International College of Innovation | National Chengchi University

On November 24, 2025, the International College of Innovation (ICI) hosted the “USR Joint Proposal Showcase Day” at the International Building. This collaborative event brought together students and faculty from five distinct courses—Sustainable Business Strategy, Resistance in Theory and Practice, Sustainable Development and Urban Politics, Global Civil Movements, and Capstone: Migration Studies—to exchange project findings and foster social awareness under the umbrella of the University Social Responsibility (USR) project. From Awareness to Action: Student Project Highlights The showcase began with an innovative ice-breaker where students presented meaningful objects related to their research. A student from Turkey, enrolled in the Resistance course, shared a traditional prayer book linked to the Dervish resistance movements of Caucasus-Kurdistan history, setting a tone of deep cultural and historical inquiry. Following the introductions, students organized into cross-disciplinary groups to present their semester-long projects. Students from the Capstone: Migration Studies course, including international student Rico Samuel, promoted “From Awareness to Action.” This project is designed as an instructional camp for high school students to foster empathy and critical thinking regarding the challenges faced by migrant workers in Taiwan. Another team from the Resistance in Theory and Practice course presented a collective historical fiction novel. Their stories spanned hundreds of years and multiple continents, from Southeast Asia to South America, connecting global narratives of revolution and defiance through creative storytelling. Students from the Sustainable Business Strategy course, presented research on the Wanhua district, highlighting environmental concerns and local social issues. A Taste of Regional Revitalization The event concluded with a social gathering featuring locally sourced food and drinks from Taipei’s Wanhua district. This was not merely a catering choice but a deliberate extension of the USR project’s focus on regional revitalization. By enjoying refreshments from Wanhua, students transitioned from academic presentations to a “hands-on” experience of supporting the local economy and community identity they had studied in the classroom. Student Reflections The exchange left a lasting impression on participants, who valued the opportunity to see how different academic lenses can be applied to real-world community issues. Julian, a student from the Resistance in Theory and Practice course, was moved by the practical application of the research. “It’s interesting to see the other USR courses; they had spent the semester devising projects that target the community actively. Hearing about their fieldwork of meeting the locals about their issues was very eye-opening,” he shared. Vanessa, also from the Resistance course, highlighted the importance of the Wanhua and Migration projects. “I was honestly really excited about seeing everyone’s projects. Some really stood out to me, especially the ones that focused on certain local issues. One class studied the issues in the Wanhua area, like environmental problems and even inconveniences like bad smells, which I thought was important to raise more awareness about. Another project talked about migrant workers and the struggles they face regarding permanent residency or protesting for change.” The ICI USR Joint Proposal Showcase Day successfully provided a platform for international and local students to engage with the social fabric of Taiwan, proving that academic learning is most powerful when it moves beyond the classroom and into the community. For further information on the Inclusive Innovation USR Project: https://nccu-immigrants-digital-marketing.weebly.com/

A two-day camp organized at National Chengchi University by students of the Capstone course: Migration Studies, offered by the International College of Innovation, aimed to raise awareness among high school students about the situation of migrant workers. The program included interactive activities, a film screening, food tastings, and participation in a peaceful march. These activities prompted high school students to rethink migration and labor in Taiwan. Taipei, December 6–7, National Chengchi University (NCCU) students from the Capstone: Migration Studies course, taught by Professor Tzu-Chi Ou, organized a two-day educational camp to promote understanding and awareness of migrant worker communities in Taiwan. NCCU Awareness to Action Workshop was designed for local high school students, and offered a series of immersive and interactive activities — including a film screening, discussions, games, food booths, and a parade — to deepen participants’ knowledge of migrant workers’ daily realities, working conditions, and vital contribution to Taiwanese society. On Saturday, participants took part in interactive roundtables where they established a baseline of existing knowledge, addressed existing bias, and shared insights into the cultural climate. They also did quizzes and fun knowledge-based activities, creating a dynamic environment for peer learning. A tasting of Myanmar cuisine provided cultural immersion before the afternoon film screening. The high school students had the opportunity to watch the film 飛機飛過的時候 — When the Plane Passes By (2025), a short documentary that highlights the lives of four pregnant migrant women living in a shelter for vulnerable migrants in Taiwan. The film sheds light on often-invisible realities: dismissals or pressure after announcing a pregnancy, forced job changes, uncertainties linked to shelter life, isolation, and the challenges of balancing work, motherhood, and financial stability, especially for foreign workers. It therefore addresses the issues of reproductive rights and dignity for migrant women workers. The screening was followed by a Q&A session with Ms. Lina Lin and Ms. Chen, who were staff members of the Serve the People Association. Students were able to ask Ms. Lina Lin directly about the living and working conditions of these women, particularly the difficulties they faced throughout their journeys. This exchange fostered learning through testimony and created a space for dialogue among the students. This day was therefore marked by an introduction to the topic of migrant workers, not only through