International Seamless Integration: FCU ISTM Partners with Australian Scholar to Pilot Blended Learning for Soft Landing

To deepen international collaboration and ensure the learning quality for students studying abroad at partner universities, The International School of Technology and Management (ISTM) at Feng Chia University (FCU) recently hosted a strategically significant Blended Learning course. ISTM was honored to invite Dr. Ann Wallin, a renowned business scholar from Queensland, Australia, to conduct a specialized three-week "Overseas Course " for its international program students.

This course was meticulously structured, adopting a "One Week Online Preparation + Two Weeks In-Person Deepening" model. The primary goal was to allow students to preliminarily understand foreign professors' teaching styles and grading standards before heading to top Australian institutions like The University of Queensland (UQ). This proactive and "pre-emptive" design effectively mitigates the risk of academic or cultural adaptation difficulties that students often face when transitioning to an overseas study environment.

Throughout the three-week period, whether in online knowledge exploration sessions or in-person interactive classes, students demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm and engagement. The classroom atmosphere was highly dynamic, with students actively voicing their opinions and asking questions, fully reflecting the proactive learning characteristics of ISTM students and aligning with international academic exchange standards.

Outcomes and Outlook

We are thankful for the valuable insights and advanced teaching models shared by Dr. Ann Wallin. This is more than just a course; it is a custom-designed 'Soft Landing' international academic training for our students. We are delighted to see the passion and critical thinking skills displayed by the students in class, which lays a solid foundation for their future academic pursuits at UQ.

The entire faculty and staff of ISTM extend their best wishes to the students embarking on their journey to The University of Queensland (UQ). We wish all students a smooth transition, great success in their studies, and that they will leverage the international perspective and professional competence cultivated at ISTM to achieve their goals.