Digital information sessions were held in May at the University of Bonn and at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau in Germany

The University of Applied Sciences Zwickau in Saxony has partnerships and active exchange programs with Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages, National Taipei University of Technology, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, and National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, and Taiwan’s representative in Germany, Prof. Shieh Jhy-Wey, participated as a guest speaker in a remote seminar hosted by its Chinese language department in April. The university requires all students in its Faculty of Languages and Intercultural Communications to go abroad as an integral part of their program and so on May 5, the Education Division of the Taipei Office in Germany presented a virtual information session for students in the Faculty, highlighting Taiwan’s advantages as a destination for language studies, as well as educational and scientific exchanges.

The University of Bonn also has partnerships with Taiwanese universities, including National Taiwan University, National Chengchi University, and Tamkang University. In light of the continuing pandemic, this year the International Office at the University of Bonn decided to host a virtual fair on opportunities for studying and doing internships abroad, instead of its traditional International Day.

The virtual fair, held on May 19 offered a wide range of information on ways to study and gather experience all over the world. The interaction modes included virtual regional and country-specific information booths, video conferences, chat consultations, first-hand reports from former exchange students, and institutional presentations by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), UNICEF, and others.

Mr. Lennart Vulprecht from the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany gave a presentation about opportunities for language studies and degree studies in Taiwan and scholarships available for each, while Ms. Liu Chia-Yi from the Economics Division of the Taipei Office in Germany in Frankfurt provided information on internships and work-and-travel programs. Students were equally interested in both topics: young people see Taiwan as an attractive destination for both academic and practical experiences.

In a Q&A session afterwards the focus was on the current COVID-19 situation and the difficulties it has imposed. Entry restrictions have been tightened due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan, but the students were still eager to find out when they’ll be able to resume exchange programs, degree studies, and Chinese language courses in Taiwan. And an advantage over traditional fairs is that the uploaded information material will remain available online for up to two months afterwards.