National Sun Yat-Sen University
National Sun Yat-Sen University
06/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/31/2026 10:05
Empowering NSYSU EMI innovation: Immersive Professional Development in the USA in Collaboration with Fulbright Taiwan
2026-06-01
To strengthen the quality of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) teaching and broaden faculty members' international perspectives, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), in collaboration with Fulbright Taiwan, sent seven faculty members to the United States for a two-week Fulbright EMI Overseas Professional Training Program. Participating institutions included Arizona State University (ASU), the University of California San Diego (UCSD), the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), and Teachers College, Columbia University (TC).
The program focused on EMI innovation, student-centered pedagogy, and intercultural education, allowing participants to explore emerging trends in global higher education while reflecting NSYSU's ongoing commitment to advancing bilingual education. Course sessions covered topics such as active learning, formative assessment, inclusive teaching, the integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into teaching, intercultural communication, and classroom interaction design. Through workshops, classroom observations, and teaching demonstrations, participants gained practical insights into strategies for enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes in EMI classrooms.
As Taiwan's EMI environment continues to mature, the focus of EMI teaching has shifted from changing the language of instruction to designing engaging and supportive learning experiences. Associate Professor Mon-Juan Lee (Department of Biomedical Science and Technology), Associate Professor I-Lien Ho (Department of Theatre Arts), and Assistant Professor Pei-Chi Lo (Department of Information Management), who participated in the UCSD program, emphasized the importance of psychologically safe learning environments. They noted that low-stakes assessments, clearly structured classroom activities, team-based learning (TBL), and peer collaboration can strengthen students' confidence, participation, and sense of responsibility.
The ASU and TC programs introduced interactive and student-centered EMI teaching approaches. At ASU, Assistant Professor Jen-Hau Yang (Doctoral Program of Clinical and Experimental Medicine) highlighted the importance of active participation and immediate interaction in EMI classrooms, as diverse classroom activities and technological tools can significantly improve student engagement and learning outcomes. Meanwhile, the TC program emphasized classroom interaction design and disciplinary literacy. Assistant Professor Chih-Ching Chang (Center for Teacher Education) shared strategies that encourage higher-order thinking and knowledge construction in English-medium learning environments, including Socratic Seminars, the Jigsaw method, and the Question Formulation Technique (QFT).
The UMD program explored how EMI teaching can better connect language learning with disciplinary contexts. Associate Professor Yi-Peng Lai (Department of Foreign Languages and Literature) and Professor Mei-Ling Wu (Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering) introduced approaches to English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and needs-oriented curriculum design. They also observed that as GenAI continues to reshape higher education, teaching practices are paying greater attention to critical thinking, learning processes, and the practical application of knowledge.
By fostering supportive learning environments, strengthening classroom interaction, and adopting innovative teaching strategies, NSYSU aims to further advance the quality of bilingual education and cultivate globally competitive talent. NSYSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Shu-chen Sherry Ou also expressed appreciation to Fulbright Taiwan for its support and resources, saying that the overseas training program contributed to faculty professional development as well as interdisciplinary and international academic exchange. She added that NSYSU will continue to promote EMI faculty development, expand international partnerships, and create more supportive bilingual learning environments for both faculty and students.
To strengthen the quality of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) teaching and broaden faculty members' international perspectives, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), in collaboration with Fulbright Taiwan, sent seven faculty members to the United States for a two-week Fulbright EMI Overseas Professional Training Program. Participating institutions included Arizona State University (ASU), the University of California San Diego (UCSD), the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), and Teachers College, Columbia University (TC).
The program focused on EMI innovation, student-centered pedagogy, and intercultural education, allowing participants to explore emerging trends in global higher education while reflecting NSYSU's ongoing commitment to advancing bilingual education. Course sessions covered topics such as active learning, formative assessment, inclusive teaching, the integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into teaching, intercultural communication, and classroom interaction design. Through workshops, classroom observations, and teaching demonstrations, participants gained practical insights into strategies for enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes in EMI classrooms.
As Taiwan's EMI environment continues to mature, the focus of EMI teaching has shifted from changing the language of instruction to designing engaging and supportive learning experiences. Associate Professor Mon-Juan Lee (Department of Biomedical Science and Technology), Associate Professor I-Lien Ho (Department of Theatre Arts), and Assistant Professor Pei-Chi Lo (Department of Information Management), who participated in the UCSD program, emphasized the importance of psychologically safe learning environments. They noted that low-stakes assessments, clearly structured classroom activities, team-based learning (TBL), and peer collaboration can strengthen students' confidence, participation, and sense of responsibility.
The ASU and TC programs introduced interactive and student-centered EMI teaching approaches. At ASU, Assistant Professor Jen-Hau Yang (Doctoral Program of Clinical and Experimental Medicine) highlighted the importance of active participation and immediate interaction in EMI classrooms, as diverse classroom activities and technological tools can significantly improve student engagement and learning outcomes. Meanwhile, the TC program emphasized classroom interaction design and disciplinary literacy. Assistant Professor Chih-Ching Chang (Center for Teacher Education) shared strategies that encourage higher-order thinking and knowledge construction in English-medium learning environments, including Socratic Seminars, the Jigsaw method, and the Question Formulation Technique (QFT).
The UMD program explored how EMI teaching can better connect language learning with disciplinary contexts. Associate Professor Yi-Peng Lai (Department of Foreign Languages and Literature) and Professor Mei-Ling Wu (Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering) introduced approaches to English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and needs-oriented curriculum design. They also observed that as GenAI continues to reshape higher education, teaching practices are paying greater attention to critical thinking, learning processes, and the practical application of knowledge.
By fostering supportive learning environments, strengthening classroom interaction, and adopting innovative teaching strategies, NSYSU aims to further advance the quality of bilingual education and cultivate globally competitive talent. NSYSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Shu-chen Sherry Ou also expressed appreciation to Fulbright Taiwan for its support and resources, saying that the overseas training program contributed to faculty professional development as well as interdisciplinary and international academic exchange. She added that NSYSU will continue to promote EMI faculty development, expand international partnerships, and create more supportive bilingual learning environments for both faculty and students.
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