The Office of International Affairs (OIA) held the “2023 Talk on Overseas Study Sharing Session” at the NPUST Library and Exhibition Hall on October 30th. The event brought together overseas study and travel information, and opened up students to multiple channels for learning abroad. Students were presented with foreign cultural experiences and encouraged exploring the beautiful world as they fully develop their potentials. The venue where the event was held was decorated to create an immersive experience, with an airport and cabin environment used to inspire the sentiments of going abroad. As the students made their way in, they were welcomed at the check-in counters, where their certificates were inspected before they were directed to the boarding gates. The simulated airport staff was comprised of overseas students from Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal and Eswatini. The all-English environment added to the sensation of going abroad, and created an opportunity for students to practice their communication skills. Before the beginning of the talks, an “on-board announcement” was made, giving the final touches to the immersive experience. NPUST’s Vice President for Education, Shang-Min Ma, addressed the students and encouraged them to seize the opportunity to study abroad and open up new horizons.
In his speech, Vice-President Shang-Min Ma said: “I had the experience of a short-term exchange abroad when I was in college. It provided me with a good foundation to study abroad in the future and it had an impact on ambitions and my career. Currently, the government and the school has abundant overseas study resources which students can apply for. Whether it is about finding a school for exchange or financial assistance, there are various channels available. Today, as the senior students share on their experiences from studying abroad, I hope that your motivation to go abroad will increase, so that you will take the opportunity to go to other counties to observe and learn. It might become more than broadening your knowledge, it could also become a life-changing experience.
Presentations on overseas learning followed, with Carina Chou of the Department of Veterinary Medicine sharing on her time spent interning in Thailand under the OCAC Taiwan Youth Overseas Travel Program. Jung-wen Huang and Hsin-Ju Wu of the Department of Animal Science, who applied to go to the Netherlands the Under the Ministry of Education’s Overseas Study Dream Program, also shared on their experiences. Two other students, No-Ya Luo and Meng-Yen Hsieh, walked the audience through their time spent in Guam and Japan, respectively. Adding to the variety, Pratikkumar Navinbhai Nayi from India studying at NPUST, introduced the audience to Indian culture, tourist attractions, local delicacies as well as channels for studies in his country. The lectures were designed to help students and teachers become more aware of the school’s diverse international resources, and to encourage more students to travel abroad for different learning experiences. The NPUST Office of International Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs, and Language Center also provided other information and shared on short-term overseas exchanges and methods of applications for Ministry of Education “study abroad programs”.
In the effort to promote internationalization at NPUST, the Office of International Affairs plays a central role—overseeing logistics, providing consulting and also coordinating such activities as teacher and student exchanges, overseas visits, international conference participation, and the reception of scholars from abroad. Through various overseas programs, students have the opportunity to participate in overseas courses, internships, and other activities which can open them to different cultures and life experiences. Presently, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology has established sister-school relationships with 288 schools in 49 countries on 5 continents. Exchange programs are conducted according to principles of equality and reciprocity, and credits earned are mutually recognized. Since 2018, NPUST has been taking advantage of the Ministry of Education’s Overseas Study Dream Program to send students abroad, and so far more than 500 student internships have been arranged with fruitful results. The participating companies have been pleased with the students’ outstanding performances, and many of the students have been able to go back for employment directly after graduation to continue to shine in the workplace.
