In response to the global trend toward internationalized education, the College of Computer Science at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) has been actively collaborating with top universities around the world. These efforts aim to provide students with opportunities for overseas exchanges and dual degree programs, encouraging them to broaden their horizons and absorb diverse knowledge. In the fall of 2024, three students from the Department of Computer Science—Jian-Fong Yu, Yi-Ruei Liu, and Bo-Syuan Hou—embarked on an enriching journey through a collaboration with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Jian-Fong Yu was among the first cohort to participate in the UIUC 3+X dual-degree master’s program. He noted that UIUC, a long-standing top-ranked institution in the field of computer science in the U.S., offers not only abundant academic resources but also an exceptional campus environment. “Although Urbana-Champaign is somewhat remote, its serene academic atmosphere and well-equipped facilities allowed me to fully focus on my studies,” he shared. He enrolled in three advanced courses—Database Systems, Computer Security, and IoT & Wireless Networks—and especially appreciated UIUC’s self-developed SQL grading system, which provided immediate feedback and enhanced learning efficiency. He also gained valuable hands-on experience through a collaborative project on Roomba Wi-Fi.

Yi-Ruei Liu also joined UIUC in 2024, choosing four courses that covered parallel computing, computer vision, interactive graphics, and deep learning. He remarked that the course difficulty at UIUC was generally higher than at NYCU, with more assignments and projects requiring significant time and effort. Nevertheless, he highly recommended the course Deep Learning for Computer Vision, praising the professor’s passion for teaching and the course's up-to-date content, including topics like Transformers and Diffusion Models. However, he also noted that the exams were quite challenging and required a deep understanding of the material. Outside of academics, he mentioned that while entertainment options at UIUC were limited, student organizations and international events still provided great opportunities for building social connections.

Bo-Syuan Hou also participated in the 3+2 dual degree program, heading directly to UIUC for his master’s after completing three years of undergraduate studies. He joked about Urbana-Champaign’s nickname as “cornfield country,” but appreciated how its rural setting allowed for focused studying. He was especially impressed by two courses—Parallel Computing and Computer Vision. In Applied Parallel Programming, he learned GPU acceleration and CUDA implementation skills through a curriculum that balanced theory and practice and presented significant challenges. In Computer Vision, the professor used visual aids to explain complex image processing concepts, helping students grasp abstract ideas more easily. Beyond coursework, Bo-Syuan highlighted UIUC’s highly digitized learning system, with most classes offering recorded lectures and subtitles—an especially friendly feature for non-native English speakers and international students new to the environment.

Looking at the exchange experiences of these three students, their enthusiasm for learning and willingness to challenge themselves are evident. These invaluable experiences not only enriched their academic journeys but also serve as meaningful references for future students who aspire to step beyond Taiwan and onto the international stage.

As NYCU continues to accelerate its push toward internationalization, the stories shared by Jian-Fong Yu, Yi-Ruei Liu, and Bo-Syuan Hou stand as persuasive testimony: only by stepping out of one's comfort zone can one truly broaden their global perspective. We hope that more students from the College of Computer Science will bravely embark on this challenging yet rewarding journey of global education, becoming vital bridges between Taiwan and the world.