Environmental Management & Sustainability in Taiwan

As Cal Poly has strived to promote sustainability in practice, there is an urgent need to offer a new learning opportunity addressing sustainability challenges from the aspect of environmental management. Moreover, there is a limited number of global programs related to the core curricula of CAFES, minimizing the study-abroad opportunities for the second largest college in Cal Poly. To overcome this challenge, Dr. Yiwen Chiu (Natural Resources Management & Environmental Science) developed a brand-new study abroad program in 2017 with the support from Cal Poly International Center. We successfully took two cohorts of students to Taiwan in 2018 and 2019 before the pandemic. This year (2025), Dr. Chiu decided to revise and relaunch the Taiwan Program continuing to increase not only the diversity of Cal Poly global programs, but also learning opportunity for Cal Poly students who are interested in sustainability, environmental protection, or Chinese culture in general. The newly redesigned program will take advantage of the project-based learning style to explore Taiwan’s natural and ecological environment, allowing Cal Poly students to discover sustainability challenges and proposed management approaches by applying skills learned in classes.

Program Introduction

Locations of Taipei and Chunghua in Taiwan.

The Taiwan Program will take place at three distinctive locations: (1) Taipei, one of the most populated international cities in the world, (2) Hualien, a stunning garden in the backyard of Taiwan, and (3) Changhua which is famous for its historical and cultural characteristics. This special arrangement can facilitate a rich learning experience by exploring diverse cultural variance, social characteristics, sustainable challenges, which cannot be achieved by an in-class learning environment. 

Cal Poly students will have an opportunity to learn about contemporary environmental challenges ranging from community to global levels from social, cultural, and political dimensions. The course will be housed in two collaborative institutes, National Dong Hwa University (NDHU, Hualien) and National Changhua University of Education (NCUE, Changhua), with additional field trips to explore environmental and social characteristics challenging sustainable development. By attending this program, Cal Poly students will have an opportunity to intensively interact with bilingual Taiwanese students  to not only conduct in-class activities, but also explore various travel destinations during weekends. This peer-learning process is a unique setting and opportunity offered by this Program for enriching Cal Poly students’ learning experience. Students will develop two mini place-based projects during their stay in Hualien and Changhua, respectively. 

Successfully complete this Program, students will earn 4 GE credit units and 4 senior/independent credit units from these two courses:

• GE area D: NR 323 Human Dimensions in Natural Resources Management (4 units)
• Independent study: NR 400 Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates (4 units). Please consult the student advisor of your major regarding course substitutions to fulfill your degree requirements.

Each teaching section (held in Taipei, Hualien, and Changhua) will include in-class lectures, group-based project activities, and field trips, led by Dr. Yiwen Chiu and faculty from local institutions. The lectures will cover fundamental concepts, while group activities and field trips will provide students with opportunities to conduct projects and gather relevant information. Field trip destinations will be selected for their social and environmental significance, demonstrating the implementation of sustainable practices. Students will be organized into small groups to conduct projects that assess sustainability-related topics and propose solutions.

Past Program Highlights

Why Taiwan?

With an area size about 4 times bigger than San Luis Obispo County, Taiwan is a small island packed with stunning natural landscape and diverse ecosystems. Taiwan is also the world’s 20th largest economies, and also home to one of the world’s largest cities in metropolitan population. With its dramatic topography, Taiwan has extremely high ecological diversity supported by various climate features ranging from tropic to frigid zones. This unique socioeconomic and environmental characteristics make Taiwan a perfect living classroom to learn the sciences of natural resources and ecology. Following is some additional characteristics of Taiwan helping you put this island into perspective and provide some vivid images of what the Program entails.

