Prof. Jeffery J. P. Tsai, the President of Asia University (AU), answered questions in an open interview about the novel coronavirus by the Association of International Cultural and Educational Exchange (AICEE).

With a great amount of efforts, Asia University (AU) achieved excellent results in preventing the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These achievements also have been applauded and recognized by the Association of International Cultural and Educational Exchange (AICEE), Taiwan. To help understand and stop the spread of virus, the AICEE called to request an interview with AU to produce a TV program entitled “The impact of the coronavirus on universities in Taiwan.”

Prof. Jeffery J. P. Tsai, the President of AU, was interviewed on May 1 by Hui-Wen Fu, the Executive Secretary of the AICEE, and responded to questions regarding issues such as AU’s efforts to fight against the COVID-19. AU President Tsai said that AU has taken comprehensive strategies to protect the health and safety of AU’s faculty members and students, including suspension of the public events and body temperature measurements. As the saying goes, “Never let a crisis go to waste.” It means that each crisis also can bring the opportunities for a positive response. “Especially when facing severe epidemics, AU will take the crisis as a driving force for new opportunities and developments,” said AU President Tsai.

Prof. Ying-Huei Chen, the Dean of the International College at AU, was interviewed by the AICEE and discussed the impact of the COVID-19 on the AU campus.

Under the quick and pre-emptive action, AU has taken the most comprehensive prevention and control measures to battle the epidemic, and became a leading university among the central Taiwan. “Also, the international sister universities in India and Indonesia regard AU’s COVID-19 responses as standard procedures for virus prevention,” said Prof. Ying-Huei Chen, the Dean of the International College at AU. During the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, AU not only provides all COVID-related information through the website, but also offers courses online in an effort to ensure that the students can continue to learn at home.

An Indian doctoral student Mosiur Rahaman from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at AU pointed out that he feels safe on campus with various epidemic prevention measures taken by AU, and thanks AU for helping the students learning online. Additionally, Zakiyah Dania Billah, an Indonesian graduate student from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at AU, said that it is useful that AU provides an online study system to those that do not come to Taiwan to study.

Hsiang-Tse An, a student from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at AU, mentioned that AU also offers additional international learning resources, enabling the students with higher global competitiveness. Furthermore, Chi-Yueh Shao, a student from the Department of Fashion Design at AU, said that AU gives a wide range of language courses and information for daily living to help students explore other cultures and adapt to local life more quickly.

An AU international student was interviewed by the AICEE and talked about the campus life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A shot of an AU local student who discussed the strategies adopted by AU for combating coronavirus with the AICEE reporters.