Spring 2027 Applications are now open! Application Deadline: October 15th.
Gain substantive overseas professional experience and intercultural skills
Through OPIT's eight-week, English-language internships, students gain the overseas professional experience and intercultural communication skills demanded by today’s global market. Participants can choose a placement in a variety of fields, including business, democracy building, human rights, education, gender equality, journalism, public health, environmental protection, and social services.
A full-time, in-country American Councils staff person oversees the professional and intercultural program, assists participants in administrative and personal matters, and works closely with the host university to ensure that participants are engaged in meaningful projects. The OPIT program draws on an extensive network of community partners, expert regional staff, and overseas resources.
Prior study of Chinese is not required for placement in Taiwan.
Develop a specialized understanding of Taiwanese business culture and its unique sociopolitical dynamics.
Explore a unique blend of traditional customs and modern city life.
Learn or sharpen Mandarin Chinese, a highly valuable asset in the global job market. No prior study of the language is required to participate.
Live in an exceptionally safe environment with a low cost of living, and world-class public transit.
Build lasting connections with Taiwanese professionals, local faculty, and fellow expatriates.
Taiwanese culture is a rich blend of traditional Chinese and indigenous Austronesian influences, further shaped by Japanese colonization and modern Western values. It emphasizes collective harmony, respect for elders, and strong family ties, all informed by Confucianism. The culture is characterized by its unique cuisine, vibrant festivals, and a deep spiritual connection to Taoism, Buddhism, and folk religions.
Renowned for its welcoming and friendly people, Taiwan is the ideal location for students of culture, history, politics, and language. TMT participants enjoy exploring New Taipei’s bustling urban neighborhoods and its scenic waterfront, as well as vibrant night markets and cultural festivals. With easy access to a highly efficient, safe transportation system, students are also free to explore Taiwan’s many ancient cities and historic sites, as well as breathtaking natural landscapes, beaches, hot springs, and mountain trails.
(Minus Deposit)
(Minus Deposit)
The OPIT Program offers students the opportunity to gain professional experience in an international setting by providing a full-time, unpaid eight-week global internship. The program integrates experiential learning with cross-cultural training, which allows highly motivated students to improve their professional and personal skills. The program is designed to advance participants’ critical thinking, intercultural communication skills, cultural awareness and global understanding through reflection, journal writing and feedback sessions.
Internship Disciplines
Business and Innovation
Democracy Building and Human Rights
Ecology and Environmental Issues
Education Management
Engineering
Gender and Women’s Rights
Journalism and Mass Media
Marketing and Communications
Public Health
Social Services
Participants have interned with the Tamkang University Champion Incubator Center, the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), SINBON Electronics, and other prominent businesses and organizations.
Participants will supplement their professional experience with language training by attending 10 academic hours per week in the host country language. Language instruction is included in the program cost.
Participants earn four undergraduate or five graduate U.S. academic credit hours in Intercultural Communication. Additionally, transcripts will reflect a "Global Internship Experience" as a non-credit bearing course. Academic credit is awarded through Bryn Mawr College.
Prior to departure, participants receive a handbook specific to their country and internship location that provides detailed information about their site, including information about life, culture, transportation, health and safety, what to pack, and much more.
(4 credits) This course advances students’ critical thinking, intercultural communication skills, cultural awareness and global understanding through reflection, journal writing and feedback sessions. It explores perceptions, assumptions and expectations both at home and abroad and the way those challenges present themselves in social interactions, at the work place and in everyday life. The course also focuses on strategies and skills needed to successfully manage these challenges in a broad variety of engaging cross-cultural contexts.
(No credit) Students will gain real-world experience, develop cross-cultural communication skills, and build a global professional network by interning with a global company or organization for 20 hours each week.
(4 credits) Students complete 10 hours per week of in-class Chinese language study. Chinese language classes are designed to produce measurable gains in speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills through high energy, student-centered instruction and communicative teaching strategies. Students are placed in small groups according to language proficiency. No prior Chinese language study is required.
Students live with other program participants in an extended-stay hotel in central Taipei.
Commute: The hotel is located within walking distance to MRT (metro) stations and bus stops, providing participants with an easy commute to the host university campus and internship providers on public transit.
Amenities & Dining: The hotel is situated within a residential area, providing participants with an array of meal options ranging from local restaurants to cafes. Daily essentials can be purchased at nearby convenience stores, like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart.
Shared Facilities: Participants will have access to communal spaces, including a top-floor lounge/social area, which provides a complimentary snack bar and space for students to study, self-learn, or socialize.
The Global Pathways career speaker series connects participants with established expatriates who have successfully navigated the local job market. These insightful sessions offer a unique platform for participants to gain firsthand knowledge about host country workplace culture, hiring trends, and industry-specific expectations. By sharing their personal triumphs and cultural hurdles, the expatriate speakers provide practical strategies for overcoming language barriers, building a local professional network, and understanding regional business etiquette. Participants will benefit from meaningful mentorship and networking opportunities that help accelerate their professional integration in the host country.
American Councils administers the OPIT program in partnership with the Chinese Language Center at Shih Chien University in Taipei, Taiwan. Shih Chien was founded on the core philosophy of practice, drawing inspiration from Chinese philosopher Wang Yangming, who taught that true knowledge is fulfilled only through action. Early in its history, Shih Chien focused on cultivating practical skills within its students that directly improved family well-being and supported Taiwan's developing post-war economy.
Recognizing the shifting demands of the global workforce, Shih Chien successfully transitioned its legacy of practical arts into world-class creative programs, pioneering Taiwan's very first departments in both Fashion Design and Communications Design. Today, it is recognized globally as an elite center for art and design education, shifting from its modest roots in domestic sciences into a modern powerhouse for international creative talent.
Multiple sources of funding are available to support participants in paying for programs abroad. Participants are encouraged to apply for private scholarships, federal aid and grants, college/university scholarships, and American Councils fellowships and scholarships.
All participants must attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation before the program begins. Sessions cover health and safety, professional culture, culture shock, and strategies for maximizing language learning. Students meet resident directors, peers, and alumni, with lodging and meals provided. Upon arrival to the host country, participants attend a site-specific in-country orientation led by program staff.
While abroad, participants have access to full-time in-country staff who offer academic, administrative, and personal support, as well as 24/7 emergency assistance. The AC Study Abroad team in Washington, D.C. stays in close contact with students and host institutions throughout the program.
All participants are covered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) for the duration of the program. CISI provides up to $250,000 in medical coverage per accident or illness and full emergency medical evacuation coverage.
American Councils provides visa support for participants for the duration of the program in the host country, if applicable. Students are responsible for obtaining any additional visas required by their travel plans. Visa instructions and forms are provided after acceptance.
