International exchange students gained valuable learning experience at UTAR

PhD students Ting Yun Lo and Ching Yun Chen from Yunlin University of Science and Technology arrived at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 19 September 2022. They came to UTAR as exchange students for a duration of six months to gain academic experience and explore Malaysian culture. Ting said, “Upon hearing the good testimonies our professor shared about his visit to UTAR, both of us were prompted to join UTAR’s student exchange programme, and so we did.”

Ting (left) and Ching

They visited many places and embraced countless opportunities to discover various types of art and cultural preservation throughout the different states in Malaysia, such as Penang, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Sarawak as part of the exchange programme. They were guided by Dr Aloysius Yapp, the chairperson of UTAR Centre for Immersive Technology and Creativity (CITC). Some of the famous places they visited during the exchange programme included the Jadi Batek Gallery, Putra Mosque, National Art Gallery (Balai Seni Negara), Telekom Museum, The National Museum of Malaysia (Muzium Negara), National Textiles Museum, Chinese Calligraphy Stone Gallery, and Lembaga Muzium Negeri Sembilan, among others.

On top of that, Ting and Ching were invited as guest speakers to share their knowledge and educational experience at the Virtual Soft Skills Enhancement Camp 9.0. Following the talk delivered via Zoom, the Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC) awarded them with a certificate of appreciation.

The poster

Ting and Ching at the talk

The certificates of appreciation

Besides that, Ching mentioned that she was impressed to see a country like Malaysia, which is made of multiracial and multicultural people live in harmony. “Perhaps this is one of the secrets behind why the art and cultural heritage in Malaysia are so well-preserved,” she added.

Overall, they mentioned that they were grateful for the hospitality shown by UTAR and Dr Aloysius Yapp during their adventurous stay in Malaysia. “Words can’t express how blessed we feel to have been given such an opportunity. Those good memories will surely remain with us forever,” both of them enthused. Ting and Ching also stated that they would recommend the UTAR student exchange programme to their colleagues in Taiwan in the near future.