courses to Highlight College Characteristics）

(I) The College will conduct an inventory of existing course resources to promote the development of interdisciplinary course clusters and characteristic modules, strengthening the dialogue and integration between the humanities and social sciences）
Based on the philosophy of "Humanities as the Essence, Society as the Application," the College will prioritize the integration of course resources in languages, history, cultural studies, psychology, sociology, social work, and public affairs during the 114th academic year. This aims to gradually develop college-level core courses, interdisciplinary modules, and characteristic elective clusters.
Furthermore, AI digital tools, social practice, and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) will be incorporated into instructional design to enhance students' learning flexibility and interdisciplinary capabilities.

(II) Launching Characteristic Development of College-Level Master's Programs to Enhance Brand Recognition）

The college-level Master's programs will center on the core pillars of "Humanistic Heritage, Digital Transformation, and Social Practice." Each program will gradually shape its unique characteristics to enhance the overall recognition and enrollment appeal of the college.
Following established plans, the college will encourage each Master’s program to develop specialized directions based on their academic strengths:
Chinese Program: Cultural and Creative Publishing Translation.
Foreign Languages Program: International Cultural Discourse.
History Program: Iconographic Cultural Application.
Religious Studies Program: Life Philosophy Counseling.
Simultaneously, through core required courses, specialized research projects, and Inter-program exchange mechanisms, a unified college brand image will be established to showcase the integrated academic characteristics and development directions.

(3) Advancing the Integration of Digital Technology with Humanities and Social Sciences to Promote Teaching and Research Transformation

The College encourages all departments to integrate AI and digital technologies into their teaching and research, progressively promoting the convergence of digital tools with traditional academic training.
By gradually incorporating core humanities and social issues, AI technology, data analysis, and digital tool applications into teaching and research, the College aims to enhance the contemporary adaptability of its academic development.
Through methodological innovation, traditional academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences will reveal new research pathways, forms of expression, and knowledge values within the digital era.

(4) Strengthening Student Support and Whole-Person Education to Implement the Academy Spirit

The College will integrate academy-style education with learning support mechanisms to strengthen students' self-exploration, life practice, and character development.
Following the philosophy of life education and character cultivation of Cheng-Zheng Academy, the College will align with educational goals and core competencies to strengthen the mentorship system, portfolio guidance, interdisciplinary study support, and connections between internships and practical training.
This aims to assist students in extending their professional knowledge learning toward self-understanding, social participation, and the cultivation of public responsibility.

(5) Connecting Local Practice with AI Applications to Respond to University Brand Characteristics

The College will align with the university's development directions of "Local FGU" and "Three-Good AI University" to preliminarily construct practical fields for local connection and digital application.
Departments are encouraged to integrate Yilan’s local culture, community issues, social services, local revitalization, and public governance needs into the design of course projects and collaborative initiatives.
Simultaneously, AI tools will be progressively introduced into instructional design, language learning, research analysis, and administrative support to enhance teaching effectiveness and the operational capacity of the college.

III. Key Directions for the Mid-Term Plan (Academic Years 114–116)

1. Deepening Interdisciplinary Integration and Establishing College-Level Collaboration Mechanisms

Building upon the foundation of short-term institutional stability, the College will further establish a college-centered collaborative platform for teaching and research to promote resource sharing and interdisciplinary cooperation among all departments.
Through college-level coordination and resource integration, the College will strengthen the advancement of interdisciplinary courses, characteristic course clusters, integrated research, and AI-driven digital instruction.
This will facilitate a more organic dialogue and collaboration between the humanities and social sciences in terms of research methodology, agenda setting, and social application, progressively constructing a college development model with high overall recognition.

2. Shaping the College Brand and Differentiated Development

The College will encourage each academic unit to develop specialized directions based on its existing foundations and academic characteristics, creating a framework where professional deepening and college-level branding progress hand-in-hand.
The college-level Master’s programs will continue to accumulate characteristic achievements in specific directions:
Chinese Program: Cultural and Creative Publishing Translation.
Foreign Languages Program: International Cultural Discourse.
History Program: Iconographic Cultural Application.
Religious Studies Program: Life Philosophy Counseling.
Departments such as Psychology, Social Work, and Public Administration and International Affairs will build upon their original professional expertise to form complementary linkages with the College’s overall development direction, progressively establishing the identity and social visibility of the entire College.

