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In 2025, Fu-Mei Wu Scholarship Supports Students' Overseas Learning Journey in the Philippines-Immersing in Indigenous Communities to Broaden Global Perspectives

Update : 2025-10-09
SDG指標: SDGs17,SDGs04,SDGs10,SDGs16
The Wu Hsu Fu-Mei Scholarship Team with the Ifugao people of the Philippines and local organization members
The Wu Hsu Fu-Mei Scholarship Team with the Ifugao people of the Philippines and local organization members

In 2025, Center for International Indigenous Affairs at National Dong Hwa University awarded the Fu-Mei Wu Scholarship to students from The Department of Indigenous Development and Social Work to participate in a nine-day overseas field study program in Luzon, Philippines. The initiative aims to cultivate indigenous professionals equipped with global perspectives and practical competencies.

With the support of the scholarship, the students traveled to the Ifugao province, engaging deeply with local Indigenous communities through field research, cultural exchange, and institutional visits. The program centered on key themes such as land and environment, economy and tourism, and long-term care and health, strengthening students' cross-cultural understanding and comparative analytical skills.

During the program, the students visited the National Museum of the Philippines, local educational and healthcare institutions, as well as the Nagacadan Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highlight of the trip was participating in Punnuk, an important annual ritual of the Ifugao community, offering a rare, immersive experience of indigenous cultural practices.

Professor Bavaragh Dagalomai Jolan Hsieh, Director of the Center for International Indigenous Affairs, noted,"The Fu-Mei Wu Scholarship, generously funded by private donors, is dedicated to fostering international Indigenous exchange and learning. It encourages young people to step beyond the classroom, engage in meaningful action, and deepen their understanding of cultural diversity and global Indigenous issues." She also sincerely invited continued public donations to ensure that more young people can participate in international initiatives and become active contributors to global Indigenous connectivity and social inclusion.


The Wu Hsu Fu-Mei Scholarship Team visited the National Museum of the Philippines – Cordillera
The Wu Hsu Fu-Mei Scholarship Team visited the National Museum of the Philippines – Cordillera
The team participated in the Punnuk ritual, which is inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage
The team participated in the Punnuk ritual, which is inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage
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