【International Alumni】Precious Taiwan Life with Degree, Future Career Path, and Beautiful Family Together
/Matthew Hopkins, from Washington, USA, received his master degree in Global Human Resource Management (known as GHRM MBA) from National Sun Yat-sen University. Matthew came to Taiwan in 2013, and since then not only has he developed a fluent Chinese skill, he has also built a precious life on this island with a degree, an enviable future career path, and a beautiful family to cherish together. Before returning to the states, Matthew used to work for a technology company and ZMI Electronics in Kaohsiung City and the concrete experiences has led him to the present job working as a Clinical Specialist: Deep Brain Stimulation at Boston Scientific in the USA.
Influence from GHRM MBA
Matthew graduated from the Art Department of Evergreen State College in 2011, and after graduation, he went on a road trip domestically. In 2013, Matthew decided to come to Taiwan for a couple of years, and his original plan was to teach English while visiting this exotic place. However, life has its own plan; coincidentally, Matthew learned about GHRM MBA program offered in NSYSU, and after finding out more about the program from a school staff, he decided to enroll and complete his graduate degree right here in Taiwan.
Instead of restricting his career to HR, Matthew would rather like to consider HR major would prepare the future career as a leader and manager that can be applied to the work organization. Of all the lessons taken through his schooling life in NSYSU, Seminar in Business Management was one of Matthew’s favorite classes. Several industrial exports were invited to give lectures or share experiences during the class; each provided his/her perspective toward the field, and also pointed out cultural differences that students may encounter. The professor also assigned different challenges for students to solve in groups or by themselves to inspire them; Matthew found himself basked in knowledge and encouragement from each lesson. In addition, Matthew realized that there was still lots of room for him to improve his Chinese capability from the courses he had taken; fortunately, one of the very useful resources NSYSU offers, which is Chinese classes that take place twice a week, became very helpful as Matthew could emphasize on sessions he wanted to improve precisely. “A degree does not get you a career, but it opens the opportunities for you; being familiar with Taiwanese business culture definitely is a big plus when applying a job.” Speaking from his own experience as a graduate student from GHRM MBA.
Profound experience living in Taiwan
Living in Taiwan for 9 years, Matthew adores Taiwanese cuisine and its food culture the most. He discovered Taiwanese people are passionate and down-to-earth when it comes to food; from street food to the stared restaurant, Matthew admires the way Taiwanese people cherish the essence of food; as simple as tasty or not, to the locals, food is expected to be treated with respect, not wasted. Despite of the road safety, he appreciates sense of security and the National Health Insurance System in Taiwan, those are some of the key reasons that made Matthew values and praises Taiwan so highly.
Having 3 years working experience in Taiwan, Matthew has also encountered several cultural differences, but he always handles it with a positive attitude. He believes that cultural differences are not to be "overcome", but to be "negotiated". According to Matthew, reasonable and respectful communication among colleagues can help to bridge the gap effectively, particularly if the company values and trusts your existence.
Words for the graduates
“Make sure to continue achieving personal accomplishment and academic growth in this challenging yet supportive environment.” With this statement, Matthew summarizes and shares his life philosophy to the future graduates; based on the well-organized curriculum, diversified academic and practical environment he had experienced personally, Matthew strongly recommends foreign students to consider Taiwan as the destination for further studies.
【國際校友】台灣經驗助攻，返美就業無縫接軌
何士修
來自：美國
畢業學校：國立中山大學
任職於波士頓科學(Boston Scientific)，擔任深部腦刺激臨床專員
來自美國華盛頓的何士修(Matthew Hopkins)，畢業於國立中山大學人力資源管理全英語碩士學位學程(Global Human Resource Management English MBA, 簡稱GHRM MBA)， Matthew在台深耕八年經驗助攻職涯，2021年8月返美前，也已順利取得夢想工作在波士頓科學擔任深部腦刺激臨床專員。返回美國前，Matthew在傑邁醫學科技(ZMI Electronics) 擔任國際銷售專員。2013年來到台灣，努力學習中文，現在講著一口流利的中文的Matthew, 在這座美麗的島嶼取得碩士學位、進入職場到結婚生子，對他來說是人生中很珍貴的一段歲月。
中山GHRM MBA的影響
2011年，何士修畢業於美國The Evergreen State College藝術學系，畢業後他把握年輕的熱情與體力，在美國展開自駕環島旅行，直到2013年，他決定來台灣擔任英文教師，並計劃兩年後返回家鄉工作。但何士修在因緣際會下接觸到國立中山大學人力資源管理全英語碩士班的資訊，與學校教職員工了解研究所優勢與特色後，決定延長停留在台灣的時間，進修碩士學位。
何士修提到，就讀全英語人管碩士，是為了未來擔任主管而做準備，念人資不一定要從事人資人員，未來擔任管理者或領導幹部都將受用無窮。在研究所時期他最喜歡的其中一門課程是企業管理研討(Seminar in Business Management)。這堂課程會邀請到許多業界講者到校分享，讓學生對台灣不同產業有所認識，也會了解到企業文化的差異；教授也會透過個人或團體形式的作業或報告，給予學生挑戰及啟發，讓他覺得每堂課都有滿滿的能量與收穫。
而學校提供給外籍學生每周兩次的中文課程，更協助提昇他中文聽、說、讀、寫能力。原先以為自己中文程度不錯的他，因為在課程中碰到瓶頸、遇到困難，才發現原來還有許多進步的空間，也因此他投注更多心力加強學習與練習。對何士修來說，選擇就讀國立中山大學人力資源管理全英語碩士是他在台灣找到第一份工作的助力，除了對產業瞭解與中文能力的精進外，學校與系所都提供許多資源讓同學運用，他說：「學位並不會幫你找到工作，但它會幫你開啟一扇大門，台灣的雇主會很開心看到你對於台灣職業文化並不陌生。」
在台生活的深刻體會
在台深耕9年的何士修最喜歡台灣的食物跟飲食文化，他發現台灣人對於美食充滿熱情，小至夜市小吃、大至昂貴餐廳，沒有太多複雜的評判標準，總是很簡單以好吃或不好吃去評斷，他很欣賞台灣人賦予食物生命力，且對眼前的美食感到滿足且珍惜；同時，他也很俏皮地表示，除了交通安全以外，他很喜歡台灣安全的生活環境以及全民健保制度。
何士修返美前，在高雄的醫學科技公司擔任國際銷售主管，在台灣業界服務2年的他也曾面臨東西方文化差異的問題，他總是秉持著良好的心態，他認為文化差異並非是要「克服」，而是需要「協商」，這也是他在現任公司所體會到的。何士修說道: 「同事間合理、理性的溝通協商可以有效的幫助彼此緩解文化差異所帶來的隔閡，特別是你的存在是公司重視且信任的。」
送給未來研究生的一句話
「記得要在這個充滿挑戰且具有足夠支持的環境中實現個人和學業的成長。」這是何士修要送給未來的研究生的建議，同時也是他自己用來描述自己在台灣、在中山研究所的生活，透過學校高品質的課程、國際多元學習環境與系所提供的資源提高自身競爭力，深入在台灣的生活、接觸台灣職場文化，他鼓勵外籍人士在台進修是個很棒的經驗！
