International Representatives from WUR ft. Ryan Huang
By Zlatoslava
Hey everyone!
This is the third blog in the sequence about WUR’s international representatives, and it is in collaboration with Ryan Huang, representing us in Taiwan!
Introduction
You have probably heard of Wageningen University & Research (locally referred to as ‘WUR’) having international representatives, but do you actually know what their role is and who they are?
Some of you might already be more familiar with some of them from our previous blogs, but for those of you who hear about them for the first time, then you’re in the right place. 😉
Wageningen University’s representatives are entitled to represent and promote the University internationally in their country! Despite them currently living in different countries, they are experts when it comes to student- and city-environment here in Wageningen. That is why they are also trusted to ‘recruit’ students for the master’s programmes.
There are currently seven of them on the team: Yingxiang Zhang representing us in China; Meenakshi Kaul—India; Ponti Caroline—Indonesia; Saki Tanaka—Japan; Francisco J. Martinez—Latin America; Yewon Cho—South Korea; Ryan Huang—Taiwan. You can contact them and learn a bit more about them in our representative’s webpage.
Meet Ryan Huang
Ryan did his second Master’s at Wageningen University, how wonderful is that! Check out what he says about his experience below, truly inspiring!
Ryan Huang
“I’m thrilled to be a WUR representative for Taiwan. I’m actually a WUR alumnus myself! From 2015 to 2017, I had a fantastic journey studying in the Nutrition and Health programme, where I got to dive deep into the fascinating fields of Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour. What I especially loved about the programme was how comprehensive yet practical it was; it truly gave me the skills and insights I needed to pursue my passion in understanding how we experience food and make our eating choices.”
The highlights of being an international representative
Being a representative means having a lot of social contact, meeting new people and helping them along the way.
As a prospective student, it is really important to have the right encouragement, especially when embarking on such an exciting (but also unfamiliar!) journey as moving to another country across the world. So, it is great seeing how enthusiastic Ryan is about reaching out a hand to them!
“The best part about being an international representative? It’s definitely getting to connect with prospective students, especially from Taiwan. I love sharing my perspective on what the Dutch education experience and life here at Wageningen are really like. It’s about giving them practical information, but also hopefully inspiring them about the possibilities of studying abroad and showing them how a WUR degree can really help with their career development. Doing that feels incredibly rewarding, and it’s also fantastic to help build and network with the WUR alumni community back in Taiwan.”
Bringing awareness about WUR amongst prospective students
To spark the interest of prospective students, dynamic interactive approaches and flexibility are essential! As a representative, staying well-informed is key and Ryan ensures future master’s students discover all opportunities WUR has to offer through his unique engagement methods.
“I regularly attend European and Dutch education fairs to connect directly with prospective students, providing them with all the essential information they’re looking for. I also make an effort to participate in various Dutch-related events here in Taiwan – it’s a great way to engage with the community. A recent focus has been visiting specific universities; I target those where I believe there’s strong potential to increase WUR’s visibility, especially in departments that are relevant to WUR’s program offerings. The goal is always to show students the valuable path a WUR education can offer them!”
Staying connected with (prospective) students before and after their acceptance
Staying in contact with students during their admission procedure is as important of a task as initially introducing them to the University. For the latter, Ryan gave his insights above, but that is not all! He shares that a core value is communication before, throughout, and even after the application process. What I personally find very intriguing and helpful is that he manages to bring future and present students together!
“Keeping in touch with students is a really important part of my role. Before they even apply or get accepted, I like to set up one-on-one chats. We talk about everything – their background, what they’re hoping to study, and how a WUR degree fits into their career plans. It’s a personal check-in, by phone or meeting up. After they’re admitted, I connect them with students already at WUR, so they can get a real feel for life and studies there. I also know how tough finding housing is in Wageningen these days, so I always give them a heads-up and strongly advise them to secure accommodation before they travel. It’s a crucial step! Plus, I help new students get connected with the WUR alumni community, which is a fantastic resource.”
Relatable perspective and advice for students considering WUR
Ryan makes a valuable impact as an international representative using the skills and experience he has obtained throughout the years. His professionalism in diverse fields successfully guides prospective students towards their new beginnings.
“I’ve studied at both a research university (WUR!) and a university of applied sciences here in the Netherlands. This gave me unique insights and allows me to offer really practical advice about different study paths. Also, having worked for companies from the Netherlands, UK, and Germany while in Taiwan, combined with my study abroad experience, showed me just how diverse life in Europe is. I think this helps me connect with students exploring their own international journey.”
Finally, for everyone considering starting their academic journey at Wageningen University, this is for you! Here are some tips Ryan gave for identifying your goals and more:
“1. Think about your ‘why’. Why study abroad? What are you hoping to gain? Knowing your motivation is key.
2. Start brainstorming how your potential studies at Wageningen fit into your bigger picture, especially for your career down the line.
3. But honestly, the most important thing? Bring an open mind and a growth mindset! Be curious, be willing to try new things, and be ready to explore the world. That’s what will make your international study experience truly amazing.”
That is all! And to Ryan – thank you for being part of this blog and sharing your experience with us!
If you are curious to read other international representatives’ stories, check out the blogs with Francisco J. Martinez from Latin America and Ponti Caroline from Indonesia.
It was nice to chat, more coming soon!
See you around,
Zlatoslava😊
