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Students Tour Taiwan in Exchange Program

By Katie Bild
UW-RF University Communications

MARCH 31, 2006--Six University of Wisconsin-River Falls students and a faculty member recently returned to River Falls, Wis., after spending spring break in Taiwan — and already they are looking forward to future tours there.

The students accompanied College of Business and Economics professor Darryl Miller as part of a study-exchange program that UW-RF has with Shih Chien and Shih Hsin Universities in Taipei, Taiwan. The group was the first to go from UW-RF, and around 20 students from Shih Chien University have come to UW-RF since the program began six years ago.

"The trip was part of a collaborative relationship between the two universities in Taipei," Miller said.

The group left March 8 and arrived in River Falls on March 16. They toured the Shih Chien campus, Lungshan Temple, the Matyrs Shrine, National Palace Museum, Gold Ecological Park, Chiufen, the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area, the Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei 101 (one of the tallest buildings in the world), the Taiwan Design Center, Digital Content Institute, Maokong, Yingge, Wulai, and the Shihlin Night Market.

"The purpose was to expose the students to a new culture, and have insight into the business and economy in Taiwan. It was a success and the students had a good time. We look forward to more tours in the future," Miller said.

Accompanying the trip, students were required to take a course providing a general introduction to various aspects of the culture in Taiwan, orientation and lectures as well as maintain a journal during their stay.

Among their meetings and tours while in Taipei, the group was had tea and conversation with Charles Kao, a former professor of economics at UW-RF, now the president of Commonwealth Publishing in Taipei.

The sister institution agreement between the two universities in Taipei and UW-RF began in 1999. In addition to visits and tours, the exchange goes much deeper. Shih Hsin students can complete three years there and come to UW-RF for their last year and earn a dual degree from both institutions. They also can complete a dual degree in business administration in three years. Each spring, 20-30 students from Shih Hsin visit River Falls for about a week, and a few of these visitors end up as full-time students.

UW-RF also has many educational agreements with Pacific Rim institutions, including Siebold University of Nagasaki, Japan; Fukouka Jo Gakuin University in Fukouka, Japan, as well as the China Exploration and Research Society in Won Chuk Hang, Hong Kong; the agency Guy Healy Japan in Kyushu, Japan, and the Zhejiang Education Institute in Hangzhou, China.

Students who participated in the exchange include:

Wisconsin:
Hudson, David Till, business administration major
Galesville, Stephanie Johnson, business administration major
Mayville, David Westphal, business administration major
River Falls, Jennifer Koehler, international studies major

Minnesota:
Newport, Barbara Lind, business administration major
Newport, Candace Strictland, business administration major

Photos above:
Top, left: Chih Nan Temple in mountains south of Taipei (Taoist Temple): Clockwise from left: Barbara Lind, Jennifer Koehler, Stephanie Johnson, David Till, David Westphal, Candace Strictland, Dr. Miller.

Lower right: In front of statue of Confucious at the National Palace Museum: Left to Right: Jennifer Koehler, David Till, Candace Strictland, Barbara Lind, Stephanie Johnson, Dr. Miller, David Westphal.

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Last updated: Thursday, 22-Apr-2010 16:07:14 CDT