The aims of the course are twofold. First, the course is to offer students critical perspectives to understand international development under the context of globalization. Second, the course is to discuss how to help the world reduce poverty particularly in the so-called relatively less and least developed Global South (See appendix map). Taiwan’s various roles in participating in international development are particularly introduced in order to let students know how Taiwan has made what certain contributions and impacts to the global south. It should be noted that though Taiwan is not a member of the UN, its participation in international development in different formats and to various countries has long existed over past five decades

International development refers to holistic-view multiple-dimensional concepts of human development, specifically in relation to how to improve human capabilities and qualities of life in the Global South. “Millennium Development Goals (MDG)”, an international development action framework proposed by the United Nations (UN) to together solve the Global South problems such as diseases, extreme poverty, illiteracy, environment deterioration, is the focus of the course. Students taking the course will be expected to understand how and why and under what circumstances the poverty is happening in the Global South and how and what successful international development have been done through what means and by Taiwan and other members of Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.

Students interested in topics like international business; international politics and global civil society as well as transnational social development between Global North and Global South are welcome to take the course.

In order to offer better learning environment to practice cross-culture communication, one of core social skills in the field of world geography and international development, the course is set to be conducted in English, a most popular language able to understand and communicate among different cultural and ethnic groups in various geographic areas of the world.