The Center of Faculty Development (CFD) at Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU) held its “2025 Faculty Development Workshop” on the morning of August 25, inviting Professor Ching-ji Wu (吳清基), Chairman of the Taiwan University of Education System and former Minister of Education, to deliver a keynote speech on “Rediscovering the Value and Hope of Education.” The event drew a full house of faculty members, reflecting CSMU’s strong commitment to the mission of education.

CFD has long been dedicated to enhancing teachers’ professional competencies and reinforcing the core values of education, organizing the Faculty Development Workshop annually with invited experts and scholars. This year, Professor Wu opened his talk with the theme, “There are four things in life that cannot wait: health, filial piety, good deeds, and education,” guiding participants to reflect on education’s vital role in personal growth and social development. He stressed that education is not only the foundation of talent cultivation but also a driving force for nation-building, social mobility, and strengthening national competitiveness.

During his lecture, Wu elaborated on the essence of education, citing British philosopher R. S. Peters’ three core criteria of education—cognitive, normative, and voluntary. He emphasized that education should simultaneously advance knowledge transmission, value cultivation, and motivational development. According to Wu, teachers are not merely conveyors of knowledge but also guides of values and stimulators of learning motivation.

Addressing today’s diverse and fast-changing social environment, Wu urged that education must focus more on students’ individual differences and potential, creating a flexible and inclusive learning system that embodies “teaching according to aptitude and guiding in line with circumstances.” He quoted American clinical psychologist William Glasser’s famous line, “Every student can succeed,” encouraging teachers to accompany students with belief and patience as they discover their own paths to success.

Wu also shared his nearly five decades of educational experience, from grassroots teaching roles to shaping national education policy, exemplifying the perseverance and selfless dedication of educators. He encouraged CSMU faculty to uphold the ideals of “education for all and talent development according to aptitude,” sowing seeds of hope in their classrooms.

Professor Meng-ju Tsai, Director of CFD, stated that the university will continue to design diverse professional development programs to help teachers meet the multifaceted challenges of education. The aim, he noted, is to continually enhance teaching quality, optimize student learning outcomes, and build an educational environment that balances academic excellence with pedagogical innovation, paving the way for a forward-looking vision of education.