COVER STORY Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei DISCOVER TAIPEI 4 A glimpse of international student life on campus in Taipei. (Photo by Monideepa Banerjee) uman beings are born with Whatever the case, education is an A Bachelor's Degree a natural curiosity. From the ongoing journey that never ends. While Delivered in English H moment we take our first some people tend to see their time in in Taiwan? breath, we are sponges for information Taipei as a respite from the world of The United Nations has nothing and knowledge. This thirst can be formal education, others see their stay on David Hedlund’s Introduction to fulfilled in perfecting our fluency in here as a prime opportunity to fill up the Sociology. This first-year course at Ming French or coming to terms with a old grey matter. Chuan University’s International College decades-long battle with fractions. is just the beginning of the life-enriching Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei COVER STORY Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei By Jerri C. Graham the instructor looks out at the students in entirely in English. The undergraduate before him. From all corners of the globe, majors include International Business, their skin shades varying from the fairest Information Communication, of fair to the richest beautiful dark, they Information Management, Tourism, have come together to get an education Electronic Engineering, and Digital in English in Taiwan. Like beauty Media Design. The graduate programs contestants, the students in Sociology are International Affairs, Management, 101 represent practically every continent and Applied English. The International in the world save Antarctica – there’s College may not be an option for the Gambia, St. Vincent, Malawi, Germany, working adult, but it is a possibility for Nicaragua, Indonesia, and Iraq, just to high-school students just completing their name a few. studies here in English. In order to gain Within twenty minutes of the start admittance into the program, students of class, Hedlund has divided the little must possess either a high school, groups that had naturally formed. The college, or university degree as well as newly formed ones are made up of have sufficient English ability (TOEFL an even mix of locals and foreigners, 500 or IELTS 5.5). International students women and men. Over the course of the that qualify may also receive a 50% semester, each new team will become tuition waiver. After sitting in on David members’ window into worlds they'd Hedlund's Sociology 101, I actually had DISCOVER TAIPEI only seen on TV. “My goal is to open this crazy desire to be a young student their minds and help them question again. 5 who they are and what is their position Ming Chuan isn't the only university in life,” says Hedlund. Looking at the in Taiwan paving the way for students mix of students in this class, it is hard to from abroad. National Chengchi imagine anyone leaving it without being University (國立政治大學) in Muzha is transformed. another institution following this track. Tivamile B. Dlamini, or Tiv as Focusing on humanities and social most of her classmates know her, is a classic example of the IC program at its best. In her fourth year as a Mass Communications major, she serves as one of the school’s international ambassadors, speaking to potential students about the benefits of studying at MCU. Speaking with her and some of her classmates, her enthusiasm for what she has received by being a part of the International College is infectious. As the daughter of a former diplomat education the students in this class will from the Kingdom of Swaziland, this receive over the next four years. The first poised young woman exudes confidence to offer undergraduate degrees delivered and sees her time at Ming Chuan as completely in English, Taipei’s Ming preparation for her calling into service Chuan University is part of the new for her country. revolution in education here in Taiwan. Ming Chuan offers eight undergraduate- Back in David Hedlund's classroom degree programs, five Master's programs, Learning is a life-time process; the choices of at the Taoyuan campus of the university, and a PhD program that are delivered studies are endless. (Photo by Wang Neng-yu) COVER STORY Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei sciences, the International Undergraduate English instruction for 5 percent of their Program (IUP) is a premier 4-year classes. Because learning Chinese is program. with a growing reputation. In part of the curriculum for international addition, the university has partnered students, students studying at NTU will with over 100 foreign universities in a not only walk away with a degree, but sister school program, opening up the will also have a very strong working opportunity for exchange programs. knowledge of Chinese. NCCU also offers several International Though NTU offers several Master's Programs that provide a stellar Bachelor’s programs, it is the university’s education at local prices. Admission to highly regarded College of Management Students in Hedlund’s class pay attention to the lecture on global cultures. (Photo by Jerri C. Graham) DISCOVER TAIPEI 6 Sociology 101: learn to respect cultures from all corners of the globe. (Photo by Jerri C. Graham) the program is rather straightforward. Applicants holding a Bachelor's from a university outside of Taiwan must submit a statement of purpose, proof of English proficiency, and also take part in an interview or oral exam. Taking it a Step Further – Getting an MBA A large majority of high school students in Taiwan have one goal – to get into National Taiwan University (NTU- 國立臺灣大學). As the number one institution of higher education on the island, it has garnered a positive reputation that reaches far past our shores. NTU is also one of the universities at the forefront of international education. For years they’ve accepted degree-seeking Academic opportunities in Taipei are reputable for their first-rated education as well as international students from abroad despite only having standard. (Photo by Wang Neng-yu) Getting Educated by Getting It in Taipei COVER STORY that has most recently stepped into the education, universities gain a reputation in on a daily basis. Universities such as limelight. The school established its for being international, and Taiwan Boston University and Northeastern in Executive MBA program back in 1997. has an opportunity to show the world the States and the University of London In 2004, it went one step further and set its strength as a multifaceted nation. among others in the UK, all offer degree up its English MBA program. This import of students also allows programs starting at Associated degrees For the most part, the average cost the exchange of ideas that can only be up to MBAs delivered entirely via of an MBA is more than what most achieved on a face-to-face basis. distance. Students are still required to sit people in the US or UK earn in a year. At one time people questioned the for proctored exams. These arrangements The English MBA program at NTU is value of studying in Taiwan, equating it can be made through the consulate office currently NT$53,470 (US$1,628 / British with the “made in Taiwan” stigma that or acting embassy. Rules vary from Pound 867) per semester, with a total of was once attached to anything from this institution to institution. four semesters needed to complete the island. As steps into the arena of being After receiving her Bachelor's in program. more of economic and educational History, Kecia Jenkins took off from In addition to NTU, many of the powerhouse, the question now is why not ? Wisconsin to discover the world and other universities in found herself in Taiwan sometime later. Taiwan also offer English Always one to try something new or MBA programs. These different, Jenkins has been involved in programs and others like learning in one shape or form for years. them are beneficial across In her time in Taipei, she's studied music the board. Students from and Chinese, and now she's getting a overseas get a first-rate degree through the California University of Pennsylvania. The decision to study for another degree, this time in Sports Management, wasn't one she entered into lightly. Jenkins knew that the time and DISCOVER TAIPEI effort to complete it would be another ball to juggle, but she also knew it was 7 now or never. A major factor in going With the Wifi availability across the city, Kecia Jenkins finds studying in a park quite pleasurable. back to school at this time in her life is (Photo by Jerri C. Graham) financial. "Nowhere else in the world can I afford to work just a few hours a day With tuition that is a fraction of that of and have the time to study," she states. universities in the West, professors with Distance education isn't, as many knowledge, training, and experience erroneously believe, the “easy option.” It from around the world, and the support takes a determined individual to succeed. of the international community, getting There are no set times to attend class, an education in Taiwan is an option no professors hounding you, no students worth exploring. to sit next to in a lecture hall. Distance education is for the hardworking Distance Makes the independent learner who doesn’t need Mind Grow Smarter – hand-holding to get where they want Distanced Education to go in life. Floyd Ehman Newsum, Distance education has been around a Blakemore Fellow for the Advanced since the 19th century, yet only now Study of Asian Languages studying with the advent of online education is at NTU is one such individual.