College of Chinese Medicine Welcomes Fall 2026 International Graduate Students

China Medical University's (CMU) College of Chinese Medicine convened its Fall 2026 International Student Welcome Orientation today, marking the second week of the new academic year. The cohort brings together 15 incoming master's and doctoral candidates coming from Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, and Eswatini. Designed to facilitate academic transition and build institutional community, the event combined leadership encouragement, faculty mentorship, peer guidance, and interactive activities. 

Associate Dean Dr. Yi-Hung Chen opened the ceremony with an official address on behalf of the college, extending a warm welcome to the international scholars. Dr. Chen expressed high expectations for the incoming class, encouraging students to achieve academic excellence while immersing themselves fully in the rich cultural landscape of Taiwan. 

The orientation featured remarks from two international faculty members who are also CMU alumni. Associate Professor Dr. Peter Mayer, a German native residing in Taiwan for nearly two decades, shared his trajectory as a dual-licensed physician in both Western and Chinese medicine. Holding a German medical license and a Ph.D. from the Justus Liebig University Giessen, Dr. Mayer relocated to Taiwan to complete his master's and post-baccalaureate Chinese medicine degree at CMU before passing the national licensing examination. In addition to recounting his educational journey, Dr. Mayer offered practical counsel on navigating key administrative procedures, such as Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) applications. 

Assistant Professor Dr. Ben Arie Eyal, an Israeli scholar who completed his studies in CMU (master’s in IMPA and Ph.D. in Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, GIAS), following his undergraduate studies at Tel Aviv University, offered an academic perspective on his ongoing clinical research in acupuncture and reflected on his experience building an academic career as an international scholar in Taiwan. 

Following the faculty presentations, three senior international students shared firsthand guidance on academic navigation and personal adjustment. Dr. Tran Van Bao Quach, a Vietnamese alumna of IMPA and also GIAS who earned her doctorate in acupuncture and currently serves as a researcher on Associate Dean Chen's team, detailed procedures regarding registration, course selection, and clinical clerkships. She highlighted how joining a campus dance club enabled her to build a strong local support network, encouraging newcomers to engage in campus activities.

Syifa Aulia, an Indonesian doctoral candidate in acupuncture, reflected candidly on cross-cultural adaptation. "Because I wear a hijab, I stand out on campus—everyone can spot me easily!" she noted with humor. Aulia acknowledged the initial challenges of language barriers during hospital clinical rounds, advising incoming students that acquiring basic conversational Mandarin significantly eases both daily life and clinical training.

Representing Japan, Ogura Nao, a second-year master's student in the International Master Program in Integrative Health, presented a visual showcase of her experience in Taiwan. She emphasized the value of enrolling in university Mandarin courses to understand local customs and connect with peers across academic departments, while also highlighting campus community traditions like the annual college Christmas Party.

To deepen students' institutional knowledge, the college hosted an interactive trivia session via Kahoot, testing participants on practical campus information, including leadership, administrative office hours, and transit options to the Shuinan Campus. Associate Dean Chen presented top scorers with signature Taiwanese snacks. 

The orientation concluded with an open Q&A session where Associate Dean Chen and administrative staff addressed student inquiries regarding faculty advisor selection and library resource access. The event drew to a close following peer introductions and networking, setting a collaborative tone for the students' academic endeavors in Taiwan.