ISOIS ▸ Final reports

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Host institution:
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Faculty:
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Chaoyang University of Technology

Taiwan 2019/2020 Partner universities

Personal data
Mobility type:
study

Faculty at MU:
Faculty of Education

Field of study:
Teaching English and Music

Level of study during period of placement:
Master

Language used:
English

Summer/winter school?:
no

Period of studies:
spring 2020

Period of placement (from-to):
2020-03-02 - 2020-06-24

Number of months:
4.00

Activities before my departure abroad
Where can information be found about courses taught at the foreign school?:
the school sends a list of courses, more information can be found online

Which documents were needed for acceptance at the foreign university?:
language approval, questionnaire

How far ahead did you have to organise your acceptance?:
3 months

Did you need a visa?:
yes

Documents and materials needed for a visa:
confirmation about financial means, passport, confirmation letter from the university, flight tickets

Length of wait for visa:
1 week

Fee for the visa:
about 2000czk

Studies
Did you have a Learning Agreement signed before your departure?:
yes

If not, why not?:

Before your departure did you know how your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

During your stay did you change your Learning Agreement?:
yes

When and how did course registration take place? Are there any restrictions? Possibilities of making changes?:
The registration took place during first meeting at school. The courses can be changed directly during the registration or later during first two weeks.

Did you take any examinations at the foreign school?:
yes

Does the school use the ECTS system?:
no

If not then explain how the credits there were recalculated into ECTS:
The school provided a list of courses including recalculation into ECTS (their credits are app. half of ECTS)

Describe the teaching methods (theory, practical and projects) and assessment of students:
Each subject was different; many were theoretical (lectures, ppts..), some where practical (exercises, writing, reading...).
Each subject had different assessment, mostly a test, presentation, project.

Quality of teaching in comparison with home school:
Local school was not that demanding, but it took a lot of time to do homework - reading, projects..

How did you receive study materials?:
I bought some textbooks, or they were provided by the teacher online.

Can you recommend an interesting course/subject/teacher?:
Secretary Skills - George Berry
Teaching practice at local schools

How well is the school library equipped?:
The library is amazing; there are plenty of English books and magazines, a lot of place for studying, printers, VR games, computers...

Availability of computers, internet access, level of software needed, requirements on notebook:
Local students usualy don't use laptops during classes, but many subjects are based on regular online work during the class - a smart phone is necessary. The internet connection is good and available on the whole campus.

Options from printing and copying:
In the library, in local shops

Does the foreign school/student organisation arrange special events for exchange students?:
yes

If yes then what?:
Usually one-day trips to nearby cities, markets, sights, farms.

How would you assess your integration with the local students (evaluation like in school from 1 to 5 with 1 as highest):
3

or describe in your own words:
Local students are very shy and they don't seem very talkative, but once they are approached by someone, they are friendly. Language barrier is one of the main problems.

Practical questions on your placement
Where did you live?:
School dormitory

Cost of accommodation - monthly:
130 EUR

Additional comments to the price of accommodation (as to what the price includes):
the rent is paid at the beginning for the whole semester - not including the energies, which are paid separately every once in a while

Describe the equipment. Tips for future students – what should they bring with them?:
Bed, wardrobe, table with three shelves, bathroom with shower. Nothing extra is needed.

How and how far ahead should accommodation be organised?:
The school ensures the accomodation, payments are made after arrival in cash.

What are the catering options?:
The school campus provides many possibilities - 3 canteens and a shop. The city is full of small food shops - locals don't cook, they eat out every meal.

What are the rough costs of groceries (compare with Czech prices):
About the same. Meals are very cheap (40czk per a meal)

Transport to location of placement:
Floight from Vienna to Taipei - the school offers a drive from the airport to the dorm.

Rough prices for transportation:
trains are more expensive, but buses around the city are for free under 10km drive

Tips for purchasing cheap tickets and other recommendations:
buy easy card - needed for transportation. It can be used also as a credit card.

What are the local transport options (public transport, cycling, on foot, rough prices):
Depending on the city - buses, trains (normal or high speed - which is about twice more expensive, but much faster), sometimes underground or aboveground rails.

What kind of formalities have to be arranged before arrival, for example residence permit?:
only visa, the rest is dealt with after arrival

What health insurance did you use? (rough price, advantages, disadvantages, is it necessary to arrange insurance at the university other than your home (Czech) insurance?):
Home school health insurance; it is also possible to buy local school insurance, but I don't find it necessary if one has their own insurance.
It is very easy to get the insurance by Masaryk Uni and it is for free.

Did you have any experience with medical treatment abroad?:
No

Did you work during your studies?:
No

What are the conditions for working for MU students?:
It is not possible to work in Taiwan with student visa.

Tips for free-time activities:
Trips to other cities, mountains, zoo, seaparks, tea farms...

Financial support and expenses
Total grant from Centre for International Cooperation:
80000 CZK

Monthly grant in CZK:
20000 CZK

Number of supported months:
5

Total number of months:
5

What other sources did you make use of to finance your placement?:
Faculty sipend

If you received another grant, state which and how much in CZK:
40000

 
Total fees associated with enrolment at the university:
300 TWD

a/ amount of enrolment fee:
0 TWD

b/ amount of tuition fees:
0 TWD

c/ amount of other fees (which):
300 TWD

 
What was your average monthly expenditure?:
14000 CZK

a/ of which for accommodation:
4000 CZK

b/ of which for catering:
5000 CZK

c/ travel and recreation:
5000 CZK

Any comments to the average monthly expenditure:

Recognition of foreign studies at the home faculty
How many credits did you gain during your studies (in the system of the foreign school)?:
15

How many ECTS credits were recognised at MU?:
31

Did you know in advance which of your courses would be recognised by your home faculty?:
yes

What problems did you have with recognition?:
teaching practice - it was not clear how many hours and how many credits we would be supposed to gain

Overall assessment
Assessment of personal benefit (1 = excellent):
2

Assessment of academic benefit (1 = excellent):
3

Evaluate the information and support provided by the foreign school (1 = excellent):
3

Did you encounter any serious problems during your stay:
communication between faculties and school-dormitory was not very satisfying, I had to deal with some problems for a long time and meet many different people.

What would you recommend to take with you:
Good smartphone with translators

What most surprised you at the partner university in a positive way:
the library

What most surprised you at the partner university in a negative way:
insufficient knowledge of English

Further comments: