To help students prepare for their overseas learning experience beginning in Canada in August 2026, the International Relations and Accreditation Office of the College of Management at National Sun Yat-sen University held the “ACT Global Program Pre-Departure Orientation Session” on May 20. Students who had recently completed the ACT Global Program were invited to share their learning experiences and practical preparations, helping the participating students gain an early understanding of the program structure, cross-cultural learning challenges, and daily life in Canada, Taiwan, and Austria.

The session featured first-hand sharing by Nori Lin and Tzu-Yin Tang, who recently completed the ACT program this April. Drawing from their own experiences, they spoke about course arrangements, cross-cultural teamwork, overseas life adjustment, and time management, while reflecting on both the challenges and rewards of studying and moving across three different countries. They also encouraged the participating students to prepare mentally and practically for the journey ahead.

The ACT Global Program is a cross-border business program in which students complete modules in Canada, Taiwan, and Austria over approximately eight months, receiving intensive and diverse international business training. The Canada module is scheduled from August to November, the Taiwan module from November to January, and the Austria module from February to April. Throughout the program, students are expected to quickly adapt to different academic and cultural environments while developing a global mindset and cross-cultural collaboration skills.

During the sharing session, Nori and Tzu-Yin described the Canada Module as “the most challenging, yet also the most rewarding stage” of the program. Courses cover topics such as international financial management, global marketing, supply chain management, and global leadership and cultural intelligence, while incorporating extensive reading, presentations, business analysis, and teamwork. In addition to adapting to an intensive English-taught learning environment, students also work closely with peers from different cultural backgrounds, developing communication and problem-solving skills through collaboration.

Beyond academics, ACT students also have opportunities to participate in company visits and cultural activities, including ice hockey games, Halloween celebrations, and whale-watching experiences, allowing them to better understand local cultures and business environments through immersive experiences.
The Taiwan module focuses on Asian business contexts, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and includes company visits and cultural exchange activities. The Austria module centers on the European business environment, EU governance, and consulting projects, during which students collaborate with local companies and gradually develop project outcomes through regular progress reviews.

In addition to introducing academic arrangements, the session also covered practical matters related to overseas life, including accommodation, transportation, visas, insurance, and living expenses, helping students better prepare for their international experience.

Nori and Tzu-Yin also reminded the participating students that the ACT Global program is more than simply studying abroad; it is an intensive and cross-cultural learning journey that requires openness, initiative, and communication skills, while encouraging continuous growth through challenges and unfamiliar experiences.

Through this orientation session, the College of Management at National Sun Yat-sen University aims to help students better prepare for cross-border learning experiences while demonstrating its continued commitment to internationalization and global talent development.

Written by the College of Management.