Immersion and experiential learning on public health and aging in a Taiwan study abroad program: Study abroad as a strategy for promoting cross culture learning and global public health education

Purpose: This presentation session discusses the immersion and experiential learning experience on public health and aging from a public health Taiwan Study Abroad (TW-SA) program. Methods: Students from U.S. and Taiwan shared the joint classroom experience, field visits, and learning from one another on western versus eastern aging, culture and health perspectives. The midterm project asked students to interview a senior about his/her life story with attention to the exploration on the impact of time. In particular, how time and experience influence the person being interviewed and lessons learned. The final project allowed students showcasing their cumulative learning on public health and aging throughout the program via photo log, videos, and/or other creative formats. Results: American students presented the U.S. (Western) and Taiwanese students presented the Taiwan (Eastern) perspectives on senior life and aging stories, with common themes and issues identified. Overarching course-related themes were assigned for the final projects, including successful aging and preventive methods in Taiwan, senior health issues, long-term care and policy, and interdisciplinary geriatric care model, etc. Both American and Taiwanese student groups were very creative on demonstrating their new perspectives and internalized learning. For example, one group examined various ways the interdisciplinary geriatric care model were applied among three different types of agency visited: an innovative non-profit nursing home, a government-sponsored senior center, and a hospital-based geriatric care ward. Conclusion: The immersion and experiential cross-culture learning experience showed significant life impact on students' perspectives and encouraged creative and internalized lessons learned.