Grand Opening of the 2025 World Festival : 25 International Food Stalls Take You Around the World
Date :
2025-05-26
Department :
Office of International Cooperation (OIC)
【Article by OIC】
The two-day World Carnival was held with great fanfare from May 13 to 14. The event opened with a dynamic and creative performance titled “The Rhythm of Shijian” by the drum team of Shijian Elementary School, Taipei. The resounding drumbeats set an energetic tone for the celebration. This year’s Global Food Bazaar featured 25 food stalls representing diverse cultures such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Turkey, drawing large crowds of students and faculty eager to sample the international cuisines.
In his opening remarks, NCCU President Li Tsai-Yen highlighted that this is the 18th year of the World Carnival, which has become one of the university’s signature international events. “We are grateful for today’s beautiful weather after days of rain, which allows us to gather on campus and explore the world through food and culture,” he said.
He also emphasized NCCU’s achievements in internationalization, noting the university's high ratio of international students and faculty, and an exchange program with more spots than applicants. He encouraged students to take EMI (English-Medium Instruction) courses and participate in international exchange programs to strengthen their language skills and cross-cultural competence. “We hope NCCU students can shine not only in Taiwan but also globally, contributing their talents to the world,” he added.
Deputy Director Wei Shu-Chuan of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao, Inner Mongolia, and Tibet Affairs at the Mainland Affairs Council also delivered a speech. She expressed appreciation for NCCU’s longstanding support for students from Hong Kong and Macao and encouraged them to actively engage in campus activities to broaden their horizons and build networks. She also mentioned that the government has been developing supportive policies, including career counseling events, to help Hong Kong and Macao students pursue career development in Taiwan after graduation.
This year’s booths were rich in creativity and diverse in themes. The Myanmar Student Association, in collaboration with the Chinese Language Education Service Team of Myanmar, set up a charity stall selling handmade cookies and coffee gift boxes. All proceeds were donated to support water resource reconstruction in earthquake-affected areas, sharing care and compassion through action.
Students from Palau participated for the first time, offering a unique creation—Palauan Sushi, a fusion of Hawaiian and Japanese styles. Business Administration student Masch explained, “Palauan sushi is inspired by Hawaiian and Japanese traditions, with a local twist. We hope this dish helps more people learn about Palauan food culture.”
Lei Ching-Han, a senior majoring in Diplomacy, presented homemade cassava cheese bread and beef empanadas from her native Paraguay. The aromatic treats, crispy on the outside and chewy inside, sold out shortly after the event began. “Paraguayan cuisine is mainly based on flour and bread rather than rice. Since there are no Paraguayan restaurants in Taipei, I wanted to share these childhood favorites with everyone,” she said.
The Vietnamese Student Association launched their booth under the theme “Viet Wow!”, marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification. They offered three iconic dishes: Vietnamese baguettes, fresh spring rolls, and salted coffee, which drew long lines of students and faculty. Nguyen Bac Hinh, a graduate student in the Institute of Technology Management and Intellectual Property and vice president of the association, said, “Through this event, we hope more people can appreciate the diversity and cultural pride of Vietnam.”
President Li also personally visited each booth, chatting warmly with students from different countries, learning about their culinary stories, cultural backgrounds, and preparation efforts. The atmosphere was vibrant and heartwarming. He concluded that the World Carnival not only showcases NCCU students’ respect and enthusiasm for multiculturalism but also represents the university’s continued commitment to promoting international exchange and celebrating the fruits of its efforts.
The 2025 NCCU Food Carnival came to a spectacular close on May 14, kicking off with an energetic performance by the Indonesian student group Fourever, who delivered a dynamic K-pop medley, followed by a traditional dance presented by students from the Turkish Language and Culture Department. The atmosphere was festive and full of excitement.