3. Advancing Digital Transformation and Humanities-Technology Integration

The College will progressively develop teaching and research directions in Digital Humanities, Digital Storytelling, Data Analysis, and related digital methodologies to enhance the contemporary adaptability of academic development and talent cultivation.
The College will continue to incorporate core humanities and social issues, AI technology, data analysis, and digital tool applications into its teaching and research.
In alignment with the university-level "Three-Good AI University" policy, the College aims to gradually form a unique developmental pathway that integrates traditional humanities and social sciences with digital technology.

4. Deepening Local Practice and USR to Expand Social Impact

Through the integration of teaching, research, and service, the College aims to become a key knowledge partner for local development and social innovation in Yilan.
The College will continue to establish collaborative partnerships with local governments, schools, communities, cultural institutions, social welfare organizations, and non-profit organizations.
The College will promote diverse practice schemes, including local cultural preservation, community care, mental health promotion, social welfare services, public governance participation, and local revitalization. These efforts will create a practice-oriented linkage where curriculum, research, and service provide mutual support.

5. Expanding International Exchange and Borderless Learning

The College will align with the university-level policies of "International FGU" and "Borderless University" to promote international curricula, off-site teaching, and transnational academic cooperation.
The College will progressively develop strategies including international exchange courses, bilingual and foreign language learning support, overseas off-site teaching, international internships, participation in international conferences, and collaborative research.
These efforts aim to enhance the College's degree of internationalization and students' cross-cultural competence, fostering a mutual support system between local practice and global vision.

IV. Key Directions for the Long-Term Plan (Academic Years 114–118)

1. Building a Representative Academic Hub for Humanities and Social Sciences in Eastern Taiwan

The long-term development of the College aims to become the core institution for humanities and social sciences education at Fo Guang University and to gradually establish itself as a representative academic hub for these fields in Eastern Taiwan.
The College will continue to strengthen its position as an integrated platform for teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences within the university, building a clearer public image and academic visibility in Yilan and the Eastern region.

2. Establishing a Distinctive Talent Cultivation and Academic Brand

Building upon traditional academic foundations, the College will develop forward-looking characteristic models, shaping a college brand characterized by "Humanistic Heritage + Digital Transformation + Social Practice."
In the future, the College will establish a comprehensive talent cultivation chain through diverse pathways, including undergraduate and master's programs, internships and practical training, specialized research projects, community collaboration, and international exchange.
This aims to equip students with professional knowledge, interdisciplinary capabilities, ethical awareness, and the power of practical action, ultimately forming a sustainably accumulating college-level brand and distinctive academic characteristics.

3. Becoming a Crucial Knowledge Hub for Yilan’s Local Development

Leveraging Fo Guang University’s geographical location and local resources, the College will continue to deepen its collaborative relationships with local society and expand the public contribution of its academic expertise.
In fields such as cultural preservation, community empowerment, elderly care, multiculturalism, mental health, social welfare, public governance, and sustainable development, the College will progressively accumulate social trust and local connections through professional knowledge production, public participation, and service schemes, thereby strengthening its social impact.

4. Enhancing International Linkages and Cross-Border Collaboration

The College will continue to advance international student recruitment, international curricula, academic collaboration, and transnational research to enhance its international visibility.
Through international recruitment, off-site teaching, dual-degree or collaborative programs, international publications, and the establishment of transnational research networks, the College will ensure that local development and global integration progress simultaneously.
This aims to construct an academic development model that encompasses both local characteristics and a global perspective (Glocal).

5. Responding to University Brand Characteristics and Forming Exemplary College Results

The College will align with the university's development blueprints for the "Three-Good AI University," "Borderless University," "All-Age University," and "Aesthetic University" to produce visible and practical college-level outcomes.
In the future, the College will develop exemplary schemes with distinctive Fo Guang characteristics in areas such as AI-assisted instruction, digital learning, all-age course participation, local cultural aesthetics, life education, and humanities and social science practice.
These efforts will demonstrate the College's concrete contribution to and support for the overall development of university affairs.

