Exchange Program
Introduction
The student exchange program, International Study of Landscapes and Health Program, among National Taiwan University (NTU) and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) started from 2013, until now it has totally sent twenty graduate and undergraduate students from the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, NTU to UIUC. On the other hand, Department of Landscape Architecture, UIUC has sent one undergraduate and two PhD students to NTU.
Reflections
How was the experience?
Joanne Chen, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, NTU
Catering, social, going out, studying, living in a half-familiar environment (I used to live in Texas), made it more easy to compare systems, cultures and thoughts. And I Gradually explored a potential of my ideal lifestyle.
From my 2016 fall semester stay at UIUC, there are two aspects that I have learned a lot, one would be the knowledge and skills acquired in the field of landscape architecture, the other would be the social skills. Professionally speaking, through weekly readings, discussions and classes from each subject, I’ve had a better picture on the profession of landscape architecture, and through those I’ve gradually formed my own comprehension of landscape. For instance, the abundance cultural background in class sparks interesting debate and discussions, like how people view the balance between financial development and the environment. I not only have my own thoughts about the issues, but also understand how people with different cultural backgrounds see it.
LA 335 Community Open Space Studio, Dec. 7
I consider social skills obtained on asking the right questions when surviving the “real world” and making friends for a lifetime. Since it’s the first time handling financial status, insurance status etc. by myself, I’m always afraid something might happen and be extra cautious. During weekends, my friends and I would held parties alternatively (sometimes pot-lock) and share delicious cultural foods and exchange thoughts with each other.
What I’ve gotten most out of this semester would be “Passion”. The passion on learning. Almost every class, the eyes of the professors were lit up and excited when they’re giving an introduction to this class, throughout the semester they’ve always been very patient and in good mood while guiding discussions. Also, I’ve never seen that much students almost all so attentive in a class. With this atmosphere in the classroom, made me wanted to learn more, dig and think deeper not only in class, but also with the things going around the world associated with it. I turned into a sponge again, wanting to learn more and someday, give back.
LA 335 Classmates, Secret Santa, Dec. 8
To give some suggestion to exchange student program would be, making clearly list and state courses that credits could be accounted or transferred, maybe there could be a joint workshop with sophomores and juniors. For students, I would totally recommend to hang out more in the library and take courses that are relevant to their master’ s thesis, even though it is not in the profession of landscape architecture.
How others feel?
Doris Liao Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, NTU
It was really great to have the opportunity to be one of the first group of students for the exchange program with UIUC. Although the fall semester only lasted 4 months, I'm really happy that I get the chance to experience the beautiful seasons in Illinois. From the variety of the courses under landscape architecture department, I learned so many important and iconic cases of landscape design examples, I got to practice my design skills and aesthetic sensibilities, and learned a lot about landscape architecture professional practice in America. This experience helped me understand more about my profession, it also reminded me of the passion I had for landscape architecture and urged me to work harder to pursue what I love.
Ran Lin Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, NTU
During the exchange period, I experienced not only various kinds of cultures, social experience, and life styles, but also experienced the study atmosphere and the relationship between students and teachers. Learning atmosphere on campus enhanced my learning experience. Instructors would set the targets of courses in the beginning of the semester, with these targets I could tragically learning and absorbing new knowledge. The sis month life at UIUC is an unforgettable memory in my whole life.
Shai-Ting Chuang Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, NTU
It’s an honor to be the exchange student in University of Illinois at Urbana and Champaign, especially my major landscape architecture. The courses in the Department of Landscape Architecture are interesting. Besides professional knowledge that instructors shared, the field trip also supported students to learn more about the field of landscape architecture. In addition, there are a lot of international students and related programs in the university. We had a great time staying with international students. It is interesting to share some thoughts and opinions with each other and we can understand more about each other’s culture. In short, studying in UIUC is a wonderful memory.
Chung-Wen Jao Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, NTU
It was a wonderful experience to go to UIUC. I could still remember the first day when I alighted the airplane. Everything was new to me, different kinds of food, new friends, and totally different environment comparing to my country. After the whole semester passed by, it seemed that I belong to UIUC. Even now I still miss my friends I met there, the dorm room, nice professors and studios partners, foods on Green St., all memories I had there. These are one of my most precious memories in my life that I will never forget.
Linda Lim
Attending the National Taiwan University as an exchange student was by far the best semester of my school years. The University offers incredible programs and has an expansive selection of organizations that help you get involved with the locals.
