Brief Introduction to the College Founded in 2001, the College of Indigenous Studies is committed to cultivating indigenous talents in higher education, building an indigenous knowledge system, and promoting the sustainable development of indigenous peoples in Taiwan. The College has established the Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultures, the Department of Indigenous Languages and Communication, the Department of Indigenous Affairs and Development, the Undergraduate Program of Indigenous Social Work, and the Undergraduate Program of Indigenous Performance and Arts. All CIS departments (including M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. programs) and academic programs pay special attention to the cultivation of indigenous language and cultural literacy, interdisciplinary learning, and the development of knowledge elites with multicultural perspectives and practical skills.

History of the College

Since the establishment of National Dong Hwa University on July 1, 1994, the development of its unique characteristics of has been the long-term goal. As the eastern part of Taiwan, especially Hualien and Taitung, is the main area where indigenous peoples live, the diverse cultures and arts are the local cultural heritage that the University needs most. In view of this, the University established the Institute of Ethnic Relations and Cultures at the beginning of its establishment. Then, with great support from many important people, such as Minister Chao-Hsiang Yang (Ministry of Education), Minister Tjaravak Kadrangian (Council of Indigenous Peoples), and Director Sra Kacaw (Education and Culture Department of the Council of Indigenous Peoples), etc., Taiwan's first College of Indigenous Studies was established. The history and major events of the College are briefly described below：

On December 18, 1997, with the support of the Council of Indigenous Peoples of the Executive Yuan, a contract was signed to establish the "Provisional Office of the College of Indigenous Studies" to strengthen the promotion of continuing education in indigenous cultures.

On August 13, 1999, Minister Yang and Minister Tjaravak Kadrangian came to the University to listen to the briefing and to evaluate the feasibility of establishing the College. They were accompanied by Hualien County Magistrate Ching-Feng Wang, Jen-Fu Yang (Member of the Legislative Yuan) and others. After listening to the presentation by Dr. Paul Tzung-Tsann Mu (President of the University), Minister Yang immediately expressed optimism and promised full support.

On February 21, 2000, the Ministry of Education held the "Joint Conference on the Promotion of Indigenous Education" and announced that the NDHU College of Indigenous Studies would begin recruiting students from academic year 2001/2002, and officially approved the establishment of the College on April 27, 2000.

On November 25, 2000, Minister Yohani Isqaqavut of the Council of Indigenous Peoples and Dr. Mu, President of the University, jointly hosted the opening ceremony of the Provisional Office of the College of Indigenous Studies and actively began the preparatory work for the establishment of the College.

On August 1, 2001, the “College of Indigenous Studies” was officially established to meet the needs of the development of indigenous peoples and the overall construction of the country, and to establish the characteristics of the University’s academic development.