Lawrence Tech plans five-year programs with universities in Taiwan

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 15, 2012 – Lawrence Technological University is attracting students from Taiwan with its “3+2” dual-degree programs. Students take three years of courses at another college or university and then study two years at Lawrence Tech to complete a bachelor’s degree from the first institution and a master’s degree from Lawrence Tech.

Lawrence Tech already had agreements in place with the National Taipei University of Education and the Taipei Municipal University of Education, and both are sending two students to Lawrence Tech in the fall. In March De Lin Institute of Technology signed a new agreement, and an agreement is pending with Chinese Culture University.

Once the academic arrangements are finalized, students at these universities can earn a master’s degree from Lawrence Tech in business administration, computer science, education technology, and technical and professional communication. Other degree programs may be added in the future.

The two Taiwanese education universities are interested in this exchange program because the need for teachers is diminishing as Taiwan’s population starts to decline, according to Hsiao-Ping Moore, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Tech.

“These two universities are very eager to work with us to expand the expertise of their students and prepare them for non-teaching careers,” Moore said.

Lawrence Tech has agreements for academic collaboration with more than 20 universities around the world, and students from more than 40 countries attend Lawrence Tech.

“Many foreign universities want to give their students the opportunity to take advantage of the strong academic programs at Lawrence Tech,” said Provost Maria Vaz. “Attracting students from around the world helps all of us here gain a better understanding of other cultures and opportunities for success in a global economy.”

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, was founded in 1932. Bloomberg BusinessWeek lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s upper third of universities for return on undergraduate tuition investment, and highest in the Detroit metropolitan area.  Lawrence Tech is also listed in the top tier of Midwestern universities by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. Students benefit from small class sizes and experienced faculty who provide a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus include over 60 student clubs and organizations and a growing roster of NAIA varsity sports.