BlackboardFSU - TamKang University, Taipei, Taiwan, Videoconference
On May 29, 1999 FSU President Sandy D’Alemberte, Steve Uhlfelder, Florida Board of Regents, and Ching Jen Chen, Dean, College of Engineering, traveled to Taipei, Taiwan under the invitation of the Ministry of Education of Taiwan. One highlight on their itinerary was a visit to TamKang University for the purpose of establishing a program of scientific and academic cooperation. FSU and TamKang University were motivated by a mutual desire to provide for a program of institutional development including academic exchange, staff development, collaborative research, and other scholarly cooperation.
A ceremony for signing a memorandum of agreement between the two universities took place on June 1st. A live videoconference documented the event. This two-way video and audio link allowed representatives of the College of Engineering to participate in the ceremony. Dr. Yousef Haik, Professor and Director of Computing and Communication Services, Dr. Braketta Ritzenthaler, Director of Distance Learning and Multimedia, and Kevin Wiseman, Multimedia Specialist, all of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering were on hand in the early hours of the morning to participate in the ceremony which took place thousands of miles and twelve time zones away.
President D’Alemberte, Dean Chen and TamKang officials discussed possibilities for future distance learning opportunities for students using new technology capabilities.
President D’Alemberte was presented a cake by the Taiwan participants in honor of his birthday.
The memorandum of agreement and live videoconference mark the first official educational arrangement between Florida State University and Asia.
