It is the first time for junior undergraduates in Lanyang campus to join the junior abroad program, with 126 students from 4 departments going to the sister schools in USA, England, Canada, Sweden, Australia, and Finland. 40 Lanyang campus participants attended the 2007 school year flag-giving ceremony of junior abroad program on August 9, receiving the blessing and encouragement from their teachers, school authorities, and invited foreign guests.
The four participant departments include Department of Software Engineering, Department of Information and Communications Technology Management, Department of multicultural and Linguistic Studies, and Department of Global Politics and Economics. The participants will respectively go to 13 sister universities, including The University of Vienna (Austria), Stockholm University (Sweden), University of Sunderland (U.K.) Brandon University (Canada), California State University, Sacramento (U.S.A.). Dr. Lin Jyh-horng, Director of Lanyang Campus, observes that for the school this event is a chance to test the educational result of the all-British style teaching in Lanyang campus, and for the students it is a challenge to enrich themselves in various foreign cultures.
Chang Yu-fan, junior of Dept. of Department of multicultural and Linguistic Studies, expressed that “I am very excited with expectation and worry.” Chang added that she had registered with many interesting courses about community services in Suffolk University, Boston. She expects to actively interact with the local community in Boston, which is a historical city, noted for her one-third inhabitants, i.e., students. She believes she will attain exciting cultural stimulation in the student community.
Liu Hsing-chang, junior of Department of Software Engineering, who is an exchange student to California State University, Sacramento, indicated excitingly, “I can’t wait to experience the foreign countries and cultures. I’ve heard from former junior abroad students that this university is very famous, which locates very close to Mexico, hence there are many Spanish and French speakers. I would make use such a chance to learn more foreign languages.” As for the know-how to deal with homesickness, both Chang and Liu believe that the internet facilities of msn and skype would be enough to have close connection with their families.
During the process of application, some students have been troubled with the shortage of fund. Director Lin Jyh-horng indicates that “thank to the donation of certain persons and the TKU official assistance in applying for related subsidy, we are glad that 126 can fulfill their dream and plan for abroad studying. Lin adds that in the next year, there will be 250 applicants, with more choices of universities. ( ~Chen Chi-szu )
