Soochow’s School of Business Selected as Beacon Bilingual College for English-Instruction Education

Soochow University’s School of Business has become the only business college among all private universities in Northern Taiwan to be chosen as the beacon bilingual college for the first phase of “The Program on Bilingual Education for Students in College (BEST)” as the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the list on September 2^nd, 2021. 

Officially kicking off from the fall semester of 2021 for the five-year first phase, the BEST program will subsidize four beacon bilingual universities, 41 beacon bilingual colleges from 25 universities, and 37 universities for popularized enhancement with a total of NT$ 587 million. 

Soochow has set up a school-level “Bilingual Teaching and Learning Resource Center” since this semester to specifically promote the EMI program (English as a Medium of Instruction). Executive Vice President Wei-Liang Chao, Dean of the Office of Academic Affairs Chyan-Long Jan and other administrative heads will coordinate the implementation of all English teaching related affairs and the allocation of resources.

The School of Business will also establish the “School of Business Bilingual Program Center” to promote EMI teaching and international learning, creating a vicarious experience of “overseas learning.” With “going abroad at school and studying abroad in class” as its core concept, the School will strive to help students learn professional knowledge of business operations and finance in an all-English environment.

According to the MOE, the BEST program will be implemented with two phases from 2021 to 2030, and each phase lasts for five years. 

The goal of the first phase is: by 2024, 25% of sophomores will achieve The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) B2 level in their English reading, listening, writing and speaking; meanwhile, 20% of sophomores and first-year Masters students will take a minimum of 20% credits as EMI courses in the year.

The goal of the second phase of the project is: by 2030, 50% of sophomores will achieve CEFR B2 level; 50% of sophomores and Masters students will take a minimum of 50% credits as EMI courses in the year. Students’ certificates of degree should also be noted with EMI course certification.