The Service-Learning Center at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) held its 2026 Service-Learning Team Flag Presentation Ceremony on June 24, marking the departure of 27 student volunteers who will serve in Matsu, Taoyuan, Thailand, and Cambodia. Through educational outreach, cultural exchange, and community engagement, the students will apply their academic expertise to address local needs while putting CYCU’s philosophy of holistic education into practice. Earlier this year, CYCU’s overseas service-learning team was recommended by Taiwan’s Youth Development Administration, Ministry of Education, to share its volunteer experiences with President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential Office, recognizing the students’ contributions to international service and social responsibility.
Since establishing its Service-Learning Center in 2007, CYCU has promoted service learning under the principles of holistic education and care for others. Through academic courses, volunteer service, and international engagement, the University encourages students to transform their professional knowledge into meaningful social action. To date, more than 10,000 student volunteers have participated in CYCU’s service-learning programs, reflecting nearly two decades of commitment to social responsibility and experiential education.
The flag presentation ceremony was held at Jui-Li Hall in the Holistic Education Village. Chaplain Ma Yu-Hui offered prayers for the teams’ safety and success, while Vice President for Student Affairs Chou Yu-Chi encouraged students to apply their academic expertise in both local and international communities, emphasizing learning through service and growth through action. During the ceremony, representatives of the 2025 service-learning teams passed symbolic tokens representing the courage to grow, cultural interpretation, the hope of education, and bridges of learning to the 2026 teams, signifying the continuation of CYCU’s service-learning tradition and inspiring the next generation to carry its spirit forward.
This year, CYCU’s four service-learning teams have designed projects tailored to the needs of different communities, covering cultural preservation, environmental education, and language learning while demonstrating how academic expertise can be integrated with social engagement. In Matsu’s Beigan Township, the Editorial Team will organize AI-powered co-creation workshops and conduct oral history interviews with senior residents to preserve local cultural heritage through digital technology. The Seed Team will host a summer camp for children of new immigrant families, using cultural and environmental education activities to help participants build cultural identity and self-confidence. The Thailand Overseas Volunteer Team will conduct a Chinese-language summer camp at a school on the Thai–Myanmar border, integrating cultural elements into language instruction to enhance students’ interest in learning Mandarin. Meanwhile, the Cambodia Overseas Volunteer Team will collaborate with a local non-governmental organization (NGO) in Siem Reap to offer English workshops and children’s language camps, helping local youth develop language skills and broaden future opportunities.
Lin Ting-Wei, a junior in the Department of Chemistry who serves on both the Editorial Team and the Cambodia Overseas Volunteer Team, reflected on his personal growth through service learning. From feeling shy and uncertain when he first joined the program as a freshman, he has grown into a student leader capable of leading teams, conducting interviews, hosting events, and participating in international volunteer service. “Service learning is not only about helping others,” Lin said. “It is also a journey of discovering myself and continuing to grow.” He added that he looks forward to learning alongside his teammates while making a meaningful impact through service.
Vice President for Student Affairs Chou Yu-Chi emphasized that service learning is more than an extension of classroom education—it is a vital platform for cultivating young people’s sense of social responsibility and global citizenship. She encouraged students to apply their professional knowledge, interdisciplinary skills, and compassion in responding to local needs and engaging in international service. Through these experiences, students not only embody CYCU’s commitment to holistic education and service learning, but also develop into globally minded leaders who create a positive and lasting impact on society.
