Year abroad in Taiwan: new experiences in the Far East

Maximilian Zeindl is a student at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, but he is currently in Taiwan, more precisely in the northwestern part of the island in Hsinchu. He is spending his year abroad at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), a partner university of the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences. In his business studies – International Business Studies – a stay of two semesters abroad is planned, which can be supplemented by an internship abroad.

WHY TAIWAN?

Maximilian summarizes his expectations of his studies abroad as follows: “... because I wanted to learn Mandarin and also gain experience in Asia. I expect high-quality courses at NTHU and hope to make contacts with people from different countries.” The courses he has chosen are thematically aligned with the topic of cross-cultural collaboration and international economic relations.

Maximilian has been in Taiwan since August – so for 6 months already – and already has a good impression of the country, its people and his new university. “What I like best about my stay is the mix of cultures that prevails here. At NTHU, there are students from every country in the world and you get to know different customs and festivals of the respective cultures,” reports the student, adding: “The people I spend my time with are definitely a highlight of my year abroad.” His stay is not over yet, as Maximilian Zeindl will remain in Taiwan until June.

Stays abroad are an integral part of the degree programs at the Kufstein University, as they not only provide students with knowledge but also with many personal and social experiences. Maximilian can confirm this: “The year abroad certainly took away my fear of approaching people and starting a conversation with them in English,” he says in description, because today it is quite different.

A typical day at the partner university

Lectures start in the morning and continue until 2:00 p.m. After that, there are homework assignments to complete. Later, students usually meet with friends and plan various activities. “Here we have a lot more homework, but also fewer exams,” says Maximilian, summarizing the difference to everyday student life at the Kufstein campus. He rates the support provided by the partner university and the International Relations Office (IRO) of the Kufstein University as “excellent. The IRO in Kufstein does an excellent job, as does the office in Taiwan.” During his stay, Maximilian is living in a student residence and sharing a room with three local students. ‘The accommodation was very cheap (60 euros), but if you want your privacy, this accommodation is not really recommended,’ the student reports with a wink.

The biggest difference in culture and lifestyle between Taiwan and at home is clear to the student: “The attitude of Taiwanese people towards learning – local students in Taiwan are just studying all day. You get the impression that they live to learn,” says Maximilian, summing up.

RECOMMENDATION & TIPS

“I would recommend National Tsing Hua University because it offers an excellent range of courses and you are very close to Taipei, only about an hour's bus ride away,” says Maximilian. His advice for future students: ”Be sure to research the climate zone in your desired country before you travel. Furthermore, I would also recommend considering the quality of the partner university and not just looking at the country.”

Links:

• Link to the partner universities of the Kufstein University
• Link to Erasmus+ scholarships