PIS Website

About Us

Due to the rising needs for cultivation of interdisciplinary talents, the accent on the development of students’ practical problem-solving, and the enhancement of their social competitiveness, the Program in Interdisciplinary Studies was established in 2018 especially for the students who are ambitious to start new business and interested in liberal arts and contemporary technology. This program offers issue-oriented courses with emphasis on collaborative learning and implementation. In particular, we annually recruit 15 NSYSU undergraduates who have already completed courses over one year, providing them with the chances to do further interdisciplinary studies. The degree of Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) will be conferred on those who complete necessary course requirements.

 

Intro

A typical phenomenon in Asia is that high school students are divided into specific disciplines, such as liberal arts or science. This situation of early disciplinary separation and the high pressure of college entrance examinations have resulted in young students lacking the ability to solve comprehensive and complex problems.

he new Program in Interdisciplinary Studies (PIS) was established in 2018 at National Sun Yat-sen University to face this challenge. This program offers issue-oriented courses and projects with an emphasis on collaborative learning and implementation. Students in this program focus on the specific problems that they want to solve.

PIS is a group of innovative, cross-disciplinary, and adventurous teachers. To develop a humanistic, hands-on, environmentally sustainable learning program that fosters the ability of PIS students to face the challenges and opportunities of the future world, as well as the respectful, empathetic, and reflective attitudes required of global citizens. PIS create a common learning environment where we can break through the framework of each other, stimulate each other, dare to dream, and be realistic.

 

Solving Social Problems through TECHOLOGY

The PIS was developed by a bravely innovative faculty group. Through interdisciplinary cooperation, passion, and a sense of adventure, they developed a learning process with humanistic-care, scientific and technological practice, and environmental sustainability. This process cultivates students' ability to face future challenges and opportunities. Respect, empathy, and reflective attitudes (which all citizens of the world should have) are core competencies in this program. Students will learn to break through the framework, stimulate each other, and dream in the mutual learning environment that PIS created.

 

Practicing in the REAL WORLD

PIS leads students to study in the real world. In Yancheng District, as the practice field, faculty and students teach and leam from the community while trying to find and solve problems for local residents through cross-field cooperation and innovation. Two regular events are planned every year - Don't Say Goodnight to Yecheng District: Yancheng Night Creative Exhibition and Street Fun: Yancheng Children's Game Day. In the process of creating project works and holding activities in the community, students gradually learn the abilities they need in their future workplace.

 

Caring with PEOPLE and be BRAVE

PIS emphasizes a people-oriented spirit, using courses and workshops to provide students with a deep understanding of people and of care for social issues. Innovative design and courses developed every year toward addressing different social issues. In 2020, to improve the silence caused by the epidemic, students designed from the perspectives of different industries and parties for an exhibition named Warm Design. PIS also encourages students to explore and experience people who need care. Workshops such as experiences with senior-aged and visually impaired are organized so that students can gain empathy toward various groups of people.

 

Virtual GAME-BASED learning

Technological innovation and the changing world are bringing all kinds of novelties, especially in products and services. Curiosity can be stimulated through practice, and students can achieve results from such practice. PIS emphasizes learning by doing. A physical makerspace serves as a practical room that helps students to cross the gap of the virtual-reality transformations. Educational innovation has no boundaries. In cooperation with the German company Besu Solutions, PIS helps students to recognize changes in future industries through virtual game-based learning.

DO IT! Without afraid

Young people are full of ideals and innovative capabilities. Simultaneously, they are afraid of failure. By nurturing an entrepreneurial spirit, PIS encourages students to step outside their comfort zone and have the courage to create new entrepreneurial opportunities. Around 10 startup teams are established each year by cross-disciplinary students. Student teams learn to shape and remodel their innovations repeatedly to meet social and market needs.

 

SI WAN SPACE

In PIS, students can learn together in the Maker space and innovative learning space, and make full use of environmental resources. Discussions do not have to be on a square table, and space does not have to be separated by walls, SI WAN SPACE thinks and shows the infinite possibilities of education!

 

Learning with LIKE-MINDED partners

In PIS, you will meet people from different fields, and in the process of learning and doing, you can communicate with each other, learn new knowledge in various fields, or form new creative teams to realize your dreams.

 

 

FAQ

Q. Is the Program in Interdisciplinary Studies an official degree?

A. Yes, the degree of BIS will be conferred on students who complete all necessary course requirements, including the required courses, interdisciplinary electives, and collaborative learning courses.

 

Q. How should I apply to this program?

A. As long as you are our NSYSU undergraduate already completing courses over one year and in accordance with the regulations of our transfer program, you are eligible to apply to this program for our further selection. This program will be officially open to the freshmen in 2020.

 

Q. Can I apply to this program if I am from other department?

A. This program is open to all the NSYSU undergraduates, and the credits earned from this program can be counted toward the graduation requirements. In this program, you are able to explore your own potential and encouraged to try different types of courses in different fields.

 

Q. What is the course requirement of the General Education?

A. For this, we don’t have any specific requirement for our students to take electives. Yet, as our General Education divides into six dimensions, students are required to take 12-13 compulsory credits and choose at least 4 dimensions.

 

Q. Will the BIS be possibly developed into a Master’s program?

A. Please refer to the website of Institute for Social Innovation.

 

Q. Can the students from other departments take the micro-credit courses offered by this program?

A. These courses are open to all students. It is not necessary you transfer to this program. The credits earned from this micro program can still be counted, and the students can receive a micro program certification.

 

Q. How are the micro credits counted to the requirements?

A. It depends on the teachers. Basically, every two hours is counted as 0.1 credits, and the credits of all the courses can be accumulated. The maximum for one semester is 18 hours counted as 1 credit. So, you can earn 6 credits at most before the graduation. The excess can be counted in next semesters for sure.