Engineering News, October 10, 2005

October 10, 2005 Vol. 77, no. 7F

NEW ARRIVALS: During their first week on campus, Taiwanese undergraduates visiting Berkeley from National Chiao-Tung University were all ears at an orientation conducted by Lisa Pruitt, ME professor and associate dean of virtual learning and outreach education. (Photo Credit: Peg Skorpinski)

New program gives Taiwanese students a taste of Berkeley

This fall, 14 undergraduates from one of Taiwan’s top science and technology universities are spending the semester soaking up Berkeley’s special ambience and some of its EECS course offerings through a fledgling program intended to boost education through global cooperation.

The visitors — all honors students in the equivalent of their junior year — hail from National Chiao-Tung University (NCTU) in Hsinchu and are visiting as “out-of-state” University Extension students through concurrent enrollment. They will return to NCTU at the end of the semester, it is hoped, with some solid Berkeley Engineering education and a positive cultural experience under their belts.

One of the students is Chia-Yeh Lee, who goes by her English name, Joy, and is staying in the International House. Lee is taking EE 128, 130, and 140, and between studying for looming midterms, she had just enough time for a quick chat with Engineering News.

“The coursework is pretty intense, but I like the way the professors get you to think,” she says. “They’re open-minded about how to go about solving a problem.”

Lee says she’s pleased with her campus experience so far. “I have a roommate from Korea, and we have a good time together. In the dining room [of I-House], you can talk to people from all over the world, which is nice, but sometimes I just want to eat,” she says, giggling. “I do miss Taiwanese food, though.”

As part of her experience, Lee is also catching the fall fun at Memorial Stadium. She attended the Cal v. Arizona game on Saturday, October 1, which the Bears won 28-0. As a result, she says she’s now an enthusiastic football fan. “Go Bears!” she cheers. “And, the band is terrific. That was a pretty special experience.”

The NCTU arrangement is the first step in what is envisioned as a comprehensive program with a handful of world-class engineering and computer science universities in the Pacific Rim and India.

“This exchange will benefit Berkeley by further strengthening our reputation globally and by attracting the attention of top graduate students,” says Engineering Dean Richard Newton. “If the program is as successful as we believe it will be, future options include working together with universities at the graduate level and expanding our research relationships with international corporations.”

The program is funded by corporate and private supporters of NCTU, whose leaders hope it will have the long-term effect of advancing higher education efforts and institutions in their country.

As for her future, Lee isn’t sure yet. “It’s quite tough to apply for graduate school here, but I’m enjoying things so far,” she says. “I especially like watching the squirrels on campus. They’re so cute!”

—Written by Patti Meagher and Rachel Jackson

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