• Area size 12 times smaller than California
• Climate ranges from tropic to frigid zones
• Species richness per area size is 60 times higher than the world average
• World’s 15th most competitive economy
• One of the most densely populated countries in the world
• Home to 14 recognized aboriginal tribes
• Lowest fertility rate in the world
• One of the most liberal country in Asia
• One of the safest country for travelers, female and solo travelers in particular
• 159 universities, 31 of which are located in Taipei!!
• One of the most studied "too-good-to-be-true" national health systems in the world

Proposed Excursions

To take advantage of Taiwan’s city setting, some in-class activities can also take place at outdoor. For example, if the weather permits, the instructor and peer advisors will take students to hop on a bus to visit some other universities or local communities that are only minutes away from classroom. In addition, there will be seven field trips (day trips or over-night trips) taking students to visit destinations where Taiwan's unique ecological and cultural features have been preserved.

About the Faculty Leader

Dr. Yiwen Chiu, the Lead Faculty of the Taiwan Program, specializes in quantitative sustainability, environmental life-cycle analysis, and environmental management. Born and raised in Taiwan, she earned her bachelor's degree from National Taiwan University in Taipei. She also spent four years working as a project manager and researcher at a university in Taipei. Having lived in Taipei—one of the most progressive cities in Asia—for over eight years, she naturally developed a passion for adventure. Living in different countries has been a defining aspect of her life, taking her to cities such as Bournemouth (UK), Zurich (Switzerland), Minneapolis, and Chicago. This diverse background has allowed her to integrate seamlessly into new cultures.

Her education and research have greatly benefited from opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of communities, including local NGOs, national associations, and scholars from leading institutions worldwide. As a result, Dr. Chiu deeply values the role of international learning programs and their ability to enrich students' academic experiences. Since moving to the U.S. in 2004, Dr. Chiu has continued to visit Taiwan frequently for conferences, invited presentations, and professional networking. This ongoing connection has given her deep familiarity with Taiwan’s academic, cultural, and governmental landscapes, enabling her to directly apply her expertise to the Taiwan Program.

Dr. Chiu’s current research focuses on promoting sustainability education by engaging STEM students who are eager to learn and committed to high academic standards. Across all the courses she teaches, her core objective remains the same: to strengthen the relationship between humans and nature while strategically managing human activities to sustain natural systems. Her ultimate goal is to help students recognize their limitless potential, equipping them with the skills and mindset to overcome challenges and excel in their future careers—no matter the path they choose.

Financial & Safety

Taiwan offers strong purchasing power compared to many other countries, making it an economically viable destination for visitors, especially those from high-income nations. The cost of living, including rent, is about 33% lower than the U.S. average. While Taipei has a higher cost of living than other cities in Taiwan, the Taiwan Program strategically limits its time there to just one week to keep expenses manageable without compromising the learning experience. For the rest of the program, students will primarily stay in Hualien and Changhua—two of Taiwan’s most scenic regions, known for their affordability compared to other parts of the country.

Taiwan is also renowned for its efficient and affordable public transportation. The Taipei Metro System, consistently ranked among the cleanest in the world (thanks to its no food or drink policy), costs only about $1 per ride. Traveling across Taiwan is both fast and inexpensive; for instance, the High-Speed Rail can take passengers along the west coast in as little as four hours for around $45. For students flying from California, multiple direct flights to Taipei are available daily from both SFO and LAX, adding extra logistic flexibility for students. Additionally, U.S. citizens with a valid passport can enter Taiwan visa-free, further reducing travel costs.

Safety is another highlight of Taiwan. The U.S. State Department does not list Taiwan under any travel warnings, and the country is consistently ranked as one of the safest and most welcoming places for solo travelers. However, since some excursions will take students to remote mountainous areas, those prone to motion sickness should prepare accordingly. Specific safety guidelines will be provided during Cal Poly orientations, as well as through resources from the U.S. State Department and the CDC.

Like other developed nations, Taiwan has a strong commitment to human rights and equality across ethnic and gender identities. With significant exposure to international cultures, the local community is generally welcoming to people of all backgrounds. To further enrich the experience, bilingual Taiwanese students will join the program, helping Cal Poly students navigate local culture and fostering a dynamic, peer-learning environment.