By Matthew McGraw, Ph.D.
Associate VP, Mountain Gateway Community College
I recently had the honor and privilege of participating in the Fulbright US-Taiwan International Education Administrators (IEA) program in Taiwan. IEA awards afford U.S. educators the opportunity to widen their perspective, engage in cross-cultural exchange, and take the first step in collaborating with institutions around the world.
For more than two weeks, I joined other administrators from 25 American universities as we attended meetings at a variety of institutions and universities all across Taiwan as we explored the education system of Taiwan, opportunities for future collaboration, and the importance of cultural exchange as well as the history, culture, and current socio-political environment. We had the pleasure of visiting a dozen universities in Taiwan for extensive seminars and meetings, multiple agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education, and several cultural immersion experiences as we visited the cities of Taipei, Taichung, Nantou, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.
Dr. Matthew McGraw visited Taiwan through the Fulbright Program in March and is seen on the beach in Kaohsuing, Taiwan, above overlooking the South China Sea.
Our schedule was packed with informative seminars, information sharing, great food, and new friends. I encourage anyone in the VCCS who is interested in pursuing a Fulbright Scholarship to apply, especially if they are interested in Taiwan. If you are interested learning more about my experience, do not hesitate to contact me.
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Fulbright Taiwan, the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, Ministry of Education, the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), and all of our university partners, for their hospitality and support of the Fulbright IEA Program.
Please note that this is not an official Department of State publication and the views and information presented are my own and do not represent the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, the Department of State, the Fulbright Commission, or the host country.
About the Fulbright Program: Led by the United States government in partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide, the Fulbright Program offers international educational and cultural exchange programs for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach, or pursue important research and professional projects. Learn more about the Fulbright Program.
You can read more about Dr. McGraw’s experience in Taiwan.
