Fulbright Program Fosters Connections with Taiwan
Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Seminars help U.S. international education professionals and senior higher education officials create empowering connections with the societal, cultural and higher education systems of other countries. Grantees have the opportunity to learn about the host country’s education system as well as establish networks of U.S. and international colleagues over the course of an intensive two week grant duration. Grantees return with enhanced ability to serve and encourage international students and prospective study abroad students.
Anna Dunaway, Director in the Office of International Affairs, participated in the inaugural 2017 IEA Fulbright Taiwan program. From March 5- 18 the group visited 16 universities, American Institute in Taiwan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Academia Sinica. A highlight of the program included lunch with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, demonstrating the value of Fulbright Taiwan and U.S. relations. NC State currently has agreements with two of the sixteen universities visited on the program and Ms. Dunaway met with these universities to learn more about potential collaborations and study abroad opportunities. The group also toured the island to experience the rich history of Taiwan.
NC State’s most active partner in Taiwan is National Chiao Tung University, where there is a generic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for research and study abroad opportunities, a Dual Degree with the College of Engineering and a 3+x Graduate Exchange Program. There are also agreements with National Taiwan University (student exchange agreement), National Taiwan Institute of Science and Technology (Scholarly/Pedagogical Materials Exchange), National Chung Hsing University (generic MOU) and National Chiayi University (Faculty Exchange, Faculty Research, Scholarly/Pedagogical Materials Exchange, Memorandum of Understanding). Details on all of NC State’s overseas partners are maintained in the Global Partners Database.
In Fall 2016 there were 58 Taiwanese students with 49 of them graduate students and in Fall 2015, there were 54 Taiwanese Students with 48 of them graduate students. Students from Taiwan represent NC State’s 7th largest international student population. The only study abroad program to Taiwan is an academic semester exchange with National Taiwan University, where approximately one student per semester studies abroad.
From this trip, Taiwan universities and organizations learned more about NC State and explored opportunities to increase collaboration. NC State plans to increase study abroad opportunities to Taiwan as there are many resources to study there for NC State students, faculty and staff. Many students who want to study Chinese language and culture tend to think about China, but Taiwan also offers a unique and beneficial opportunity. Ms. Dunaway has lived, studied and traveled in mainland China but this was her first trip to Taiwan. She says, “I highly recommend other NC State faculty, staff and students to apply for a Fulbright experience in Taiwan. This two-week trip helped me grow professionally and personally as I experienced firsthand the unique charm of Taiwan”.
Resources for Taiwan
Certain institutions can apply for a Scholar-in-Residence Program (SIR). The SIR program would support qualifying institutions to have a Taiwan scholar as full-time faculty for one academic year.
Study or Research in Taiwan:
Contacts for Additional Information
Please contact Ms. Dunaway at anna_dunaway@ncsu.edu if you are interested in learning more about IEA seminars and how to apply.
Contact David Dixon, Manager of Global Partnerships, at djdixon@ncsu.edu if you are interested in connecting with partners in Taiwan.