factual knowledge but also through a sensory experience: tasting unfamiliar dishes, watching powerful images of a migrant’s daily life, and listening to authentic stories. On Sunday, students participated in a role-play simulation aimed at deepening their understanding of migrant workers’ living and working conditions. Lunch featured Indonesian food, and the day concluded with collective participation in a public march advocating against the work-year limit, reinforcing the workshop’s commitment to social engagement. This march was one of the major events of this weekend. On the morning of the parade, the high school students were asked to draw words or illustrations of their choice on water bottles to convey a message. The goal was to give these bottles to migrant workers during the Sunday afternoon parade. Leo (a high school student) explained that “I wrote in Indonesian and Chinese to cheer up the migrants, because they are hardworking and they are suffering a lot of things in Taiwan. So I just want to cheer them up, and tell them to keep going.” Cody (a high school student) also explained what he wrote on his bottle: “I write to abolish the work year limit and that they have to stay here now because it’s their home.” Indeed, in Taiwan, blue-collar migrant workers are generally restricted to a maximum of 12 years of cumulative employment in the country, while caregivers can work for up to 14 years under specific criteria. This limit has prompted protests, with migrant workers and advocacy groups demanding its abolition, arguing that it disrupts livelihoods and fails to recognize the skills and contributions of experienced workers. Nina (a high school student) described her drawing : “There is a whale and a twelve for the 12-year work limit. And there is the word freedom and some chains. There are also some eagles for freedom. The whale means you can swim wherever you want to go, so it’s like freedom. The message is to let them (migrant workers) have choices.” The parade was a significant political event that sparked discussions about the movement’s impact and about mobilizations more broadly; prompting questions about the form these gatherings should take. Leo (a high school student) shared his point of view of protests in Taiwan during the migrant workers parade: “There are sometimes parades in Taiwan, like for the migrants, and LGBTQ and stray animals, and also on nuclear. (…) But it’s never violent. The cops are here to protect us.” Alex (a high school student) was asked a question about how useful a peaceful protest is. “Here, people basically just yell. And the government will still do nothing about it, because we don’t really hurt them. They (the protesters) know they can do something more aggressive, but they will still not do it, because for them this is what a protest is. I have no idea why Asian people protesters are like this, the government will do nothing. We just walk and yell.” He then explained that even though Taiwan is a democracy, the protests were often misrepresented in the media to discourage citizens from protesting. Overall, the march really had an impact on how the participants perceive the resistance for migrant’s rights. Gus (a member from the administration team) explained “I feel like no one received money for being in the parade, but they are still here to fight against the issues, especially the work year limit, so it’s essential to fight against this system, and I feel like I understand more the stakes.” Leo (a high school student) shared a personal moment of his by telling the other participants : “When I handed out the bottle to the migrant worker, I looked into his eyes, and I felt like he was really grateful. We can not do much, but we are doing our best to show them that we care about them.” Then Emilia, a member from the planning team, answered, “I believe that for Taiwanese people, simply showing up is already a support, and it’s also a signal to the public that it’s not only migrant workers who stand with them, but Taiwanese citizens as well.” The December 6–7 workshop, led by Capstone Migration Studies students, successfully brought together ten high schools for an immersive and educational experience. Nina (a high school student) explained what she thought about the whole workshop, “It’s really good to understand more about the migrants because I didn’t really know anything about that before. I will now think about the problems they are facing and their work environment.” Another high school student named Fufu shared her feelings, “I think it’s great, because I never joined something like this, it’s the first time. I will try to get to know them (migrant workers) more now.” The effectiveness of the event is reflected in the unanimously positive feedback from the high school participants : “At first, I was actually scared, but I found that I could understand it more or less, and slowly integrated into it. “Migrant workers” is a voice that we see almost every day, but we always ignore their voices. Today, in addition to giving me a very special experience, it also let me know that we think it is a comfortable living environment, but it is actually a lot of sacrifice” (from an anonymous participant). Students actively took part in all activities, strengthened their English skills, built new friendships, and enriched their personal perspectives through shared knowledge and experience. The atmosphere throughout the weekend was supportive, dynamic, and fun, allowing students to learn and discover with confidence. This workshop not only raised awareness on the realities faced by migrant workers but also paved the way for greater interest in the future. Following the success of this event, the USR team and invited guests plan to build on this momentum by continuing to develop educational activities and outreach initiatives with participating high schools, while maintaining close contact with filmmakers and guest speakers to organize future screenings and discussions. They also aim to explore opportunities to expand the camp into a recurring program that can reach additional schools and communities. Finally, the team hopes to encourage participating students to stay engaged through follow-up projects or youth-led initiatives that promote migrant rights. This event marks a meaningful step toward building a more informed and engaged youth community committed to understanding and supporting migrant workers.

