【Text and Photos by: Chiao-Ling Chiu, Graduates Career Guidance Section, Student Affairs Division】

【Translator：Siou-Yao Han】 

【Promotion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series】

 2025-03-24  On the 22nd, the Student Affairs Division of the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) organized the "New Cultural Kaleidoscope" event, in which faculty and students traveled to Chiayi to participate in a forum co-hosted by Chuang Feng-Chia, Khuôn viên văn hoá Việt Nam (越在嘉文化棧) founder and director Nguyen Kim Hong, and journalist Chien Yung-Ta. The forum focused on sharing the lived experiences of new immigrants and migrant workers in Taiwan, as well as exploring the development of Southeast Asian cultures in Taiwan.

The Student Affairs Division of the National University of Kaohsiung has long been committed to organizing activities related to new immigrant cultures. This event aimed to deepen students’ understanding of these cultures through on-site participation and interviews, enhancing their cross-cultural competence. By actively promoting related courses and activities, the university hopes to foster student growth in a multicultural environment and support the second-generation immigrants' cultural identity and self-development.

Through this event, many students expressed a deeper understanding of the situations faced by migrant workers and new immigrants. Chen, a student from the Department of Crafts and Creative Design, shared that visiting the National Radio Museum helped her realize the media’s role in shaping social change. What impressed her the most, however, was the in-depth discussion during the interviews, which made her reflect on the rights and sense of belonging of migrant workers. “This forum taught me to think from their perspective and understand that simple sympathy cannot really help them, they have their own communities and a strong sense of belonging,” she said.

Kuo, a student from the Department of Asia-Pacific Industrial and Business Management, emphasized that interactions with migrant workers and new immigrants should not be solely for research or charitable purposes, but should begin with building genuine friendships and truly understanding their needs and circumstances. “This dialogue taught me to put myself in their shoes. I realized that simple sympathy alone isn’t enough to truly help them,” he said.

Chen, a student from the Department of Applied Economics, shared that her previous understanding of racial discrimination was mostly limited to an international context. However, this event made her realize that prejudice and mistrust toward foreign migrant workers still persist in Taiwanese society. “We shouldn’t view migrant workers’ rights solely from a legal perspective,” she said. “We should care about their actual living conditions in Taiwan and work toward making our society more inclusive and welcoming.”

Lin, a student from the Department of Applied Physics, specifically addressed the issue of so-called “runaway migrant workers.” She noted that many workers are forced to leave their original employers due to harsh working conditions and restrictive legal frameworks, yet they are often stigmatized because of it. “This made me rethink the root causes of the challenges faced by migrant workers. I now have even more respect for organizations like Khuôn viên văn hoá Việt Nam, which are willing to offer them shelter and support,” she said.

Through this event, students not only deepened their understanding of issues faced by new immigrants and migrant workers, but also began to reflect on how they could shift their own perspectives in daily life to help foster a more inclusive and compassionate society.

In addition to the lecture and forum, students also visited a local market where they tasted international cuisines, enjoyed artistic performances by new immigrants, and explored exhibitions of handmade crafts. Lo, a student from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, shared: “This event gave me a deep appreciation for the richness of multiculturalism. It also made me reflect on how Taiwan can become a more welcoming place for people of diverse backgrounds.”

The event coordinator stated that similar activities will continue to be organized in the future, providing more students with opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of new immigrant cultures. Through hands-on participation, the aim is to foster greater social understanding. “We hope students will approach everyone on this land with more empathy and an open mind, helping Taiwan truly become a diverse and inclusive society.”

#SDG4 #SDG10 #SDG11 #SDG17 @Student Affairs Division & Events