National Dong Hwa University（NDHU） recently welcomed a delegation of faculty and students from Western Sydney University（WSU） to participate in a two-week "Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Academic and Cultural Exchange" program. This marks the third consecutive year of collaboration between the two institutions since they signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to fostering international indigenous education and cross-cultural exchanges.

The program is supported by WSU through Australia's "New Colombo Plan" and is meticulously organized by NDHU's Center for International Indigenous Affairs. Highlights of the program include a series of public lectures on Indigenous knowledge, covering diverse topics related to the history, culture, language, arts, and social issues of Taiwan's Indigenous peoples. Renowned professors from NDHU's College of Indigenous Studies, along with cultural practitioners and knowledge holders from various indigenous communities, will deliver these lectures in English. Topics include Indigenous rights and challenges, healthcare and long-term care, identity and cultural reconstruction, language revitalization, and research methodologies for Indigenous studies.

A key highlight of the program will be a lecture by Professor Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews, Director of Indigenous Research at WSU, who will present on "Honoring the Lore / Law of the Lyrebird : Resisting Colonial Storytelling with Indigenous Storywork." This lecture will further deepen the understanding and exchange between the students and faculty of both universities on Indigenous issues in different regions.

In addition to academic sessions, WSU's students and faculty will visit Indigenous communities in the Hualien area, including the Amis and Kavalan tribal communities. The visit will provide participants with a firsthand experience of community life, traditional crafts, and face-to-face interaction with Indigenous people. This year, a new "buddy system" has been introduced, with NDHU students paired as partners to WSU students, guiding them through campus life, local Hualien culture, and food, as well as organizing visits to the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park.

During the welcoming ceremony, NDHU President Professor Hsiu-Ming Hsu（徐輝明）stated, "We are committed to becoming a world-class institution, and our collaboration with Western Sydney University is key to achieving this vision. Through such academic exchanges, we create meaningful opportunities for interaction between students and faculty." Professor Ming-Chien Su（蘇銘千）, Dean for International Affairs, also emphasized the synergy between NDHU's achievements in sustainable development and WSU's global leadership in social impact, aligning both universities' efforts to promote global social change.

Professor Chung-Shan Shih（石忠山）, Dean of College of Indigenous Studies, noted, "This program aims to deepen the understanding of Taiwan's Indigenous cultures among WSU students and provide NDHU students with the opportunity to interact with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, expanding their international perspectives."

Ms. Kylie Beerens, WSU's International Partnerships Officer, expressed her gratitude for NDHU's thoughtful organization of the exchange program, and emphasized that this opportunity would allow WSU students to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan's unique Indigenous issues and practices. She added that the program would not only assist students in future Indigenous research but also help them develop fieldwork skills such as participant observation, note-taking, and photography, which are essential for professional research on indigenous communities.

Professor Bavaragh Dagalomai（Jolan HSIEH 謝若蘭）, Director of Center for Indigenous Affairs, emphasized, "This is not only an academic and cultural exchange but also an opportunity for global Indigenous partners to build their capacity and empowerment. We hope that through this collaboration, the world will see the diversity and vitality of Taiwan's Indigenous cultures, and that the voices of Taiwan's Indigenous peoples will be heard by the international community."

Professor Bavaragh Dagalomai further pointed out that NDHU's College of Indigenous Studies, with its specialized programs in Ethnic Relations and Culture, Indigenous Languages and Communication, Indigenous Development and Social Work, and Indigenous Performing Arts, plays a vital role as an international platform for academic exchange. The college has trained many professionals in the field of Indigenous studies and has made significant contributions to the global exchange and development of indigenous knowledge systems.

This academic and cultural exchange program has not only deepened the understanding of Indigenous issues among the faculty and students of both universities but has also laid a solid foundation for future collaboration in the field of Indigenous studies, demonstrating the joint commitment of both institutions to advancing global Indigenous education and cultural exchange.