Higher Education Deeply Cultivates Disadvantaged Student aid Zone
To encourage economically disadvantaged students to actively pursue learning, develop their careers, plan for the future, and enjoy a better university experience, Shih Chien University has, over the past five years of the first phase of the Higher Education Sprout Project, implemented various support and counseling mechanisms. These efforts have provided efficient learning resources and fostered goal-oriented learning strategies. Students are guided in formulating learning plans, clarifying career directions, participating in health education, and engaging in extracurricular and club activities. Through this process, students gradually move from passively receiving institutional resources to achieving fulfillment of their physiological and safety needs, and further progressing toward growth, self-directed learning, and self-actualization.
As the post-pandemic era appears to be nearing its end, global recovery is gaining momentum, yet uncertainties remain. Entering the fourth year of the second phase of the project in 2026, the University will continue the core framework established in the previous three years, centered on the “Voyager: Departure and Preparation” model (as shown in Figure 1). Building upon a supportive environment, the program emphasizes holistic health, diversified learning, and adaptive development. Its goal is to ensure the quality of learning outcomes by cultivating students’ key knowledge and skills, fostering moral character and humanistic literacy, and enhancing foreign language proficiency to strengthen global mobility. The program also provides clear pathways guiding students from academic learning to career readiness, broadening their perspectives and facilitating a smooth transition into the workforce. It aims to empower economically disadvantaged students to affirm their self-worth, analyze both personal conditions and external changes, and transform adversity into momentum—enabling them to prepare thoroughly, set sail against the wind, and realize their aspirations.
In 2026, the program will continue to build upon the spirit and platform established in the first and second phases. Grounded in holistic education, it introduces the concept of a “Versatile Travel Kit” inspired by a voyager’s journey, forming the “Departure and Preparation” support framework. This framework consists of five key components (as shown in Figure 2): the Nutritional Support Package, Physical and Mental Wellness Package, Learning Empowerment Package, Altruistic Character Development Package, and Career Competency Toolkit.
With funding support from the project and external fundraising, the University will further deepen interdisciplinary learning and practical life experiences for economically disadvantaged students. Through comprehensive financial aid and a well-established counseling system, the program expands both formal and informal learning opportunities. Emphasizing practical skill development, it aims to equip students with competencies required in the workforce. The “Departure and Preparation” holistic support framework enables students to focus on their studies, strengthen professional knowledge, replace part-time work with diversified learning, and establish a structured career development pathway. Through professional certification, students transform acquired knowledge into applicable competencies, ultimately anchoring themselves successfully in their careers and maximizing the added value of this program (as shown in Figure 3).
It is hoped that this program will serve as the steady bow described in The Prophet, empowering economically disadvantaged students to become arrows that soar swiftly and confidently toward their dreams.