York College Professors Join CUNY Delegation on Educational Tour of Taiwan

Three York College professors, along with other CUNY faculty, recently participated in an engaging educational trip to Taiwan, where they explored the nation’s higher education system.

Professors Virginia L. Thompson and YongHong McDowell (both from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science), along with Professor Dawn Roberts Semple (Department of Earth and Physical Sciences), took part in a week-long tour -- April 13 to April 20, 2025. The visit was organized by the Center for Global Engagement and led by Dr. Chang-Hui Shen, Professor and Chair of the Biology Department at the College of Staten Island (CSI)/CUNY. Fourteen other faculty and staff from the CUNY Central Office, CSI, Brooklyn College, Baruch College, and Bronx Community College also participated.

The purpose of the tour was to deepen participants' understanding of Taiwan’s higher education landscape and its growing semiconductor industry, while fostering cross-cultural exchange through visits to historical and cultural landmarks. The group visited several prominent universities, including:

• National Taiwan University (#68 in QS World University Rankings)
• National Cheng Kung University (#215)
• National Chung Hsing University (#661–670)
• National Chengchi University (#601–610)
• Asia University (#133 in QS Asian University Rankings)
• Tunghai University (#1201–1400)

During these campus visits, CSI’s Director of the Center for Global Engagement, Steven Ferst, dean of Science and Technology Professor Ralph Peetz, and Dr. Chang-Hui Shen provided presentations on CUNY’s various schools, academic programs, research opportunities, and international collaborations. They also highlighted CUNY's global connections, including study abroad programs, student exchanges, scholarships, internships, and joint research initiatives.

According to the 2024 Open Doors Report on International Exchange, the number of Taiwanese students enrolled in U.S. colleges rose by 6.1%, reaching 21,834—making Taiwan the fifth-largest source of international students in the United States. CUNY currently maintains over 300 international partnerships across more than 50 countries and seeks to expand opportunities between Taiwan and the U.S.

Professors Thompson, Roberts Semple, and McDowell returned with valuable insights into Taiwan’s dynamic higher education system and expressed enthusiasm about encouraging York College students to take advantage of CUNY’s study abroad programs.