Campus Transformed into a Living Indigenous Village: Cheng Shiu University Grandly Opens “Pazurung Indigenous Week”

The Indigenous Student Resource Center of Cheng Shiu University (CSU) hosted the “Pazurung Indigenous Week” from November 3 to 5, unveiling one of the campus’s most culturally significant celebrations of the fall semester.
This year’s theme, Pazurung—meaning “continuity and heritage” in the Paiwan language—echoes CSU’s 60th anniversary and highlights the university’s ongoing commitment to multicultural education and ethnic inclusion. The three-day event featured a music concert, singing competition, and a festive barbecue, allowing students and faculty to experience the richness of Indigenous cultures in a warm and engaging atmosphere.

President Kung: Cultural Education Begins with Respect and Understanding

During the opening ceremony, President Rwei-Chang Kung remarked that Indigenous Week is one of CSU’s most important annual cultural events. This year’s venue design and atmosphere made participants feel as if they were stepping directly into an Indigenous village.
From dynamic performances to static displays, every activity showcased the vibrancy and diversity of Taiwan’s Indigenous cultures. President Kung emphasized that education is not only about transmitting knowledge—it is also about cultivating respect and understanding. The university will continue supporting Indigenous students in their academic development and cultural heritage.

Opening with Harmonious Voices: Music as a Bridge of Emotion and Pride

The ceremony featured a joint performance of Field Suite by the Majia Township Changrong Baihe Elementary School Choir and CSU’s Pakelang Indigenous Student Club. Their voices and dances set a heartfelt tone for the celebration.
Applause filled the venue as songs of heritage echoed through the campus, expressing cultural pride and creating a shared emotional connection among participants.

A Five-Sense Cultural Experience: See It, Hear It, Smell It, Taste It, Touch It

Executive Secretary Chien-Hua Chang from the Indigenous Student Resource Center shared that this year’s program was designed as a five-sense cultural experience.
The Hexi Corridor of the campus transformed into a cultural promenade featuring marketplace booths, Indigenous handicraft displays, and a fragrant barbecue feast.
In the evening, a “Tribal Cinema” and picnic-style film screening created an immersive and relaxing cultural space that brought Indigenous stories to life.

Connecting Culture with Education: Showcasing Career Diversity Among Indigenous Students

Chang also highlighted that Indigenous Week presented outcomes from the Ministry of Education Youth Development Administration’s “Career Counseling Support Program,” including:

• Fashion & Culture: JOY Indigenous Creativity

• Smart Technology Career Exploration

• Career Pathways in Esports

• Tech Talents Discover Their Future

These initiatives demonstrated the interdisciplinary strengths of Indigenous students across cultural creativity, technology, and emerging career pathways.

Student Voices: Finding Confidence and Belonging Through Culture

Yu Chiao-En, a student from the Department of Leisure and Sport Management, shared that Indigenous Week is the most anticipated event for Indigenous students every year.
“This is our stage to express ourselves and pass on our culture. It also helps non-Indigenous students better understand and respect who we are,” she said, hoping the university will continue organizing the event to highlight the pride and resilience of Indigenous heritage in contemporary society.

The Educational Power of Cultural Transmission:

Sustaining a Spirit of Diversity and Inclusion on Campus

“Pazurung Indigenous Week” is more than a campus celebration—it is an educational practice of cultural continuity. Through multicultural promotion and Indigenous education support, Cheng Shiu University embodies the spirit of “education as a driver of social inclusion,” making the campus a place where culture is shared, understood, and collectively celebrated.