Learning at the Source: Reflections from Three Years of Teaching in Taipei

For the past three years, I have had the privilege of leading an Arizona State University Study Abroad program in Taipei, Taiwan. Each year, approximately 20 ASU students examine the evolution of semiconductor technology and explore how Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) became the global leader in producing the world's most advanced integrated circuits for artificial intelligence applications.

The course traces the history of the semiconductor industry, beginning with the invention of the transistor in 1947, continuing through the explosive growth of Silicon Valley, and culminating in the emergence of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China as major semiconductor powers. Students also examine the intense technological competition between the United States and China, including recent U.S. export restrictions that prohibit Chinese companies from acquiring advanced integrated circuits incorporating U.S. technology, even when those chips are fabricated in Taiwan. The course provides historical, economic, and geopolitical context for understanding how the industry reached this pivotal moment and why semiconductor technology has become central to national security and global economic leadership.

In addition, the course explains the operation and fabrication of transistors at a level accessible to all engineering students, not just electrical engineers. Students learn from guest speakers representing Taiwanese universities and leading engineering companies, who discuss both cutting-edge technologies and the cultural differences between Asia's collectivist societies and the West's more individualistic traditions. The program also includes attendance at portions of Computex, one of the world's premier technology conferences, held annually in Taipei.

Beyond the classroom, students immerse themselves in Taiwan's rich history and culture through visits to the National Palace Museum, which houses nearly 700,000 artifacts spanning more than 8,000 years of Chinese history, the renowned Raohe Night Market, Elephant Mountain, Longshan Temple, and the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper, an engineering marvel designed to withstand major earthquakes. Students are encouraged to learn basic Mandarin phrases and interact with local residents, experiences that foster a deeper appreciation of Taiwan's cultural heritage and the values of discipline, courtesy, and collective responsibility that characterize its Society.

During the coming academic year, I will be on sabbatical at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan. In addition to conducting research on advanced semiconductor packaging, I will lead a series of workshops on flexible displays and flexible electronics. This work builds upon expertise developed at Arizona State University's Flexible Display Center located at the MacroTechnology Works (MTW) facility in ASU Research Park.

Arizona State University has also established a strategic relationship with the prestigious WeGo High School in Taipei through ASU Prep. I visited WeGo last May and was deeply impressed by its academic excellence. Approximately 40 percent of its graduates matriculate to National Taiwan University, Taiwan's most prestigious institution. This summer, six ASU engineering faculty members traveled to WeGe to lead week-long, hands-on engineering projects for its students, covering topics ranging from electromagnetics to cyborg cockroaches. These collaborative initiatives will expand educational partnerships, create new opportunities for student exchange, and further strengthen ties between Arizona State University and Taiwan's world-class educational and technology communities.

During my sabbatical, I will also work with Daniel Gerbatch and other ASU colleagues to strengthen educational partnerships throughout Taiwan and recruit outstanding Taiwanese students to pursue engineering and other degree programs at Arizona State University.