Session on “Practices of Ethnic Equity in Universities at Home and Abroad” — side view.
The Indigenous Students Resource Center (ISRC) at National Taiwan University (NTU) hosted the first Ethnic Equity in Higher Education Forum, convening over a hundred faculty members, students, administrators, and legislators to further dialogue on Indigenous inclusion in higher education. The forum marks a significant milestone in NTU’s Five-Year Ethnic Equity Plan and affirms the university’s growing leadership in building a campus culture grounded in Indigenous perspectives, equity, and respect.
Building on the momentum of the 2023 students’ anti-discrimination movement, the forum transformed their grassroots advocacy into meaningful institutional action. NTU Secretary-General Da-Ming Wang underscored the role of the Indigenous and Ethnic Equity Working Group as a key governance platform for mainstreaming Indigenous and ethnic knowledge—an effort that is aligned with the Ministry of Education’s “Indigenous Education for All” initiative. Vice President for Student Affairs Shi-Wei Chu affirmed this commitment, stressing NTU’s responsibility to ensure that equity is reflected not only in policy but in everyday academic and campus life.
Legislator Saidhai Tahovecahe of the Rukai people urged Taiwan’s higher education institutions to fully integrate Indigenous perspectives into national policy frameworks. Scholars and practitioners further reinforced that call for structural reform. Prof. Chun-Hung Chen of Soochow University spotlighted the need to recognize Indigenous knowledge sovereignty through institutional redesign. Drawing on experiences from New Zealand and North America, Profs. Bavaragh Dagalomai (Jolan Hsieh) and Yi-Tze Lee of National Dong Hwa University emphasized the need for cultural immersion, community partnership, and the need to address systemic inequality and historical trauma.
Members of the Indigenous Student Anti-Discrimination Action Group shared their firsthand experiences and reflections and offered recommendations for the path forward. Their proposals included formal Indigenous representation in university decision-making, the establishment of a Committee on Indigenous Discrimination, comprehensive campus-wide cultural sensitivity training, and the creation of an NTU Land Acknowledgement Statement to honor Indigenous lands and heritage.
The forum is widely regarded as a significant milestone along NTU’s equity journey—signaling a transformation from awareness to accountability. As Taiwan’s leading university, NTU is called upon to fashion a model of higher education environment where Indigenous rights are recognized as fundamental human rights, and where Indigenous faculty, staff, and students are valued as essential contributors to the university’s intellectual and cultural vitality.
The forum participants (Group photo)
The moderator presenting opening remarks -- “Addressing Discrimination in Higher Education”
Forum stretching session before the afternoon program.
Q&A Session on “University Responsibilities under the National Indigenous Education Policy.”
Panel discussion on “Current Practices and Future Prospects for Ethnic Equity.”
