Jim Bradford: Dispatches from Asia

Fourth leg of Asia Trip: Taipei, Taiwan

Friday, November 17th

Taiwan is a subtropical island the size of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. It feels like summer as we step off the airplane, 24 C (80+ F). This lush island of almost 23 million people is proud of its heritage and status as the global leader in semi-conductors and a significant investor in mainland China.

The purpose of the visit is to meet our alumni and talk to two noted graduate business schools, National Taiwan University and National Cheng-chi University. A substantial portion of a day is spent discussing possible exchange programs, school structure, the Asian manufacturing and technology boom, comparing programs and the latest development in Asian markets. A portion of the manufacturing sector is moving to mainland China and Taiwan is focused on serving the high end technology, banking and service markets.

Chiew Chang (MBA ’92), a specialist with the Department of Foreign Exchange for the Central Bank of China--Taipei, is our host along with his wife Hilan Chen. Chiew has worked to gather not only Owen alumni but many Vanderbilt alumni to the reception, including Kien-Tsu (James) Lin (MBA ’73 ) and distinguished guest Ray Dwan, Chairman of the CDIC, the equivalent of the FDIC. Recent Owen graduates attending include Tao-Sheng (Dawson) Ni (MBA’05), James Chuang (MSF ’06) and Jeffrey Kung (MBA '06).

While there is little time for sightseeing, I cannot resist a visit to Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world (for now) and capturing a view of Taipei at night.

Our many alumni encourage us to return and offer many suggestions on how we might help connect the Asian alumni back to Owen. I enjoyed the reception immensely and seeing the children of our alumni enjoy the dessert table and playing games in the hallway.

SCENES FROM TAIPEI

National Taiwan University College of Management...left to right...Associate Dean International Affairs, S.C. (Timothy) Chou; Jen Howe; yours truly; Dean Mao-Wei Hung; Shu-Chen (Steve) Chi, a professor at the university and one of Ray Friedman's research partners.

National Chengchi University Dean Ed Chow and me. In the second shot, we are joined by Samuel C.L. Chen, Professor, Department of MIS and Chao-Ping Ting, Professor of Statistics and Director of Exchange Programs on the left; Jen Howe and Chiew Chang, our host on the right.