EMI TOEFL Waiver Pilot Recognized by U.S. Universities
On November 17, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced the launch of the EMI TOEFL Waiver Pilot Program at a press conference for the Bilingual Learning Program for College Students. As one of the benchmark universities under Taiwan’s national bilingual education policy, NTNU was invited to share its experience in implementing English-Medium Instruction (EMI).
Under the pilot program, NTNU students who complete a designated proportion of EMI courses will be eligible to apply to partner universities in the United States without submitting TOEFL scores. Taiwan thus becomes the first non–English-speaking country whose EMI coursework has been formally recognized by leading U.S. universities as evidence of English proficiency.
The MOE noted that such exemptions were previously granted mainly to students from English-speaking countries or Singapore. This recognition reflects international confidence in Taiwan’s EMI course design, instructional support, quality assurance, and student learning performance, and marks an important step in Taiwan’s international higher education engagement.
Four U.S. Universities Join the Pilot Program
The pilot program is jointly implemented by the MOE and Fulbright Taiwan. The first group of participating U.S. institutions includes Arizona State University, New York University, Teachers College at Columbia University, and the University of Maryland. These universities have agreed to accept EMI coursework completed at NTNU and three other Taiwanese universities as a basis for assessing English proficiency.
According to the MOE, the waiver allows students planning to pursue further studies abroad to demonstrate their English ability through sustained academic coursework rather than standardized testing alone.
At the press conference, representatives from Fulbright Taiwan and the participating U.S. universities outlined the pilot framework. Four nationwide bilingual benchmark universities—National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University, National Sun Yat-sen University, and National Cheng Kung University—also shared their experiences in advancing bilingual education. Student representatives described how EMI courses have strengthened their English communication skills, intercultural awareness, and preparation for international exchange and graduate study.
EMI Implementation at NTNU
In his remarks, NTNU Vice President Frank Yung-Hsiang Ying said the university’s promotion of bilingual education and EMI teaching has led to several institutional developments. He noted that the number of EMI courses has expanded to nearly 1,000 in recent years, spanning education, the humanities, science and technology, and the arts, with student enrollment continuing to grow.
He also highlighted faculty support initiatives, including professional learning communities and teaching development workshops, aimed at strengthening instructional capacity and supporting student learning in English-medium classrooms.
Ying emphasized that EMI courses at NTNU are not simply a change in language use, but also a way for students to engage with different academic cultures and global perspectives. He added that NTNU was among the earliest universities in Taiwan to promote EMI systematically, alongside administrative adjustments such as appointing EMI coordinators across colleges and establishing quality assurance mechanisms.
Student Experience: Learning through EMI
At the press conference, NTNU student Hsin-Wei Wu, a double major in Education and Business Administration, shared his experience with EMI coursework. Wu said he grew up in a community school environment with limited English resources and entered university with an English proficiency level of B1. After enrolling at NTNU, he made use of learning supports—including academic English consultations, English discussion spaces, and interaction with international students—and later reached a C1 level of proficiency.
Between his second and fourth years, Wu completed 14 EMI courses totaling 31 credits. He recalled that his first English-medium class was challenging, but said encouragement and support from instructors helped him gradually build confidence.
He highlighted Multicultural Education in the Department of Education, a course conducted in collaboration with Seoul National University through a virtual classroom format. Students from Taiwan and Korea engaged in joint discussions on cultural issues, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and comparative education systems, followed by in-person exchanges.
Wu also described a digital marketing course in the College of Management, where international students made up about one-third of the class. Group projects emphasized cross-cultural collaboration and practical application, including a project promoting a Taiwanese local massage brand, with feedback from international students.
In another course, Educational Seminar, Wu and his team examined student motivations and challenges related to EMI participation. Their project included visits to the Center for Academic Literacy and interviews with the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and concluded with a video introducing EMI resources to other students.
Wu said NTNU’s learning support system—including English speaking consultations, academic writing guidance, and exchange opportunities—played a key role in his continued participation in EMI courses. He also joined the International Office’s companions-for-learning program, assisting international students and gaining intercultural communication experience.
Wu will take part in an exchange program at the University of Göttingen in Germany next semester. Reflecting on his experience, he said EMI courses helped him develop not only English proficiency, but also a broader understanding of global citizenship and cross-cultural engagement.
MOE and Fulbright Taiwan on the Pilot Program
Minister of Education Ying-Yao Cheng said bilingual education initiatives aim not only to strengthen language skills, but also to support learning in professional fields through English and enhance students’ international mobility. He added that EMI contributes to creating more internationalized learning environments on university campuses.
Randall Nadeau, Executive Director of the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (Fulbright Taiwan), said the participating U.S. universities are internationally influential institutions and described the pilot as recognition of Taiwan’s bilingual education efforts. He expressed hope that the collaboration would promote broader understanding of Taiwan’s EMI teaching quality and student learning outcomes.
According to the MOE, since the launch of the Bilingual Learning Program for College Students in the 2021 academic year, Taiwan has gradually established support systems for EMI teaching, faculty development, and student learning. The TOEFL waiver pilot reflects these cumulative efforts. The MOE said it will continue expanding bilingual learning environments and international cooperation, while NTNU will continue participating in national bilingual education initiatives in line with broader higher education policy.