Japan
NTU’s internship system and the various practice-oriented courses offered in collaboration with industry partners greatly help students develop real-world skills.
First of all, I wanted to acquire language skills beyond English. I believe that Mandarin is the best language to learn because there are a large number of overseas Chinese communities around the world, and Mandarin has one of the greatest numbers of speakers globally. Moreover, I had previously visited Taiwan several times for travel. Through these experiences, I was deeply impressed by the kindness of the people, the sense of safety in daily life, and the richness of the food culture. These experiences gradually convinced me that Taiwan would be an ideal place to study. Another important factor was the cost of living; considering the availability of scholarships and the relatively affordable dormitory fees, I found Taiwan to be much more affordable compared to other countries such as the United States. Furthermore, I wanted not only to learn another language besides English but also to major in a specific field such as business. Studying in Taiwan made it possible to balance both language acquisition and academic specialization.
Reputation is one of the main reasons I chose this university. National Taiwan University is often regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Taiwan, and it is also ranked 63rd in the world in the QS World University Rankings. A diverse environment that brings together more than 7,000 international students from 86 countries also attracts me, as I believe I can broaden my horizons and further develop myself at NTU.
NTU is a comprehensive university composed of 16 colleges and offers an interdisciplinary learning environment. At the same time, its study abroad system and international exchange opportunities with more than 800 partner universities across 66 countries are highly attractive. Programs such as the NTU IMP and the NTU Overseas Internship Program provide well-structured and enriching internship opportunities, and they are among the programs I plan to actively participate in. Moreover, student support offices such as the Office of International Affairs, AWEC, the NTU Career Center, the NTU Academic Counseling Service, the NTU Academic Advising Office, and the Student Counseling Center enable international students to enjoy their university life with peace of mind.
My department not only allows me to study the five fundamental fields of business and management—business administration, economics, accounting, statistics, and operations research/management science—but also offers the four unique professional modules—marketing, data analytics, human capital, and innovation management—enabling me to further deepen my expertise. Such a curriculum design will allow me to master the comprehensive knowledge and skills necessary for entering society and starting work.
NTU provides high-quality education in both academic and practical aspects. In particular, the internship system and the various practice-oriented courses offered in collaboration with industry partners greatly help students develop real-world skills. Through corporate internships, I believe I can accumulate hands-on experience, learn business strategies, and at the same time cultivate the skills required for working. In addition, there are many master’s and doctoral students studying within the College of Management at NTU, and I believe I have opportunities to interact with them and further clarify my career planning.
If I were to describe my university, I would say it is far more diverse, inspiring, and supportive than you might think. It is diverse because, as I mentioned above, NTU has not only Taiwanese students but also many international students from 66 countries, studying in a wide variety of majors. It is inspiring because there are many opportunities at NTU, such as internships, study abroad programs, ICL, and guest lectures, which motivate me to grow. Finally, it is supportive because the professors and classmates are incredibly supportive and friendly, which encourages me to study harder and truly enjoy university life. They are always willing to offer help whenever I need it. So far, the most meaningful aspect of my experience has been the people I have met in Taiwan. I never expected to encounter such a diverse range of individuals and opportunities, and meeting these people has truly been a blessing.
I found the 24-hour study room in the basement of the library quite useful. The study room is near the school cafeteria and also has printing facilities. While I have not participated in any projects during my university studies so far because I needed time to adjust to university life, I have a history of involvement from my previous studies. While studying at NCCU CLC, I participated in NCCU Toastmasters and served as the Vice President of Education for one semester. At that time, I was responsible for organizing a weekly study group where we learned about social issues and discussed them. In addition, during my time at NCCU CLC, I participated in the 2024 Foreign Students’ Chinese Speaking Contest. I have not yet participated in any hands-on courses or projects at NTU, but I plan to participate in the ICL program this semester.
I still find pronunciation challenging because there are many sounds that do not exist in Japanese. However, the mandatory Mandarin language class helps me gain confidence in speaking Mandarin. I truly enjoy the class; we have discussions on a wide range of topics, and listening to the opinions of classmates from different countries is a valuable experience. There are many available resources provided by the school to help connect with the professional world, and although I have not used them yet, I would like to make use of them in the future.
In the future, I would like to work for a foreign-affiliated company or a trading company, where I can apply my language skills in a global context. I hope to engage in work that connects Japan with other countries. Ultimately, my goal is to serve as a bridge between Japan and the world. For these reasons, I decided to pursue my studies here.
My current plan is to return to Japan to work, and I would like to have a job that contributes to connecting Japan, Taiwan, and the world. If possible, after working for several years, I would also like to pursue a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). However, nothing is set in the stone, yet!
