On the 20th, the Education Bureau of the Taichung City Government hosted the International Education Achievement Sharing Day at Taichung Municipal Hui-Wen High School. The event highlighted the collaboration in international education across different educational levels and the promotion of international exchanges with a focus on indigenous cultures. Kuo Ming-chou, the Bureau’s Chief Secretary, delivered an encouraging speech to the schools involved. Representatives from the Ministry of Education’s K-12 Education Administration, the International Exchange Alliance, and Goethe-Institut Taipei also attended, adding to the event’s lively atmosphere.

Director Chiang Wei-min of the Education Bureau noted that Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen highly values educational development. The Bureau encourages senior high school and vocational students to pursue diverse development paths. During the International Education Achievement Sharing Day, Ms. Mya Myungah Song, the APEC Project Manager from South Korea, was invited to discuss how South Korea leverages the semi-official organization IACE to advance international education in primary and secondary schools. The event also featured Professor Chan Sheng-ju from National Chung Cheng University, who talked about integrating foreign aid models into educational development through the International Cooperation and Development Fund, and Professor Cheng I-hsuan from National Chi Nan University, who discussed the role of IACE system leadership in promoting educational integration from an international development perspective. The goal of these varied discussions was to inspire ideas for developing suitable international education strategies within Taiwan.

Another key feature of the event was its emphasis on indigenous cultures and cross-disciplinary cooperation. For instance, He Ping Junior High School worked with Kambala Church of England Girls' School in Australia on an exchange focused on indigenous cultures and languages. The students shared Atayal language, stories, and traditions with Kambala’s faculty and students, while also learning about Australian Aboriginal songs, dances, and crafts. This exchange provided an opportunity to appreciate diverse languages and artistic expressions, as well as showcasing the unique beauty of each culture. Furthermore, Hsiao Shih-yuan, a teacher from Taichung Municipal Taichung Home Economics and Commercial High School, led the Bunun Small Backpack project in collaboration with Lu Chia-hsien, a teacher from Renhe Elementary School in Xinyi Township, Nantou County. This project helped 17 Bunun students raise funds through coursework to travel abroad and explore the world.

The Education Bureau noted that to boost international education capacity, Taichung’s high schools and universities have been working closely. National Chi Nan University, in collaboration with the Taichung City High School Strategic Alliance, initiated an international volunteer training and service project, which led to the formation of international volunteer groups to Thailand and Vietnam. Furthermore, Professor Hung Wen-jou from National Chi Nan University, along with students from Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School, Chang Yi High School, Xin She High School, and Chung Gang High School who were directly involved in the project, shared their experiences. The international volunteer exchange program helped enhance the students' international mobility.

The event also included an international education exhibition, where the International Education Center of Taichung City, the Taichung City Second Foreign Language Center, the International Exchange Alliance, and Rotary Clubs 3461-3462 showcased international education outcomes and relevant information. This allowed participating schools to explore available resources and support.

The Education Bureau also highlighted that Taichung City’s International Education Week took place from November 18 to 22. The event featured an international cultural and art exhibition on the third floor of Taichung Municipal Hui-Wen High School’s library, which included a poster memorial exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of Kafka’s death, an exhibition of French Proust letters, and a Japanese folk art display. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Taipei, the French Office in Taipei, and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. Additional details about the event can be accessed through the International Education Week section on the International Education Center of Taichung City website (https://reurl.cc/QE1qpZ).