NSYSU and TEC Philippines co-host the 2025 Taiwan-Philippines Annual Education Forum to deepen Austronesian cultural and academic cooperation
2025-11-17
(Provided by the Office of International Affairs) To foster deeper collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), together with the Taiwan Education Center in the Philippines, hosted the 2025 Taiwan-Philippines Annual Education Forum. This year's theme, "Taiwan-Philippines Austronesian Connections: Indigenous History, Education, and Just Transition," brought scholars, educators, and students from both countries to Sizihwan. Through dialogue and the exchange of experiences, participants explored the future of indigenous education and sustainable development from the shared roots of Austronesian culture.
NSYSU Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo emphasized that Taiwan and the Philippines are both key hubs of Austronesian civilization, sharing common histories and strong maritime ties. He noted that this year's focus on Austronesian heritage and indigenous sustainability responds to global concerns about cultural diversity and sustainable development. It also reflects the two countries' commitment to exploring new possibilities in education and social justice through their cultural connections. Kuo highlighted NSYSU's long-standing strengths in marine, humanities, and social research, as well as its growing capacity in Austronesian studies. He expressed hope that the forum would further deepen mutual understanding and academic cooperation between the two sides.
Supported by the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, the forum welcomed 18 representatives from the Philippines, including higher education administrators and professors. Through theme talks, field visits, and group discussions, the delegation gained insights into Taiwan's diverse practices in indigenous education, cultural preservation, and sustainability transitions. Speakers presented perspectives ranging from archaeology and linguistics—tracing migration patterns and cultural continuity of Austronesian peoples—to sustainability issues, including how traditional knowledge, such as agricultural burning, can inform contemporary pathways toward environmental resilience and net-zero goals.
In recent years, NSYSU has also made tangible progress in promoting indigenous education. Beginning in the 2025 academic year, the Siwan College launched an International Indigenous Interdisciplinary Program, integrating humanities, social sciences, and sustainability. The curriculum emphasizes culturally grounded learning and encourages young Indigenous students to engage with issues related to land, oceans, and society through their own cultural lens. The program aims not only to strengthen students' professional competencies but also to position NSYSU as an international platform for Indigenous education dialogue, fostering meaningful connections with partners across Austronesian regions, including the Philippines.
NSYSU noted that since the establishment of the Taiwan Education Center in the Philippines in 2017, the two sides have jointly held six annual forums, steadily expanding higher education cooperation and cultural exchange. In the post-pandemic era, the forums have adopted a thematic and field-focused approach—for example, the 2024 forum on medical and nursing education successfully facilitated new partnerships among universities in Taiwan and the Philippines. Looking ahead, NSYSU will continue integrating resources from the Ministry of Education, Taiwan's overseas education divisions, and Philippine higher education institutions and high schools to advance dual-degree programs, student exchanges, faculty collaboration, and joint research on Austronesian studies. With the core vision of "Cultural Connections, Educational Co-Creation," the university aims to further strengthen Taiwan-Philippines educational ties and open new chapters for cross-cultural understanding and sustainable cooperation.
(Edited by Public Affairs Division)
(Provided by the Office of International Affairs) To foster deeper collaboration between Taiwan and the Philippines, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), together with the Taiwan Education Center in the Philippines, hosted the 2025 Taiwan-Philippines Annual Education Forum. This year's theme, "Taiwan-Philippines Austronesian Connections: Indigenous History, Education, and Just Transition," brought scholars, educators, and students from both countries to Sizihwan. Through dialogue and the exchange of experiences, participants explored the future of indigenous education and sustainable development from the shared roots of Austronesian culture.
NSYSU Senior Vice President Chih-Wen Kuo emphasized that Taiwan and the Philippines are both key hubs of Austronesian civilization, sharing common histories and strong maritime ties. He noted that this year's focus on Austronesian heritage and indigenous sustainability responds to global concerns about cultural diversity and sustainable development. It also reflects the two countries' commitment to exploring new possibilities in education and social justice through their cultural connections. Kuo highlighted NSYSU's long-standing strengths in marine, humanities, and social research, as well as its growing capacity in Austronesian studies. He expressed hope that the forum would further deepen mutual understanding and academic cooperation between the two sides.
Supported by the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, the forum welcomed 18 representatives from the Philippines, including higher education administrators and professors. Through theme talks, field visits, and group discussions, the delegation gained insights into Taiwan's diverse practices in indigenous education, cultural preservation, and sustainability transitions. Speakers presented perspectives ranging from archaeology and linguistics—tracing migration patterns and cultural continuity of Austronesian peoples—to sustainability issues, including how traditional knowledge, such as agricultural burning, can inform contemporary pathways toward environmental resilience and net-zero goals.
In recent years, NSYSU has also made tangible progress in promoting indigenous education. Beginning in the 2025 academic year, the Siwan College launched an International Indigenous Interdisciplinary Program, integrating humanities, social sciences, and sustainability. The curriculum emphasizes culturally grounded learning and encourages young Indigenous students to engage with issues related to land, oceans, and society through their own cultural lens. The program aims not only to strengthen students' professional competencies but also to position NSYSU as an international platform for Indigenous education dialogue, fostering meaningful connections with partners across Austronesian regions, including the Philippines.
NSYSU noted that since the establishment of the Taiwan Education Center in the Philippines in 2017, the two sides have jointly held six annual forums, steadily expanding higher education cooperation and cultural exchange. In the post-pandemic era, the forums have adopted a thematic and field-focused approach—for example, the 2024 forum on medical and nursing education successfully facilitated new partnerships among universities in Taiwan and the Philippines. Looking ahead, NSYSU will continue integrating resources from the Ministry of Education, Taiwan's overseas education divisions, and Philippine higher education institutions and high schools to advance dual-degree programs, student exchanges, faculty collaboration, and joint research on Austronesian studies. With the core vision of "Cultural Connections, Educational Co-Creation," the university aims to further strengthen Taiwan-Philippines educational ties and open new chapters for cross-cultural understanding and sustainable cooperation.
(Edited by Public Affairs Division)
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