RIT, Taiwanese university offer BS/MS program

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Shanchieh Jay Yang, department head of computer engineering

Rochester Institute of Technology entered into an international educational partnership agreement on Dec. 1 with National Taiwan University of Science and Technology to provide an accelerated, five-year program for students to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from the Taiwanese university and a Master of Science degree from RIT.

Under the agreement, students would study for three years in Taiwan, earning a bachelor’s degree in electronic and computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science and information engineering. They would follow up with two years in the United States at RIT, receiving a master’s degree in computer engineering from RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

“The international BS/MS program provides opportunities for students to gain a broader and international perspective through the expedited degree program,” says Shanchieh Jay Yang, department head of computer engineering in the engineering college.

“Computer engineering at RIT will complement the students’ education in three closely related undergraduate programs at NTUST, in not only hands-on engineering education but also research experience as part of the computer engineering MS degree requirement. This partnership can further foster research collaboration between NTUST and RIT, enabling interdisciplinary advances in both institutions.”

The first students in the program are expected to enroll in fall 2014.

RIT has more than 30 international educational agreements that provide student and faculty exchanges, increased educational opportunities and expanded research collaborations. A similar partnership program was initiated recently between RIT’s Saunders College of Business and Beijing Jiaotong University in China. Other agreements have been established with government organizations and agencies around the world, including Rwanda, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Malaysia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Peru, said Diane Ellison, assistant vice president, Part-time and Graduate Enrollment Services at RIT.

“The agreements provide opportunities for students and faculty in Rochester to connect and interact with others globally,” she added.

The National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, located in Taipei, is known for its applied research in engineering disciplines, science and the humanities, promotion of entrepreneurship and university-industry cooperation.

“This program is an excellent example of faculty leadership and cross-divisional collaboration leading to international partnerships and opportunities,” says James Myers, RIT’s associate provost of international education and global programs. “Dr. Yang had the vision for the program and led its development through his connections in Taiwan. Offices in Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management have supported his vision and worked closely together to create a very innovative model. Of course, our colleagues in Taiwan have been central to the process and have excellent partners to work with throughout.”