Tzu Chi University(Chinese: 慈濟大學), or TCU, is a private university located in Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan (Republic of China). It was founded by the Tzu Chi Foundation (UN's NGO member) and is famous in Taiwan for the quality of the medical education it provides. TCU has strong ties with Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital (located on the same premises as the university) as well as five teaching hospitals in other parts of Taiwan. The institution was established as the Tzu Chi Medical College in April 1994. Humanities and Social Science students have been accepted since 1998, when the name was changed to Tzu Chi College of Medicine and Humanities. In July 2000, the name was changed again to Tzu Chi University. Tzu Chi university is headed by a president and a board of trustees. The University is organized into 4 colleges which contain 18 research institutes and 17 academic departments. The university also runs the Affiliated Senior High School of Tzu Chi University, a daughter institution for secondary-school students in Taiwan. The university has 43 student clubs or societies.