A digital forum was held on July 16 to introduce "Cosmopolitan Webs and Dreams" — a cross-disciplinary exhibition nurtured by the research prowess of Taiwan's first university department dedicated to the field of Southeast Asian studies. The public exhibition addressing inequality and exploitation remains online through Aug. 15.

The collaboration among 4 colleges, 11 departments, 19 professors, and 37 guest instructors from National Chi Nan University (NCNU) culminated in 24 workshops and 60 fringe events. Moreover, 526 students participated in the program, producing 120 class records, 61 narrative accounts, and 753 sets of feedback. These student materials and course instructions were then curated for digital reviewing on the website https://paul-0703.mystrikingly.com/.

Titled "Cosmopolitan Webs and Dreams," the project website delves into three differently themed exhibitions that reflect the introspective thinking, creativity, and analytical skills of NCNU's Department of Southeast Asian Studies. The central theme "cosmopolitan" is taken from the text of "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent," a 1971 book by late Uruguayan journalist-poet Edwardo Galeano.

The NCNU project is part of a wider program called "Tango with Paulo," a Ministry of Education initiative on issue-oriented approaches to narrative competence and development across disciplines. The cooperative learning experience and team-building in face of global challenges and region-specific issues were the crowning achievements of the project inspired by the words of late Brazilian educator Paulo Freire: "An education that was not connected to the struggles for emancipation and against exploitation was not worthy of the label 'education.'"

NCNU is Taiwan's first university to dedicate a full department to Southeast Asian studies, explained President Dong-Sing Wuu (武東星). Taking Freire's philosophy to heart, instructors and students work together to find new solutions to erasing inequality, realizing peace, and upholding justice through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nations. The humanistic approach and social compassion upheld by the university will hopefully continue to unfurl through alumni networks and the communities they go on to create.

A total of 137 participants joined the online forum. A foreign language student surnamed Dai talked about curriculums that bridge multiple cultural groups; Hsiao, a Chinese language major, shared tour and exhibition designs; while Chang and Pan, both from Southeast Asian studies, respectively discussed promoting diversity through education and monitoring cultural trends.

The dialogue flying back and forth among students and professors also revealed an easy sense of camaraderie that drew admiration from members of the public who just "dropped by" to check out the online event.

Social work major Lei called it "deeply interdisciplinary" in terms of highlighting the intersection of ethnicities, languages, cultures, and academic systems. She also enjoys the community brought together by the project, noting that it was an opportunity to experience different facets and veins of society.

"Cosmopolitan Webs and Dreams" runs through Aug. 15 as an independent site (https://paul-0703.mystrikingly.com/) before becoming archived at the MOE's "Tango for Paulo" network (https://tangowithpaulo.weebly.com/).

Created Date

Sat, 07/24/2021 - 17:59

Image

WebLink

Read More

SDGs Category：

4.Quality Education