Studying abroad has also helped me to easily adapt to new situations and gain the ability to communicate across language barriers. I have become more humble and patient in life while adopting a solution-based attitude reminding myself to take the chances while looking at problems through a new lens. This exchange program has redesigned my entire life reminding me that curiosity only invites more exploration and makes everything look new again.
Introduction of the lectures, life, experience of both UIUC and NTU
Lectures at UIUC
Community & Open Space Studio |
The studio go through the lectures from concepts to implementation of a project. The lecture starts from the discussion of the core issue and concept of the semester, and the theme of the projects as well. The second part comes into contact with the site, for example site analysis, and get to know more about where you are going to design. Lastly and also the most important part is to program and design the site in community scale, come up with ideas that can help to mitigate problems the communities are facing. Readings, pinups and discussions are required. There’s a field trip visiting the site and other cases and firms of landscape architecture in other cities during the semester. There are classes on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Studio may be the focus of your semester at UIUC. |
Landscape Architecture Theory & Practice |
This class is basically composed of discussions between students and teacher. The topics of the discussions are various, from the basic concept of landscape and nature, perception of the environment, to cultural differences among cities and countries. In the semester, we discussed a great deal about “what is landscape?”; “what is nature?” Take landscape and nature for example, we looked deeply into the concept of a landscape, for example the history and the changes of a place. Another part of this class is design case introduction, the cases are all about landscape architecture, and there are several topics defined by the function or the meaning of the landscape, such as ecology, security, heritage, etc. |
Landscapes & Human Health |
In the classes, students learn about the famous theories of landscape, research methods, benefits of landscapes, and how to write a research report or review. At the end of the semester, students need to bring out either a new research idea or organize past research, to make them either a proposal or a literature review about landscape and human health. During the semester, we read papers and articles learning the health benefits of natural landscapes, the benefits can be separated into some groups, psychological, physiological, and social aspects, students get to know the relationship between landscape and human health and social interaction. Furthermore, students can get the idea about the research methods of researches in landscape architecture field. |
Kinesiology and Physical Education |
Due to the culture and custom differences, UIUC offers many particular Kinesiology courses. Except for basketball and volleyball, other courses such as weight training, outdoor adventure, canoeing, etc. are very worth trying. In addition, there’s a well-built ice arena on campus, which makes the ice skating class always attractive to local and exchange student. |
Lectures at NTU
The Analysis of the Benefits of Landscape |
The main concept of the lecture discusses the beneficial influences of landscapes through reading journal articles. At the beginning, professors will guide students the method of reading a journal article, decompose the articles in order to grasp and comprehend the ideas of research. With the skill of reading articles, the discussion will lead to how to evaluate the beneficial influences of landscape environments, the concepts, methods, and the discussion. After the semester, students can get the general idea of the research in the field of landscape architecture regards to human health aspect. |
Healthy Landscape Healthy People Studio |
The studio is the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical practice of landscape architecture. The studio is aimed to create a healthier environments for users with different functions based on the results of the research. The sites locate in riverside parks, city parks, experimental farm of NTU or anywhere that people exposure in daily life. Students will be assigned site and goal of the landscape design, and have to come up with different project of healthy landscape according to different types and characters of sites. |
Daily life at UIUC
Living |
There are many choices about the dormitory in UIUC. For example, we lived in Sherman Hall, which is for upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. The room may be small but complete in every detail, such as microwave, fridge, and lots of storage spaces. It is also a prime location close to the Quad. |
Quad Day |
The purpose of Quad Day is to expose students to the diverse opportunities available for becoming involved in the campus community, especially student organizations. |
UIUC Taiwanese Student Association |
UIUC TSA is held by Taiwanese students. In every semester, they will hold different events such as Chinese new year celebration, night market, BBQ for moon festival. In addition, they will hold sports game and corn maze activity regularly. |
Apple picking |
In the October, American families will drive to nearby farm to pick up apples and pumpkins. Visitor can buy a plastic bag for picking up apples. Besides, there are some homemade goods in the shop such as jam, bread, soap, and the must-eat kettle corn. There are some wooden recreational facilities for kids. |
Urbana Sweetcorn Festival |
Since 1975, there is a famous festival called Urbana Sweetcorn Festival in Urbana at the end of summer. During the festival, people can enjoy sweetcorn, local food and musical performance. |
International Illini |
The International Illini is a student run organization that works with the Study Abroad Office to provide opportunities for returned study abroad and international students to meet and socialize together. |