2025-03-07│ Secretariat’s Office According to data from the Tourism Administration, the number of Filipino visitors to Taiwan exceeded 460,000 last year, making the Philippines the top Southeast Asian country in terms of visitor numbers. To promote academic exchange in the tourism industry, CHU's College of Tourism has established a sister-school relationship with Leyte Normal University, which is also dedicated to tourism education. Recently, a group of 17 faculty and students from Leyte Normal University visited CHU and toured several local attractions. Both institutions hope to deepen cultural exploration and learning through collaboration, fostering diversified development in the tourism industry.

Photo/ Students from Leyte Normal University left with a positive impression of CHU's campus.

Dr. Hsin-wen Chang, Dean of the College of Tourism at CHU, noted that both universities are members of the Asia Pacific Institute for Event Management (APIEM). As Taiwan's only four-star member, Chung Hua University has attracted many overseas institutions for exchange. With the pandemic gradually subsiding, the university hasactively promoted international collaborations. Last year, CHU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Leyte Normal University, sending 18 students on a 5-day, 4-night short-term study tour to the Philippines. The students experienced local culture, cuisine, and tourism management, broadening their international perspectives and fostering academic exchange. This year, the visit was reciprocated by Filipino faculty and students, with CHU warmly welcoming them and hoping to create new opportunities for the tourism industry together.

Dr. Evangeline V. Sanchez, Dean of the College of Management and Entrepreneurship at Leyte Normal University, explained that the university, established in 1921 as a provincial institution, includes colleges of education, arts and technology, graduate studies, and the College of Management and Entrepreneurship, which participated in this visit. This was their first visit to CHU, and they were deeply impressed by the campus's hardware and software teaching facilities, as well as the university's AI education initiatives. They hope to bring this teaching model back to the Philippines to benefit their students. Both universities believe that student exchange programs will soon be established, allowing students to broaden their horizons.

Photo/ Students were amazed by the high prevalence of smart facilities on campus.

Karylle Abala, a student majoring in Tourism Management, shared that the trip to Taiwan was highly rewarding, with different teaching methods providing new insights. She also noted that CHU's teaching facilities are mostly touch-based and very advanced. The university places great emphasis on students' living conditions and dining environments, making it an excellent opportunity for exchange studies.

CHU is the first private university in Taiwan to establish an EMI CERT PT Teaching Resource Center, training numerous professional teachers to deliver courses entirely in English. It is also a key demonstration school for the ITSA Ministry of Education's Smart Innovation Talent Cultivation Program. The College of Tourism, with its focus on "smart tourism," encourages interdisciplinary learning and deepens students' expertise, actively nurturing talent for the industry.

Photo/ Students performed the traditional Filipino dance "sublî," engaging in cultural exchange with CHU students.

Photo: Students participated in games to enhance interaction and camaraderie.