TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The New Taipei Tribal College held an opening ceremony to mark a new school semester on Wednesday.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said the university promotes cross-ethnic, cross-generational, and cross-national cultural courses, deepening multicultural education in Taiwan. The new school also aims to build partnerships with Austronesian heritage nations to expand cultural exchange networks and create a learning environment that blends tradition with innovation, CNA reported.

Marshall Islands Ambassador Anjanette Kattil said in a speech that she hopes her country and Taiwan can share their Indigenous cultures to foster friendship and deepen mutual understanding.

Deputy Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples Calivat Gadu highlighted the role of tribal colleges in fostering international cooperation and cultural exchange. He pointed out that the Austronesian language family includes over 1,300 languages, and archaeological and genetic research suggests that Taiwan is the origin of Austronesian peoples.

With a platform for lifelong learning and digital courses, Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples in urban areas can access traditional culture and emerging technologies, Gadu said.

According to New Taipei’s Indigenous Peoples Department, this year’s curriculum covers five major areas: Traditional Indigenous arts, ethnic culture, language education, industrial economy, and healthcare. Forty-five courses are offered across 17 districts in New Taipei City.

The tribal college focuses on “localized learning,” tailored to local conditions, according to the school website. This enables the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous traditional knowledge and tribal life within an urban context, it said.