No. 55: Mr. YANG Yu-Chiao (National Chengchi University, completed AELC in November, 2023)
Hello, I’m Yu-Chiao Yang from the Department of Education at National Chengchi University. It’s my honor to share the extremely wonderful experiences I've had joining the AEL program, which started when I was a junior in the undergraduate program during a period of serious pandemic. I’ve taken courses from undergraduate to graduate level, from online to onsite, spanning NCCU, TU, NNU, to KU. These learning experiences have brought some important advantages for me. First, building a network; in the AEL course, whether digital or physical, students all participate in groups and make group presentations, engaging in extensive discussions with classmates from different universities. All of us not only exchange our viewpoints but also maintain contact and interact more when each of us needs help with research, travel, or information after the courses. Making friends globally has broadened my horizons and learning. Second, the courses are taught by experts in various educational fields and at different partner universities. Learning and teaching in English eliminates language barriers and enhances my academic English skills. Besides, the content, theories, and systems within different policy backgrounds have provided me with extensive knowledge, allowing me to compare the pros and cons and even aid in conducting my research. Meanwhile, professors from various universities with diverse styles have offered me a unique learning opportunity. Third, the multicultural experience; even though the framework is only in East Asia, I can still discern the similarities and differences among classmates from each university. By sharing my own experiences and visiting the countries during onsite courses, I get the chance to learn and immerse myself in the local atmosphere alongside local students. These feelings are not easily obtained by merely traveling to a place. By taking courses and accessing resources at the university, I gain a deeper understanding of the local schools, organizations, and society, beyond just sightseeing. Last but not least, the course has contributed significantly to my research. I’ve written three conference papers related to AEL courses and presented them in Hiroshima, and Hong Kong, and ready to present in Miami, respectively. My classmate Chung-Yi Lee and I conducted research on the AEL framework, focusing on regional cooperation in higher education and the outcomes of short-term intensive exchange courses. I also conducted comparative education research on the topic of pre-service teacher training programs by interviewing classmates from NNU, TU, and KU, which helped me collect more valuable data. All in all, it’s been an enjoyable learning journey in the AEL program. I will carry all these experiences into the future and hope all of you can also have a pleasant time in AEL!