V. Educational Principles for the Mid-to-Long-Term Development Plan

1. Humanities as the Essence, Society as the Application: Cultivating Talents with Responsibility and Agency

The College centers on the cultivation of humanistic spirit, the understanding of social reality, and the integration of practical action, aiming to nurture modern citizens with both value judgment and public responsibility.
Through the integration of humanities and social sciences, the College will guide students in developing critical thinking, ethical concern, communication and coordination, teamwork, and social participation skills. This ensures that they not only possess professional knowledge but also have the capacity to respond to public issues and contemporary needs within real-world social contexts.

2. Rooting Locally, Linking Internationally, and Innovating Digitally as the Main Development AxesThe College’s educational principles will align with the university’s directions of "Local FGU," "International FGU," and "Experimental FGU," creating a development model that balances local concern, global vision, and innovative capacity.

Locally, the College will utilize Yilan as a field for learning and practice, deepening collaborations with local communities, industries, cultural institutions, and public sectors.
Internationally, the College will actively promote cross-cultural learning, overseas exchange, and academic collaboration.
Digitally, digital tools and AI applications will be integrated into teaching, research, and administration to enhance educational quality and the operational efficiency of the college.

. Implementing Residential College Spirit through Holistic Education and Autonomous Learning

The College will integrate residential college-style education with college-level core competencies to cultivate students' abilities in self-reflection, autonomous learning, and continuous growth.
Through the mentorship system, life education, interdisciplinary curricula, learning support, and practical participation, the College emphasizes that beyond academic knowledge, students should also develop sound character, a sense of responsibility, and the capacity for autonomous development, embodying Fo Guang University's philosophy of Holistic Education.

4. Balancing Professional Deepening and Interdisciplinary Integration to Enhance Talent Competitiveness

While maintaining the professional academic training of each department, the College will continue to promote interdisciplinary curricula, integrated research, and practical applications.
This principle emphasizes that while academic units root themselves in their respective professions, they should also cultivate students' comprehensive capabilities through core curricula, interdisciplinary modules, research collaboration, and social practice to respond to the digital society, global changes, and public issues.

5. Manifesting FGU’s Educational Spirit through Social Responsibility and Public Contribution

Through University Social Responsibility (USR), local collaboration, social service, and policy participation, the College will ensure that teaching and research outcomes are closely linked with social needs.
The College’s educational approach pursues not only academic development and talent cultivation but also emphasizes the public value and social practice of knowledge.
Through diverse collaborative and service schemes, the College aims to expand its social impact and concretely demonstrate Fo Guang University’s educational spirit of "serving people through education."

VI. Development Vision of the Mid-to-Long-Term Development Plan

1. Becoming the Core College for the Integrated Development of Humanities and Social Sciences at Fo Guang University

The College will carry forward the profound humanistic and social spirit since the university's founding, integrating existing academic foundations with the resource energy after the merger to become a key platform for the development of humanities and social science education within the university.
In the future, through the holistic planning of teaching, research, service, and administration, the College will solidify its core positioning within the university. By adopting a posture of integrated development, it will lead continuous upgrades and innovation in fields related to the humanities and social sciences.

2. Becoming a Characteristic College Integrating Humanistic Heritage, Digital Innovation, and Social Practice

The College will take "Humanistic Heritage, Digital Transformation, and Social Practice" as its core characteristics, establishing a college brand with a sense of the era and high recognition.
This vision lies not only in continuing traditional academic strengths but also in utilizing AI digital technology applications, interdisciplinary learning, and practical participation.
This will enable humanities and social science education to generate new forms of expression, learning pathways, and social impact within the contemporary environment.

3. Becoming a Crucial Knowledge Hub for Humanities and Social Sciences in Yilan and Eastern Taiwan

The College will deepen its interaction and collaboration with local society, fostering a closer connection between academic expertise and local needs.
Through talent cultivation in areas such as local cultural preservation, community service, mental health, social care, and public governance participation, the College will progressively accumulate a foundation of trust and public value within the local community.
This will lead to the formation of an academic stronghold for the humanities and social sciences with significant regional impact.

4. Becoming an Internationalized Platform for Humanities and Social Science Education

The College will enhance the international vision of faculty and students as well as its own international visibility through cross-cultural exchange, international collaboration, and overseas learning.
Building upon the foundation of local concern, the College will progressively construct a teaching and research platform that integrates with international academic networks.
Building upon the foundation of local concern, the College will progressively construct a teaching and research platform that integrates with international academic networks.