From March 3rd to 13th, the Office of International Affairs at National Chiayi University hosted the 2025 Spring School. This year, 14 students from four Japanese partner institutions – University of Miyazaki, Nagasaki University, University of Hyogo, and Setsunan University – participated in the program. NCYU President Han-Chien Lin attended the opening ceremony on March 3rd, where he extended a warm welcome to the students from partner universities and offered words of encouragement to both the visiting students and NCYU students. He expressed his hope that the students from Japan would become acquainted with NCYU and experience the cultural and ecological richness unique to Chiayi.
Since its launch in 2018, the NCYU Spring School has seen active participation from students of its partner universities in Japan each year. The program has grown into a key tradition in fostering exchanges between NCYU and its partner schools in Japan. The 2025 program features NCYU’s signature courses, SDG practices, and local cultural excursions. By incorporating micro-credit courses and local cultural tours, the program enhances opportunities for NCYU students to engage in international exchange, allowing students from both countries to take the first step toward meaningful cross-cultural interaction. President Lin also mentioned that there are many similarities between Taiwanese and Japanese youth. He cited the film KANO as an example – highlighting a shared love for baseball and teamwork. NCYU is known for its legacy in baseball, which has also played a pivotal role in strengthening ties with partner universities. He hoped that continued baseball exchanges would further deepen the friendship between the two sides.
Prof. Nakanishi Masaki from Setsunan University, Prof. Murakami Naoya from the University of Hyogo, and Prof. Song-Ya Lee from Nagasaki University specially attended the opening ceremony to express their interest and support for the event. Notably, this year marks the first time that Nagasaki University students have joined the Spring School. Prof. Lee expressed her expectations for her students to develop cross-cultural perspectives and keen observation skills, encouraging them to document their experiences and share them with peers upon returning to school.
The Spring School focuses
on integrating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming
to equip the younger generation with cultural sensitivity, a broad
international perspective, and social practice skills to navigate an
ever-changing global landscape. According to Dean Cheng-Cheng Yang, this year’s
Spring School continues to focus on key topics such as environmental
sustainability on campus, Taiwanese history and culture, Mandarin learning,
seal carving, and the appreciation of ecosystems. The program also promotes
agricultural sustainability and the social and cultural development of
Indigenous communities. Through field trips to Chiayi’s coastal areas and
Indigenous villages, the students gained firsthand experience of the region’s
landscapes and culture. These endeavors align with NCYU’s mission to advance
quality education, sustainable communities, and a diverse society.
Photo 1: Japanese students
observed ecosystems and bird species in the wetlands of Budai Salt Fields.
Photo 2: Japanese students
observed black-faced spoonbills in the wetlands of the Budai Salt Fields.
Photo 3: Students from
University of Miyazaki, Nagasaki University, University of Hyogo, and Setsunan
University participated in the 2025 Spring School.
Photo 4: President
Han-Chien Lin presented baseball caps to each participating student.