The Internationalization of Providence University

The foundation of Providence University’s internationalization was established in 1956 when the American Sisters of Providence founded Providence College of English for Women in Taiwan. From its inception, the university has embraced a solid international education philosophy, embodying the motto: “Rooted in Taiwan, Embracing the World.” In recent years, the university has actively expanded its collaborations and exchanges with international academic partners through three key development strategies: language foundation, professional leadership, and international mobility. These efforts aim to enhance the degree of internationalization and prepare for the challenges of globalization and market openness.

Commitment to Internationalization at the College of International Affairs

The College of International Affairs at Providence University continues to uphold the institution’s strengths and values in international education. The college is committed to implementing academic collaborations and creating a well-structured international campus, enabling faculty, staff, and students to develop the necessary global vision and competitive edge in the face of globalization.

To attract outstanding domestic and international students—including foreign students, Mandarin learners, and exchange students—the College of International Affairs focuses on establishing English-taught bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Additionally, the Foreign Language Teaching Center and the Chinese Language Center play a key role in enhancing foreign language proficiency and intercultural communication. Efforts in this area include:

• Facilitating visits and lectures by international scholars.

• Encouraging local students to study abroad.

• Strengthening cultural exchanges between local and international students.

• Enhancing faculty members’ foreign language skills to participate in international conferences.

Development Directions of the College of International Affairs

The College of International Affairs integrates university-wide resources for cross-border and interdisciplinary education and research, focusing on cultivating students’ foreign language proficiency, professional expertise, and intercultural communication skills. The three key development directions and their specific strategies are outlined as follows:

1. Language Foundation

• Enhancing the effectiveness of English-medium instruction (EMI).

• Offering courses in professional foreign languages and international negotiations.

• Expanding access to foreign language proficiency tests.

The foundation of international talent development lies in language proficiency, which is essential for professional and academic communication and cross-border interactions. Beyond mastering a foreign language, students must also develop an understanding of cross-cultural contexts to engage effectively in international exchanges.

To truly cultivate globally mobile talent, Providence University emphasizes applying foreign language skills in professional and negotiation settings. Additionally, as the university aims to increase the number of outbound exchange and study-abroad students, passing the necessary language proficiency tests will serve as a crucial step toward accessing global opportunities.

2. Professional Leadership

• Establishing international professional degree programs.

• Assisting departments in obtaining international course accreditation.

• Promoting dual-degree programs with overseas universities.

To align with international academic standards, the university ensures that its curricula meet global quality assurance benchmarks. The second major initiative of the College of International Affairs is to assist academic departments in obtaining international course accreditations, thereby enhancing the global quality of their degree programs.

Accreditation efforts primarily focus on English-taught courses, where faculty members use original English textbooks, develop English-language syllabi and teaching materials, and directly engage with international students. This approach enables instructors to enhance their foreign language teaching confidence, broaden their international academic perspectives, and increase their opportunities for global scholarly exchange.

3. International Mobility

• Strengthening cross-cultural communication training to align with global academia and multinational corporations.

• Promoting international internships and volunteer programs.

• Establishing diverse cross-national industry-academia collaboration channels.

Providence University boasts rich international education resources and a diverse international student body, creating an ideal multilingual and multicultural environment for local students and faculty to experience globalization firsthand.

By fostering an internationally friendly campus for overseas students, the College of International Affairs aims to develop a truly internationalized university environment. This includes both soft aspects (campus culture shaped by students, faculty, and administrative staff) and hard aspects (curricula, teaching materials, educational facilities, public spaces, and administrative services).

Through these strategies, Providence University is committed to enhancing its global reputation, fostering cross-border academic and industry collaborations, and preparing students for success in a competitive international landscape.