Four Taiwanese cadets at UNG for four years

For the first time, the University of North Georgia (UNG) has four full-time Taiwanese cadets enrolled and seeking a college degree as full-time members of the Corps of Cadets.

Li-Hung Chang, a senior from New Taipei, Taiwan, is anticipating a May 2023 graduation with a degree in criminal justice with a forensics concentration. He began his experience with Freshmen Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week in 2019 and has been training and studying alongside his American counterparts for the last three years.

"I have had a wonderful experience here at UNG," Chang said. "FROG Week, Cadet Basic Leadership Course (CBLC) and the Leadership Development Program are unforgettable memories for me. I will cherish them and share them with my peers in Taiwan."

Yung-Han Chou is a junior from Taoyuan City, Taiwan, pursuing a degree in information systems and a minor in computer science. He graduated from a military high school and was interested in UNG because he would be able to really focus on his studies.

Chou said his first impressions of UNG students, faculty and staff were very positive.

Hosting the Taiwanese cadets allows us an opportunity to see the world through each other's eyes and develop a deeper understanding of each other's cultures and societies.

Wesley Pirkle

UNG director of Global Military Programs

"When I came to UNG as a freshman, I was amazed at the opportunities and degrees offered to students," Yuan said. "The most valuable things are the friendships I have made here in the Corps of Cadets."

Yuan was also part of the Russian Club last year.

Freshman Pei-Yun Tsai is from Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. She is the first four-year Taiwanese female cadet at UNG and is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies. Tsai said learning about UNG's great professors, plentiful resources and beautiful scenery helped her choose UNG.

"Two of my favorite things about UNG so far are all the kind people and the helpful resources that students can use, such as advising and tutoring," Tsai said.

The four are required to serve in the Taiwan army for 14 years and can then embark on civilian careers.

"We are in a world that is best understood when we engage globally, but develop relationships locally," Wesley Pirkle, UNG director of Global Military Programs, said. "Hosting the Taiwanese cadets allows us an opportunity to see the world through each other's eyes and develop a deeper understanding of each other's cultures and societies."

UNG will also send six of its cadets to exchanges with Taiwan in the spring. These partnerships are important because 18% of the world (1.6 billion people) speak Chinese as their primary language. That is more than the next three languages (Spanish with 460 million, English with 379 million, and Hindi with 341 million) combined, Pirkle said. 

The three upperclassmen are doing well academically, Terry Baumann, assistant director of Global Military Programs, said.

"They're academically superior," Baumann said. "Their GPAs are 3.7 and above when English is not their first language. I'm very proud of that fact. It's very impressive."

Six additional Taiwanese cadets are also attending UNG for a semester as part of the Military Semester Exchange Program this fall. They are:

• Cian-Hao Wang, a foreign language major from Taoyuan, Taiwan.
• Ding Han Cheng, an information management major from Taipei, Taiwan.
• Cheng-Hsi Wu, an international relationship/political science major from Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
• Cheng-Hong Li, a social work major from Taichung, Taiwan.
• Ke-Chueh Cheng, a logistics management major from from Taoyuan, Taiwan.
• Ting-Ju Yang, an applied arts/drama major from Taichung, Taiwan.