Globalization putting a premium on overseas studies

Studying abroad can help you to become an international talent who excels in today's highly-competitive and globalized world, said CJ Liu, Director General of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations.

"We would like to encourage students to study abroad to see beyond Taiwan, by broadening their world view and sharpening their global competitiveness," said Liu.

As Thomas Friedman argues in his internationally best-selling book "The World Is Flat," Liu noted, the world has become a level playing field in terms of commerce, where all competitors have an equal opportunity.

This means that any individual should continue updating his or her work skills, making oneself more adaptable in the work force, in order to remain competitive in the global market.

"Studying abroad can develop one into a global talent, helping you to learn both academically and culturally, and more importantly, sharpening your English language skills, an important tool in the globalized world."

These skills are a must for anyone who strives to think globally beyond Taiwan and become a global talent like the one mentioned in Friedman's book, Liu noted.

Liu made the above comments during an interview with the Taiwan News conducted Sept. 24, 2009.

Liu's Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations under the Ministry of Education is responsible for coordinating cooperation and exchanges in international educational affairs.

The main tasks of the bureau include expanding the scope of Taiwanese students' global participation by arranging for local students to study abroad, by promoting international academic and cultural exchanges, and by attracting outstanding foreign students to pursue higher studies as well as Mandarin study in Taiwan.

As the head of the bureau and a man who has studied abroad himself, Liu wanted to promote as many Taiwanese students to study abroad as possible.

To encourage students to explore the world outside Taiwan to further their education, Liu said the MOE has launched policies such as government-sponsored full scholarships for overseas study, study-abroad scholarships for graduate students, and study-abroad loans.

In recent years the government has also actively promoted short to mid-term study abroad and internship programs to provide more overseas study opportunities.

Taking himself as an example, Liu, who earned his Ed.D. in Educational Administration at the University of Cincinnati in 1985, said his overseas study experience has helped his career a great deal.

"My English-language skill thanks to those days in the America opened many doors for me when I chose my career, allowing me to find a job in the Ministry of Education."

"If I had not gone to America to further my studies, I would be like my other classmates in the Normal University, to become a teacher or a school principal, and I would not have had the opportunity to explore other parts of the world."

Aside from sharpening his language and professional skills as an educational administrator, Liu said he also traveled in different parts of America to broaden his view during his days in the country.

As a former student abroad in the U.S., Liu has a suggestion for Taiwanese students who plan to study abroad. "It is of the utmost importance to make use of the international environment in foreign lands to improve their foreign language skills, especially their English conversational skills."

To learn more about studying in the United States, Taiwanese students are encouraged to visit the upcoming American Education Fairs to be held in Taipei at the National Taiwan University International Conference Center Oct. 3 and 4, in Kaohsiung at the Grand Hi-Lai Hotel Oct. 5, and in Taichung at the Evergreen Laurel Hotel Oct. 6.

To learn more about the fair, visit AIEF's website at www.aief.org.tw or call (02) 2705-8840 for additional details.