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Principal Yang Hsiao-mei leads Gongliao Elementary School in promoting international education, empowering rural students to confidently engage with the world.(Photo courtesy of Yang Hsiao-mei.)

(Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network/By Yang Hsiao-Mei)

When I first arrived in Taiwan in November 1979, I was filled with uncertainty about what lay ahead. I never imagined that this island would become the place where I would study, build my career, marry, and raise a family. Looking back, I realize that family background, cultural differences, and financial hardship often create invisible barriers for children. These experiences inspired me to devote myself to education and become a bridge, helping every child overcome limitations and pursue their dreams with confidence.

International education is more than a global trend—it is the commitment that has guided my work as an educator. Children in rural communities need more than classroom knowledge; they need opportunities to see the world. Taiwan's International Education 2.0 White Paper, promoted by the Ministry of Education, aims to cultivate globally minded citizens while creating more opportunities for rural students and second-generation immigrant children. To me, international education connects local values with global perspectives and helps every child discover their own potential. In the 2023 academic year, I became principal of Gongliao Elementary School, a school with only 26 students. We introduced bilingual maps, multilingual signs, and an international learning environment to broaden students' horizons. More importantly, I believe that genuine international education comes not from language lessons alone, but from meaningful encounters between people.

The seeds of dreams are planted through authentic cross-cultural encounters. In 2021, Gongliao Elementary School established sister-school partnerships with Rapids Landing Primary School and Margaret River Senior High School in Australia. At first, our exchanges were limited to online activities because of distance. Everything changed when Australian principals, teachers, and students visited Gongliao on October 31, 2022. I watched children who were usually shy confidently teach their Australian friends how to play the Chinese yo-yo and enjoy activities together on the playground. Their confidence grew remarkably in just one day. Simply knowing that they had friends in another country encouraged them to dream bigger. Our international partnerships later expanded through the Taiwan International Youth Exchange Association, which invited high school students from Utah, United States, to visit our school. Together they played soccer, shared stories about their daily lives, while our students proudly introduced local plants found on campus. These exchanges helped our children become comfortable communicating with people from different cultures and transformed Gongliao Elementary School into an open and inclusive international learning community.

High school students from Utah, USA, visited Gongliao Elementary School for campus tours, cultural exchange, and student interaction. (Photo courtesy of Principal Yang Hsiao-Mei, Gongliao Elementary School)

True global competence begins with understanding who we are and where we come from. As Taiwan's first principal with a new immigrant background, I have always dreamed of taking rural students beyond Taiwan to experience the world firsthand. For second-generation immigrant students, these journeys also provide an opportunity to reconnect with their family roots and cultural heritage. This dream became reality thanks to the support of the Yu Rong-Ji Education Foundation. In March 2025, Executive Director Shen Chung-Yuan fully supported our plan to take students "back to their homeland to learn." In May 2025, I led teachers, parents, and students to Hanoi, Vietnam, where we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nguyen Tat Thanh Primary School and began a new chapter of educational cooperation. After months of cultural preparation, our students confidently introduced themselves using English and basic Vietnamese. One student, Heng-Yu, shared that although he felt nervous at first, encouragement from his Vietnamese partner gave him the confidence to introduce the Satoyama–Satoumi ecosystem of his hometown using English and gestures. The experience made him realize that connecting with the world was not as difficult as he had imagined.

Leading students through these two successful international exchange programs strengthened my belief that education is not simply about helping children leave the classroom—it is about giving them the courage to embrace the world. This achievement was made possible through the combined support of the Ministry of Education, education authorities, local businesses, and parents. Through international education, Gongliao's children have become active participants in global connections rather than passive learners. Watching them explore the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay and build friendships with students from other countries convinced me that the boundaries surrounding rural education are gradually disappearing. As principal, I will continue promoting international education so that our children remain deeply connected to their homeland while confidently engaging with the wider world. Helping them value their roots and communicate with the world with confidence is the greatest promise I can make—and the most meaningful vision of my journey in education.

Students from Gongliao Elementary School visited local markets during their exchange program in Vietnam to experience the local culture. (Photo courtesy of Principal Yang Hsiao-Mei, Gongliao Elementary School)