CCPS Faculty foster global cooperative education with Taiwan initiative

Professors Ibrahim-Taney Roemer with Alen Fiol, Division Chief, Division of Global Cooperation & Exchange, Office of International Affairs at Ming Chi University of Technology. Photo/provided.

A recent eight-day trip to Taipei marked a pivotal moment for the initiative. Assistant Professors Roemer and Ibrahim-Taney engaged with strategic partners, employers, alumni, and students to strengthen cooperative education and career development pathways.

"The productive meetings we engaged in with faculty, alumni, and employers have provided us with strong indications that we can not only enhance co-op opportunities in Taiwan, but also create opportunities for project-based work within the classroom. We are confident in our ability to create additional avenues for growth and development," said Roemer.

The delegation included several distinguished alumni and industry leaders such as: Joe Chu, PhD '94, general manager at Primax Electronics; Mr. Eric Chen, MS, '79, vice chairman of Sampo Corporation; Mr. Oliver Lin MDes, '93, vice president of the Taiwan Design Research Institute; and Jerry Pan, MS '85, PhD '91, senior director of Compal Electronics.

Conversations with UC faculty and these leaders focused on enhancing students' global competencies and career readiness through valuable industry insights and potential career opportunities leveraging Taiwan's advanced manufacturing and technology-based economy.

Professors Ibrahim-Taney and Roemer with students from the International MBA program at Ming Chi University of Technology with their design thinking deliverables from a class lecture we gave. Photo/provided.

The UC team connected with eight students from the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) currently studying in Taiwan and engaged with faculty from National Taipei University of Technology and Ming Chi University of Technology. These interactions were aimed at fostering academic exchange and enhancing the cooperative education model.

"Gaining firsthand insight into the experiences of our CEAS students in Taiwan during the summer semester was incredibly valuable. We now have a deeper understanding of the co-op opportunities there, which will allow us to better promote this unique experience to other students," said Roemer.

"The main goal of our trip was to consider how the University of Cincinnati could potentially foster comprehensive global partnerships with Taiwanese universities and industries," Ibrahim-Taney said. Potential activities include partnering UC and Taiwanese universities in real-world projects to prepare students for the workforce, promoting collaborative research and innovation between UC and Taiwanese faculty, and partnering with the Taiwan Design Research Institute to foster interdisciplinary research and co-op opportunities within UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP).

Additionally, the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies is open to hosting study tours for Taiwanese students to promote academic and cultural exchange and facilitating guest lectures to enhance interdisciplinary dialogue and academic experience. These efforts aim to enhance cooperative education and career development opportunities for students and faculty alike.

Professors Ibrahim-Taney and Roemer with alumni at Primax Electronics Company visit. Photo/provided.

This initiative has laid a robust foundation for future collaboration, underscoring the importance of global partnerships in enhancing academic and professional development. UC's commitment to fostering global competencies and career readiness among its students is poised to yield long-term benefits, contributing to the university's international strategic goals.

"We aren't preparing our students to work only in Ohio, but we must think globally and competitively. International learning opportunities, when combined with local industry-based co-op rotations, really position our students as globally competent leaders prepared for whatever the changing market demands of them now and into the future," added Ibrahim-Taney.