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XPLORER探索者
素養導向高教學習創新計畫
Our Misssions
Driven by technological advancements, the pandemic, and new K-12 educational reforms termed "The New Curriculum", Taiwan's Ministry of Education has launched a pioneering initiative: ‘The XPlorer Project: A University Competency-Based Education Initiative in the Humanities and Social Sciences for the New Normal Society’. Spanning 2022 to 2025, this interdisciplinary, multi-year pilot project is among the nation's first to enhance the first-year university experience (hereafter as “FYE”) for the "new normal" society.
We are committed to achieving the following goals:
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For Students: Enhance the first-year experiences for students and facilitate a smooth transition into and excel throughout their educational journey.
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For Educators: Cultivate professional communities dedicated to advancing methods and pedagogy and fostering inter-university collaboration through both practical application and scholarly discussions. Emphasis will be placed on promoting self-directed learning and applying generative AI technologies.
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For Communities: Build an interdisciplinary network that connects professionals in higher education who specializes in FYE with first-year students to provide guidance in navigating the transition into and throughout their educational journey.
Our Strategies
Our strategic approach to realizing the ambitious goals of The XPlorer Project is designed to unfold in stages, each building upon the success of the previous ones while making adjustments to ensure a comprehensive and effective implementation.
Phase One (2022-2024) initiated the transformative journey, introducing institutional and college-level strategies across 11 pioneering universities. This initial phase laid solid groundwork by integrating innovative FYE practices and fostering a supportive environment for change. As we progress, Phase Two (2024-2026) aims to broaden our impact by incorporating 12 additional universities. This expansion extends our reach and deepens our commitment to enhancing FYE on a larger scale.
Phase One Project Teams (2022-2024)
National Chengchi University
Fu Jen Catholic University
Tamkang
University
Tunghai
University
National Penghu University of Science and Technology
National Yunlin University of Science and Technology
Chang Jung Christian University
Ming Chuan
University
National University
of Tainan
National Tsing Hua University
Taipei National University of the Arts
At the institutional level, our strategy emphasizes the critical role of the humanities and social sciences across disciplines. This holistic approach encourages executive colleges to work closely with faculty and students in crafting and refining curriculum pathways. We aim to update course structures, content, instructional materials, methods, assessments, and support systems through collaborative efforts. Our goal is to foster an environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and promotes self-directed learning capabilities among students.
A novel introduction in Phase Two is the Pre-Phase Extension strategy, which involves partnering six Phase One project teams with the XPlorer Project Office to establish a vibrant community of FYE innovations. This community is dedicated to disseminating and applying pilot project concepts, tools, and practices, thereby fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
Phase Two Partner Schools
At the College level, our strategy fine-tunes the alignment of college curricula with K-12 reforms. A vital component of this strategy is enhancing guidance and support for first-year students' transition to university life and self-directed learning skills.
Tunghai
University
Tamkang
University
National Yunlin University of Science and Technology
Taipei National University of the Arts
Fu Jen Catholic University
Ming Chuan
University
Phase Two Project Teams (2024-2026)
National Central University
National Chung Cheng University
National Pingtung University
National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology
National Kaohsiung Normal University
I-Shou University
Shih Chien University
Providence University
National Chung Hsing University
Shih Hsin University
Soochow University
National Taitung University
As the project evolves, we expect to see successful XPlorer models emerge through our ongoing operations and experimental approaches. These models will serve as a foundation for further innovation, with the Project Office leveraging the Ministry’s Higher Education SPROUT Project and local and international networks to expand our impact. Through this phased and collaborative strategy, The XPlorer Project is set to significantly transform the FYE, preparing our students and faculty to thrive in the new normal society.
Project XPlorer to The 43rd Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience at Seattle, WA, U.S.A. on February 18-21, 2024.
Taiwan FYE: Project XPlorer Insights
Hsinyi Sindy Peng, Chuan-Chin Chiao, Ming-Chi Wu
Amid Taiwan’s demographic changes and educational reforms, humanities, and social sciences colleges confront challenges in student recruitment and curriculum relevance. This study examines University F’s “Language+X model” within the First-Year Experience (FYE) paradigm, drawing insights from the Project XPlorer grant. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study systematically evaluates University F’s strategies across the five-dimensional framework, from benchmark setting to end-of-term reviews. Key insights offer solutions to recruitment issues, curriculum relevance, and boosting student employability. Through Project XPlorer’s framework, transformative strategies are illuminated for Taiwan’s educational sector, serving as a vital reference for global educators.
International Connections
Our Office
Dr. Chuan-Chin Chiao
Project Primary Investigator (PI)
Distinguished Professor, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Director, National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan
Dr. Hsinyi Sindy Peng
Project Co-PI
Assistant Research Fellow, Center for Admissions & Strategy, Office of Academic Affairs, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Chin-Wen Chang, Chen-Chen Huang, Yun-Pei Chang
Project Managers
Email: uxplorer21@gmail.com
Last updated in March, 2024.