Dr. Wai-Foong Hong, associate professor of biology at Sterling College, had the unique experience of teaching an undergraduate course in the department of molecular biotechnology at Da-Yeh University in Taiwan. For two intensive weeks in July, Dr. Hong co-taught a condensed version of the course “Eukaryotic Biotechnology II” with Da-Yeh University’s Dr. Vida Chiang.

Chiang and Hong were roommates for Hong’s first year of undergraduate study in Taiwan. Hong was invited to Da-Yeh University after Chiang saw Hong's pictures of Sterling College students on Facebook. Besides the motivation to collaborate with her former roommate, Hong was also excited just to try something new.

“To me, it’s quite challenging. I have experience teaching in the United States—Sterling College—and I want to have some kind of experience to teach in another country. I’ve never taught in Taiwan. Therefore, I wanted that experience,” said Hong. The course introduced techniques that are used in cloning DNA, genomics, bioinformatics and proteomics. Hong taught a variety of technologies in the class, but she also integrated aspects of a liberal arts education, which involved using a dialectic approach. When teaching, she compared each step of a given technique to the related biological process in order to show how the technique was created in the first place. Hong formed small groups of students who then discussed and compared the techniques before presenting the concept and their own ideas on how to improve the method. She then initiated peer evaluation so that the students could discuss each concept and the potential of the new ideas that were presented. Hong sought to inspire the students to pursue knowledge and truth through analytical reasoning by discussing several issues with students who had different perspectives.

During her stay, Hong was able to make numerous connections, including some of the faculty at Da-Yeh University, researchers at the Taichung Agriculture Experimental Stations and the CEOs of some agriculture business companies. She was able to visit laboratories and learn about some of the research being conducted. Hong hopes to one day bring students with her to Taiwan to build the relationship between Sterling College and Da-Yeh University.

Da-Yeh was founded in 1990 in Dacun Township, Changhua County, Taiwan. The university places equal emphasis on theory and practice, integrating different technologies, and instilling in professionals “the idea of creativity and quality” through a master/apprenticeship system and cooperation between industry and academia.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.