Princess Ann A. Maur, a fourth-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) student at Caraga State University (CSU), took her learning beyond the classroom and across borders as she flew to Kinmen, Taiwan, on September 6, 2026, for the 2026 New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program at National Quemoy University (NQU).
Maur is among the participants in the study program, an international exchange initiative launched by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for students from New Southbound countries, including the Philippines.
The program provides international students with opportunities to study Mandarin Chinese, enroll in academic courses focused on international relations and regional issues, and participate in cultural, educational, and industry-related activities.
For Maur, the program offers a unique opportunity to combine academic learning with international exposure. Beyond her academic courses, Maur will immerse herself in Taiwanese and Kinmen culture, participate in educational and cultural activities, and interact with students from different countries. These experiences are expected to broaden her perspectives and help her appreciate the diversity of cultures and viewpoints that characterize the region.
The 2026 program is scheduled to run from September 2026 to January 2027 to provide participants with approximately five months of academic and cultural immersion. In the previous cycle, the program brought together 105 students from nine New Southbound countries, including ten Filipino participants, across five Taiwanese host universities. NQU hosted 20 international recipients during the 2025 cycle, and among them was DC Shella Cubillas, a former CSU College of Education student who participated in the NQU program from September 2025 to January 2026.
Maur’s participation continues this emerging tradition of international academic mobility among CSU students and highlights the university’s commitment to providing students with opportunities for global learning and engagement.
Photo via Princess Ann A. Maur
