A group of 19 faculty, staff, and administrators from across CUNY visited Taiwan to engage in preliminary discussions of partnerships with Taiwanese institutions in April 2025 and to learn more about the Taiwanese educational system. The group returned with an abundance of ideas and plans for future collaboration with universities in Taiwan.
The visit was designed to enrich participants’ understanding of the higher education system in Taiwan and the Taiwanese semi-conductor industry while gaining a cross-cultural perspective through tours of Taiwan’s historical and cultural sites.
During the course of the visit, participants engaged in meetings and dialogue with faculty and administrators from universities in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education, Fulbright Taiwan, and a variety of cultural institutions.
Alongside the expanded understanding of Taiwan, participants successfully established connections with various schools and found opportunities to explore collaboration in overseas programs, research opportunities, joint publications, and other scholarly activities.
Institutional and site visits
The delegates visited six institutions of higher education, the Ministry of Education, the Fulbright Office, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (the world’s largest chip foundry), and seven cultural sites, including the AnPing Fort, LongShan Temple, and the Palace Museum.
Each academic institution was selected for its academic offerings, overall structure, international outlook, prestige, and ability to connect with CSI. Cultural and industry sites were chosen to give participants a well-rounded view of Taiwan and to understand how the educational system plays into society. The following universities were on the itinerary:
- Asia University
- National Cheng Chi University
- National Cheng Kung University
- National Chung Hsing University
- National Taiwan University
- Tunghai University
During the visit, the College of Staten Island signed Statements of Shared Interest with several universities, including Asia University, Tunghai University, National Cheng Kung University, and National Chengchi University.
Dr. Fuh-Sheng Shieu, former president of the National Chung Hsing University and former Minister of the Environment hosted a welcome dinner for the participants to kick off the tour. Dr. Shieu previously visited CSI twice and has signed a Statement of Shared Interest.
Participants from the College of Staten Island:
- Holly Block, Admissions and Recruitment
- Koral Caruso, English Department
- Stephen Ferst, Center for Global Engagement
- Robert Kee, Office of Student Life
- Stivi Manoku, Mathematics Department
- Faiza Peetz, Biology Department
- Ralf Peetz, Division of Science and Technology
- Chang-Hui Shen, Department of Biology
- Tatiana Pankratova, CUNY Start
- Melanie Thompson, Center for Global Engagement
Non-CSI Participants:
- Emakoji Ayikoye, Business and Information Systems Department – Bronx Community College
- Katherine Chuang, Computer and Information Science, Brooklyn College
- Ruth Kamona, Office of Enrollment Management, International Student and Scholar Services, The City University of New York
- Rosa Kelley, International Student Service Center, Baruch College
- Yonghong McDowell, Mathematics and Computer Science Department, York College
- Dawn Roberts-Semple, Department of Earth and Physical Sciences, York College
- Eric Thomson, Accountant, (guest of Ms. Thomson)
- Virginia Thompson, Mathematics and Computer Science, York College
This tour was organized and conducted through the Center for Global Engagement and the Department of Biology at the College of Staten Island. www.csi.cuny.edu.
By Winnie Brophy
