For our institution, 2023 was a year rich in international exchange and academic growth. Our International Division significantly expanded the Language and Cultural Program for Partner School to a ten-day event with sister schools. This not only maintained friendships with various partner schools but also offered students from around the globe a unique opportunity for language learning and cultural experiences.

    The event saw participation from 22 students, marking the first time partner schools from across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, encompassing 8 countries, were widely invited. These included the University of Hamburg (UHH) in Germany, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences in Belgium, Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) and Thurgau University of Teacher Education (PHTG) in Switzerland, the University of Minnesota in the USA, the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, Myongji University (MJU) in South Korea, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia, Universitas Pendidikan Nasional (UNDIKNAS) in Indonesia, and Central Philippine University (CPU).

    The program was both intensive and enriching, from a welcome dinner upon arrival in Taiwan to the closing ceremony on the ninth day. Participants engaged in various language courses, cultural workshops, and off-campus visits. In the Mandarin courses, many students went from minimal basics to achieving fundamental communicative abilities—a significant milestone for them. Additionally, through cultural courses like making miniature red brick houses and traditional lanterns, students deeply appreciated the profound meanings of Chinese culture and experienced the charm of traditional arts firsthand.

    The program also featured numerous enriching off-campus visits, including a cultural and historical tour of Tamsui Old Street, the Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry, the National Palace Museum, and an appreciation of renowned director Tsai Ming-Liang's works, allowing students to deeply experience Taiwan's rich historical essence and artistic atmosphere. Notably, students participated in our school's first post-pandemic physical "2023 TEDxNTUE" event hosted by our students, listening to internationally renowned speakers, marking a valuable learning experience. Throughout these ten days, we witnessed students from diverse cultural backgrounds building friendships through interaction. On the last day of 2023, in addition to the study group participants, we also invited our university's degree students and exchange students to gather, preparing iconic Taiwanese foods like chicken fillets and bubble tea. This created a relaxed and comfortable space for international students and program volunteer students to share their overseas learning experiences and cross-cultural insights, celebrating the new year together in Taiwan.

    The event concluded with laughter and heartfelt sharing of memories among the students. We captured the memorable moments of these days in a retrospective video as a perfect summary of the event. For the students, what remains is not only the linguistic and cultural learning at National Taipei University of Education but also the precious memories of cross-cultural friendships.