TaiwanICDF Scholarship Recipient, Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos from Honduras, Shares the Story of How He Secured the Fully Funded Award to Pursue His MBA in International Human Resources Development at National Taiwan Normal University

My name is Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos, and I am originally from Honduras. I have lived in Taiwan for the past ten years, working in international journalism, law, and project management. I graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in Honduras, and later moved to Taiwan, where I pursued an MBA in International Human Resources Development at National Taiwan Normal University.

For me, getting a scholarship was something that I thought about since I started college, and Asia became my target because of their high-quality education, because I knew I would learn another language, and because I had always dreamt of going to Japan. Taiwan became a place where I rebuilt everything from zero, professionally, academically, and personally. Studying here shaped the trajectory of the last decade of my life.

TaiwanICDF Scholarship Details

I received the TaiwanICDF International Higher Education Scholarship Program in 2015, a full scholarship that covered tuition, housing, insurance, round-trip flights, and a monthly stipend. The scholarship allowed me to complete my MBA without financial pressure.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Yes. In 2019, I was awarded the Taipei City Government Scholarship, which supports outstanding foreign students enrolled in Taipei-based institutions. The scholarship amount was 25,000 NTD per month, but it is only open to people from the Philippines now.

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) – Catholic University of Honduras, Honduras.
• GPA: Not formally calculated on a 4.0 system, but it was 84 on a scale of 100.
• MBA: International Human Resources Development (IHRD) – National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan,
• GPA: 4.0.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the National Taiwan Normal University?

How Did You Find Information About the TaiwanICDF Scholarship?

I researched programs through:

• The official Taiwan Embassy channels
• The TaiwanICDF website
• University admissions pages
• Becas para Hondureños, a Facebook and Instagram community to which I became a formal member in 2016.

My decisions were based on whether it was a full scholarship and the geographic location of the country.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests?

Yes, I took the TOEFL exam, scoring 99 out of 120.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the TaiwanICDF Scholarship?

I focused on three things:

1. A compelling personal narrative:
   I highlighted how my legal background, interest in international development, and commitment to contributing to Honduras aligned with TaiwanICDF’s mission.
2. Professional clarity:
   I explained how the MBA would enhance my professional opportunities and clearly explained why I had chosen that specific university and program.
3. Strong recommendation letters:
   My references came from 2 university professors who had witnessed my work ethic firsthand and could vouch integrity and my willingness to help others.

How Was Your Experience at the National Taiwan Normal University?

The professors were supportive, the curriculum was internationally relevant, and the classroom diversity was one of the best parts—students from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe all studying together. This scholarship also gave me the opportunity to visit other countries, which is something that definitely expanded my mind and the way I saw the world.

How Do You Rate the National Taiwan Normal University Academically and Why? 

Academically? Strong.
The school emphasizes practical skills like organizational behavior, cross-cultural leadership, project management, and HR analytics. Most classes required real-world case studies and group work, which prepared me for the corporate and diplomatic environments I later entered.

How Does the National Taiwan Normal University Support International Students?

Taiwan is one of the most supportive countries in the world for international students. NTNU provided:

• Administrative support
• Academic advisors
• Mandarin classes
• International student guidance
• Access to events, workshops, and career fairs

I always felt supported.

Are Classes in English or the Native Language?

My MBA program was fully in English.

Would Students Struggle Not Knowing Mandarin?

Not academically. Your degree can be completed without Mandarin, but in daily life, and later for professional networking in Taiwan, learning the basics of Mandarin is extremely helpful.

What Made My Application Stand Out?

This was something that I asked my Program Manager a few months after I got to Taiwan, and she told me that my essay showed a clear career path, that I showed leadership skills and empathy to help others after graduating, and that my high score in the English test was something that also caught their attention.

What Would I Have Done Differently?

I would have:

• Try to find some alumni for advice
• Learned the basics of Mandarin earlier
• Prepare my application with more time since I found out about the scholarships very close to the deadline and I had to do a lot of things under stress and in a rush.

What Advice Would I Give to Future Applicants?

• Start early. Prepare your motivations and documents weeks before the deadline.
• Be specific. Don’t say “I want to study abroad”, explain why Taiwan, why that program, and what you plan to do afterwards.
• Connect your future to your past. Explain how the scholarship fits into your long-term professional goals.
• Show purpose, not desperation. Scholarships reward clarity, not neediness, and I believe that volunteer work or leadership roles can dramatically increase your chances of being selected.
• Use your unique background. Your story is not generic; highlight what only you can offer and make sure that you can back up every claim that you make. Certificates are a good way of doing this.

Scholarships are not about perfection; they are about alignment, preparation, and some luck, so always apply to more than one in case something does not go the way you planned.