On Thursday, May 8, 2025, students from Taipei Municipal Zhong Lun High School (Taipei, Taiwan) and Madrasah Mu’allimaat Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) came together for a vibrant, one-hour online exchange program. Held from 9:10 to 10:10 AM Taiwan Time (8:10 to 9:10 AM Yogyakarta Time), the event brought youth from two cultures into meaningful conversation about global issues, education, and everyday life.The participants in this program include 32 students from Zhong Lun and 45 from Mu’allimaat, as for the teachers, there were 4 teachers from Zhong Lun and 4 teachers from Mu’allimaat participated during the program.
The program opened with a series of warm welcome remarks by the leaders. Bima Aoron, Manager of the Taiwan Education Center Indonesia in Yogyakarta (TEC), and Dinda Andriandita, Assistant Manager of TEC, organized and moderated the event. They set the stage for the day’s discussions, outlining the goals of the exchange and emphasizing the importance of international exposures.
Before the principals took the stage, the Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) in Indonesia delivered an opening remark, acknowledging the significance of educational exchanges and fostering stronger ties between Taiwan and Indonesia.
Following this, Mr. Wu Ming-Shiang, Principal of Taipei Municipal Zhong Lun High School, and Ms. Unik Rasyidah, Principal of Madrasah Mu’allimaat Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, both offered heartfelt welcome speeches. They expressed their enthusiasm for the ongoing collaboration and the valuable opportunity this program offered for students to engage with peers from another culture. The host moderator then introduced the session’s agenda, followed by a group photo capturing the excitement of all participants.
The heart of the program was the group discussion session, where students were divided into six breakout rooms. Each group explored a specific theme:
- Technology-enhanced Education
- Technology for Recreation
- Sustainable Practices on Campus
- Green Living in Cities
- Urban Lifestyle
- Culture Exchange Experience
In each room, a student from Taipei Municipal Zhong Lun High School presented their views on the topic, followed by a 10-minute open discussion. Then, a student from Mu’allimaat gave their own presentation, sparking another round of group dialogue. These sessions offered students a rare opportunity to compare experiences, learn about different cultural approaches, and explore shared challenges in education, sustainability, and modern life.
The event concluded with a short closing session, featuring personal reflections from two student representatives: Mimi from Taipei Municipal Zhong Lun High School and Mozadya Al Habsyi from Madrasah Mu’allimaat Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. Both students shared what they enjoyed and learned during the exchange, emphasizing how much they valued hearing different perspectives and engaging in open dialogue.
Approaching the end of the agenda, the final remarks were delivered by Principal Wu Ming-Shiang and Principal Unik Rasyidah, both commending their students’ curiosity, confidence, and respectful engagement. A final group photo and the moderator’s concluding words officially brought the exchange to a close.
