●Introduction●

Established in 2001, The Department of Indigenous Languages and Communication aims to educate

students with the talent of language preservation and the skill of audio-visual communication, in

order to revitalize the cultural heritage of indigenous nations in Taiwan. 

According to Robert Blust, the Formosan languages form nine of the ten primary branches of the

Austronesia language family; therefore, Taiwan's indigenous language is the most important part of

the Austronesia languages which are widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and

the Pacific. Recently, most of the Formosan languages are seriously diminishing due to the process of

colonial domination and cultural assimilation. Many linguists urge to preserve Taiwan's indigenous

language and the creation of the department is thus to meet the urgent needs for the revitalization of

indigenous language and culture. 

The department is committed to providing quality education that is relevant to indigenous linguistics

and communication, for enabling students to participate the language preservation and leading to

further opportunities engaging in the future development of indigenous society. 

●Development and Career●

1. Cultivate ethnic language and communication professionals based on the needs of indigenous

　development, in accordance with the national and indigenous needs.

2. Train and enhance students’ proficiency in indigenous listening, speaking, reading, and writing

　skills, and to cultivate students who will have deeper knowledge in disseminating culture and ability

　to use mass media. Through the thorough and multicultural course training, students will have a

　certain level of professional competence in indigenous cultures and media applications.  

3. Provide students with various learning resources based on the school’s course programs, so they

　are able to develop their own specialty and professional competence, becoming a multifaceted

　professional.

4. Provide students with different course programs or minors, in order that the graduates from our

　department may choose to return and serve their villages, complementing the purposes of local

　culture inheritance and employment security.

5. Manage the multifaceted development in traditional language conservation and future

　communication, so the graduates are expected to apply what they have learned, reserving the

　communication professionals in the ethnic language-oriented broadcast, television programs and

　channels. 

●Characteristics●

　Compared to other universities, our department has the additional resources:

1. Provide professional training in four course programs including language, literature, communication,

　and ethnic development.

2. Offer indigenous language courses and oral training.

3. Establish multimedia labs and have two divisions: broadcast and television. To provide students with

　more opportunities in practicing the use of multimedia and to increase their experiences for future

　career, broadcasting team collaborates and produces programs with the local broadcasting station

　in Hualien, and the television team documents the cultural rise and fall, social changes, and the

　stories of the youth in villages.   

4. Provide students with multifaceted learning opportunities and environment in accordance with the

　course program system of the college and school.