The Humboldt County Office of Education and the City of Chiayi, Taiwan Now Have a Cultural Exchange Agreement

HCOE’s Dr. Colby Smart with Taiwanese children. [Photo credit: Lin Bohua Photography]

A Taiwan-United States educational exchange has been created between the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) and the Chiayi City government. The cooperative exchange was achieved during an event and meeting at the Institute of Education at Chung Cheng University in Taiwan by HCOE Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Dr. Colby Smart. Dr. Smart was the keynote speaker at the event.

HCOE and the Chiayi city government’s letter of intent for cooperation. [Photo credit: Lin Bohua Photography]

The bilateral cooperation between elementary school students aims to jointly promote bilingual education with the two countries. Talks are in the works to have workshops to promote cultural exchange with students at least three times a year. Teachers and students from both sides will meet online to share with each other.

Chiayi staff and students pose for a photo on the occasion of Dr. Smart’s visit to Taiwan. [Photo credit: Lin Bohua Photography]

A “Memorandum of Understanding” between HCOE and the Chiayi, Taiwan city government was executed between Dr. Smart and mayor, Chiayi Huang Minhui and Chiayi city staff at a ceremony held this week. Minhui said that the educational program has the “absolute support” of all involved.

The HCOE-sponsored California -Taiwan Classroom Connect project will launch Tuesday, August 16th, via Zoom. The course is geared toward K-8 teachers. The session time was chosen because the times are mutually convenient for both locations; 4:30-6:00 p.m. The project is intended to foster a year-long connection between a local classroom and a counterpart in Chiayi. For participating local educators, academic credit was offered.

HCOE’s Dr. Colby Smart with Chiayi Mayor, Huang Minhui; 4. Chiayi staff and students pose for a photo on the occasion of Dr. Smart’s visit to Taiwan. [Photo credit: Lin Bohua Photography]

The international partnership began as a “sister school project” in 2020 between the Taiwanese Chiao Hsin school and Union Street Charter School. Classroom teachers emphasized students’ commonalities and shared humanity.