Organized by the International College of Innovation USR Project in collaboration with the Serve the People Association (SPA), the screening of the documentary Lina followed by a director Q&A took place on November 7th in the General Building. Director Ms. Chen 陳曉雯導演 attended and guided the audience through Lina’s story — an Indonesian counselor at a migrant shelter who once sought refuge there herself. The event combined a film screening and post-screening discussion to deepen understanding of the structural and personal challenges migrant workers face in Taiwan, including abusive labor conditions, sexual harassment, employer retaliation, and pregnancy discrimination.   陳曉雯導演’ Remarks — Director Q&A   On filming intention and how the story evolved Chen explained that she first met Lina in 2014, when Lina was a trafficking victim receiving aid at a shelter. Chen explained that most shelters in Taiwan are operated by religious organizations, and NGOs like SPA must navigate complex application processes to secure government funding for room and board. While the original project was intended to document the shelter itself, Lina’s personal trajectory, which took her from victim to staff member and eventually to advocate, naturally became the film’s central focus. As Chen put it: “We used Lina as our main character, but through Lina, we can gain insight into the ongoing conversations and the sexual harassment cases that are happening.” She emphasized that many of the film’s core themes emerged organically during production rather than being predetermined. She also confirmed that the filmmakers obtained consent to film Lina and her family life.   On intuitive filming and capturing intimate moments When asked how she captured the poignant closing scene of Lina and her son on the motorbike, Chen described relying on atmosphere and intuition rather than clear audio: “The wind was so strong I couldn’t even hear the conversation. A mini-microphone was attached to Lina, so the moment was more felt than heard.” She added that many meaningful moments occurred en route to filming locations, such as in the taxi. Even when she did not understand Indonesian, Chen said she read body language and used her intuition to decide when to film, later shaping those moments in the edit. On systemic pressures facing migrant workers: placement fees and job changes Chen provided context on the structural issues depicted in the film. She explained that high job placement fees have increased since a 2016 policy change that allowed migrant workers to change employers without leaving Taiwan. In response, some agencies began charging large fees to profit from job transfers. Chen noted that these fees, combined with the difficulty of changing employers, deepen the precarity and debt burdens migrant workers face. On employer retaliation and stigma against pregnant workers The director shared that employer retaliation is not uncommon. In one severe case recounted during the Q&A, a worker with a job-related injury who was staying at a shelter was reported by their employer as “missing” and subsequently arrested. Chen explained that workers who seek shelter often face barriers to finding new employment because new employers assume there was a dispute with the previous employer. Pregnant migrant mothers face even greater stigma and sometimes hide their pregnancies to avoid being refused work. On legal recourse and challenges in the justice system Chen was candid about the limits of legal protection. She recounted a troubling case in which a judge dismissed a sexual assault claim by suggesting the repeated nature of the incidents implied consent. She stressed that courts and civil institutions often fail to fully recognize migrant workers’ debts and precarious situations, which hampers the equity of justice in Taiwan. On the director’s path to activism Chen described her own background in social movement work: she became involved in activism as a university student, later worked with labor unions after graduation, and eventually joined the founders of SPA. She emphasized that SPA’s goals extend beyond shelter provision to empowering migrant workers to organize and advocate for their rights, a long-term project that has already seen some success with the formation of a few migrant worker unions. The screening and discussion successfully used Lina as a lens to illuminate the everyday realities and systemic barriers faced by migrant workers in Taiwan. The event prompted reflection on social structures, legal protections, and the role of civil society in supporting vulnerable populations.