Southern Taiwan as Classroom: Insights from Earthquake Labs to Indigenous Villages
KAOHSIUNG — Summer school doesn’t have to just be classroom drills. This past August, National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) warmly welcomed 16 faculty and students from Parami University in Myanmar for its immersive “Summer University” in Kaohsiung—a ten-day mix of learning, field trips, and deep cultural exchange. Alongside students from NSYSU and Kaohsiung American School, they concentrated on subjects like climate change, disaster resilience, sustainability, and social responsibility
Speakers included NSYSU experts—like Dr. Chia-Chen Wang (air quality), Prof. Chiung-Ting Chang (public affairs), and Dr. Chia-Hao Hsu (indigenous transitions)—plus notable voices such as alumnus ESG strategist Ming-Jang Chen, Eryk Michael Smith from AmCham Kaohsiung and co-host of the Formosa Files Taiwan history podcast, and others.
But the magic didn’t stop in lecture halls. Field trips sent students to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, a lychee farm in Chishan, the National Center for Earthquake Engineering’s lab in Tainan, and the indigenous community in Baihe, Pingtung. These outings weren’t just for sightseeing—they sparked action. Teams brainstormed local-youth-led projects in both Taiwan and Myanmar, learning from the NSYSU’s open, interactive teaching ethos.
As Prof. Ming‑Hsuan Lee, NSYSU’s VP for International Affairs put it: “Parami’s students bring resilience and a global embrace to this partnership. This program is us walking the talk on academic freedom, social responsibility—and open dialogue.”
Back on the Parami side, blogs shared how deeply Taiwan’s eco-practices resonated. One student marveled at how systematic and disciplined Taiwan’s recycling systems are. “Citizens take responsibility for their own garbage.” Another watched a typhoon in Kaohsiung and noted how community spirit and quick response kept everyone safe.
For many Parami University students—most used to online classes—classic lecture halls bonded with field learning were a thrilling first. Kaohsiung American School students also caught the spark. One of them said the experience lit a fire: “I want to help organize activities that build real growth and meaningful experiences.”
By program’s end, the Parami group headed to Taipei for a self-guided detour before returning home. This “Summer University” at Kaohsiung’s NSYSU is part of the school’s plan to continue building these bridges between higher education facilities and an MOU is scheduled to be signed between the two universities further cementing regional educational growth, and global understanding—as well as showcasing southern Taiwan’s role in advancing collaborative, socially conscious academia.
