NCCU Receives the 2018 Outstanding International Student Services Award
Date :
2018-10-24
Department :
-
By Christian Schoppmeyer
Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Foundation of International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) have jointly held the “2018 International Affairs Executive Board Conference” at the Taipei International Convention Center on October 11. Striving towards the goal of internationalizing Taiwanese university campuses, several universities and individual university staffs from all over Taiwan have been evaluated throughout the past months. That is, in order to acknowledge those universities and individuals, who have extensively contributed in supporting international students in Taiwan. Eventually, and following an intensive selection process involving a review team as well as a number of invited scholars and distinguished experts, four outstanding schools have been rewarded. Vice President for International Cooperation, Prof. Mei-Fen Chen, attended the ceremony and accepted this honorable prize on behalf of the university.
Presented by Andy Cheu-An Bi, Director General of the Department of International and Cross-strait Education at the Ministry of Education, the award is of paramount importance. That is, even more so given that the number of international students in Taiwan (including both degree and non-degree, as well as foreign and overseas Chinese students) has been growing year by year and currently amounts to nearly 118.000 individuals. In this school year alone, NCCU has welcomed over 3000 international students from more than 80 different countries. An enormous number that can only adequately being serviced with a comprehensive counseling mechanism in place.
In particular, NCCU has been standing out in the competition due to its rich cross-cultural learning environment, not only within classrooms but also on campus and beyond. NCCU thereby provides a multitude of different services in order to offer international students a home away from home. The combination of high-quality services and the range of support offered, have eventually led NCCU to its success in this year’s evaluation. Services range from Chinese language learning through its nationally acclaimed Chinese Language Center (CLC) with over 20 years of teaching experience, outstanding counseling services regarding administrative and other matters, the creation of bridges between international and local students, the great number of volunteering opportunities offered for international students in order to get into contact with the neighboring communities, and the establishment of a Muslim Prayer Room.
Furthermore, NCCU distinguished itself with its seven top-notch Master/Doctoral programs taught entirely in English, open for local and international students. While a total of nearly 700 English-taught courses from all fields of study are also being offered. In order to expand NCCU’s services outside of the classroom as well, the Office of International Cooperation is, among other things, guiding three distinct student associations with their mission to support International Students on campus. One of them, NCCU’s International Association (IA), for example; is assisting new international students prior and upon their arrival in Taiwan. By conducting the “Ask Me Anything” video series on a semester basis, prospective NCCU students can watch the videos while still being in their home country and are being provided with essential information to fully prepare themselves for their journey to an unfamiliar land. In addition, IA as well as the Student Ambassadors (SA), and the International Youth (IY) are assisting in helping new arriving students to get settled by hosting numerous events. Those include; for example, the International Students Orientation, a shopping trip to enable students to purchase all necessary household goods, and a welcome party. Thus, allowing new students to get acquainted with one another right from the onset of the semester.
Other highlights certainly represent the opportunity provided by NCCU’s International Youth to engage in a two-day trip in order to explore Taiwan outside of the glossy skyscrapers of Taipei. While another eminent resource for International students provided by NCCU’s International Association is the regularly published International-Friendly Student Club List. The handbook informs international students about existing students clubs on campus, which in turn function as an ideal platform through which friendships between local and international students can be formed.
Lastly, the Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) connects international students with rural schools in Taiwan, enabling them to have the on-site experience of meeting and teaching children at local primary schools. This takes place under the motto of integrating international students into Taiwanese society. All in all, NCCU’s performance is therefore setting an example for quality services and a friendly environment for international students in Taiwan. Representing a signpost in the right direction, so that an increasing number of outstanding international students decide to pursue their higher education on this island.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Foundation of International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) have jointly held the “2018 International Affairs Executive Board Conference” at the Taipei International Convention Center on October 11. Striving towards the goal of internationalizing Taiwanese university campuses, several universities and individual university staffs from all over Taiwan have been evaluated throughout the past months. That is, in order to acknowledge those universities and individuals, who have extensively contributed in supporting international students in Taiwan. Eventually, and following an intensive selection process involving a review team as well as a number of invited scholars and distinguished experts, four outstanding schools have been rewarded. Vice President for International Cooperation, Prof. Mei-Fen Chen, attended the ceremony and accepted this honorable prize on behalf of the university.
Presented by Andy Cheu-An Bi, Director General of the Department of International and Cross-strait Education at the Ministry of Education, the award is of paramount importance. That is, even more so given that the number of international students in Taiwan (including both degree and non-degree, as well as foreign and overseas Chinese students) has been growing year by year and currently amounts to nearly 118.000 individuals. In this school year alone, NCCU has welcomed over 3000 international students from more than 80 different countries. An enormous number that can only adequately being serviced with a comprehensive counseling mechanism in place.
In particular, NCCU has been standing out in the competition due to its rich cross-cultural learning environment, not only within classrooms but also on campus and beyond. NCCU thereby provides a multitude of different services in order to offer international students a home away from home. The combination of high-quality services and the range of support offered, have eventually led NCCU to its success in this year’s evaluation. Services range from Chinese language learning through its nationally acclaimed Chinese Language Center (CLC) with over 20 years of teaching experience, outstanding counseling services regarding administrative and other matters, the creation of bridges between international and local students, the great number of volunteering opportunities offered for international students in order to get into contact with the neighboring communities, and the establishment of a Muslim Prayer Room.
Furthermore, NCCU distinguished itself with its seven top-notch Master/Doctoral programs taught entirely in English, open for local and international students. While a total of nearly 700 English-taught courses from all fields of study are also being offered. In order to expand NCCU’s services outside of the classroom as well, the Office of International Cooperation is, among other things, guiding three distinct student associations with their mission to support International Students on campus. One of them, NCCU’s International Association (IA), for example; is assisting new international students prior and upon their arrival in Taiwan. By conducting the “Ask Me Anything” video series on a semester basis, prospective NCCU students can watch the videos while still being in their home country and are being provided with essential information to fully prepare themselves for their journey to an unfamiliar land. In addition, IA as well as the Student Ambassadors (SA), and the International Youth (IY) are assisting in helping new arriving students to get settled by hosting numerous events. Those include; for example, the International Students Orientation, a shopping trip to enable students to purchase all necessary household goods, and a welcome party. Thus, allowing new students to get acquainted with one another right from the onset of the semester.
Other highlights certainly represent the opportunity provided by NCCU’s International Youth to engage in a two-day trip in order to explore Taiwan outside of the glossy skyscrapers of Taipei. While another eminent resource for International students provided by NCCU’s International Association is the regularly published International-Friendly Student Club List. The handbook informs international students about existing students clubs on campus, which in turn function as an ideal platform through which friendships between local and international students can be formed.
Lastly, the Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) connects international students with rural schools in Taiwan, enabling them to have the on-site experience of meeting and teaching children at local primary schools. This takes place under the motto of integrating international students into Taiwanese society. All in all, NCCU’s performance is therefore setting an example for quality services and a friendly environment for international students in Taiwan. Representing a signpost in the right direction, so that an increasing number of outstanding international students decide to pursue their higher education on this island.