One of the most anticipated moments—the Best Booth Awards—was also announced during the event. Evaluated by a panel of judges based on food flavor, booth design, and overall presentation, this year’s first prize went to the Thai Students Association’s booth “泰忙了”, followed by Indonesia’s booth “印尼爽爽點”, the booth of Vietnamese Student Association, and Malaysia’s booth “Oi 打包！” taking second through fourth places respectively.
In her speech, NCCU Associate Vice President for International Cooperation, Dr. Jhih-Syuan(Elain) Lin, expressed gratitude to all faculty and students for their enthusiastic participation. She encouraged everyone to make the most of the beautiful weather by visiting booths and sampling international delicacies. With a campus enriched by students and faculty from all over the world, she emphasized that this was a rare opportunity to explore global cultures—starting from the taste buds—and reminded everyone to "support them generously with your NT dollars!"
The carnival concluded with a heartwarming performance by Baya（小林航）, a multilingual (Chinese, English, and Japanese) NCCU alumna and current professional singer. His warm and powerful voice brought the event to a touching close, as students and faculty, regardless of age or nationality, swayed together under the early summer sun—ending the celebration on a perfect note.
The two-day World Carnival was held with great fanfare from May 13 to 14. The event opened with a dynamic and creative performance titled “The Rhythm of Shijian” by the drum team of Shijian Elementary School, Taipei. The resounding drumbeats set an energetic tone for the celebration. This year’s Global Food Bazaar featured 25 food stalls representing diverse cultures such as Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Turkey, drawing large crowds of students and faculty eager to sample the international cuisines.
In his opening remarks, NCCU President Li Tsai-Yen highlighted that this is the 18th year of the World Carnival, which has become one of the university’s signature international events. “We are grateful for today’s beautiful weather after days of rain, which allows us to gather on campus and explore the world through food and culture,” he said.
He also emphasized NCCU’s achievements in internationalization, noting the university's high ratio of international students and faculty, and an exchange program with more spots than applicants. He encouraged students to take EMI (English-Medium Instruction) courses and participate in international exchange programs to strengthen their language skills and cross-cultural competence. “We hope NCCU students can shine not only in Taiwan but also globally, contributing their talents to the world,” he added.
Deputy Director Wei Shu-Chuan of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao, Inner Mongolia, and Tibet Affairs at the Mainland Affairs Council also delivered a speech. She expressed appreciation for NCCU’s longstanding support for students from Hong Kong and Macao and encouraged them to actively engage in campus activities to broaden their horizons and build networks. She also mentioned that the government has been developing supportive policies, including career counseling events, to help Hong Kong and Macao students pursue career development in Taiwan after graduation.
This year’s booths were rich in creativity and diverse in themes. The Myanmar Student Association, in collaboration with the Chinese Language Education Service Team of Myanmar, set up a charity stall selling handmade cookies and coffee gift boxes. All proceeds were donated to support water resource reconstruction in earthquake-affected areas, sharing care and compassion through action.
Students from Palau participated for the first time, offering a unique creation—Palauan Sushi, a fusion of Hawaiian and Japanese styles. Business Administration student Masch explained, “Palauan sushi is inspired by Hawaiian and Japanese traditions, with a local twist. We hope this dish helps more people learn about Palauan food culture.”
Lei Ching-Han, a senior majoring in Diplomacy, presented homemade cassava cheese bread and beef empanadas from her native Paraguay. The aromatic treats, crispy on the outside and chewy inside, sold out shortly after the event began. “Paraguayan cuisine is mainly based on flour and bread rather than rice. Since there are no Paraguayan restaurants in Taipei, I wanted to share these childhood favorites with everyone,” she said.
The Vietnamese Student Association launched their booth under the theme “Viet Wow!”, marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification. They offered three iconic dishes: Vietnamese baguettes, fresh spring rolls, and salted coffee, which drew long lines of students and faculty. Nguyen Bac Hinh, a graduate student in the Institute of Technology Management and Intellectual Property and vice president of the association, said, “Through this event, we hope more people can appreciate the diversity and cultural pride of Vietnam.”
President Li also personally visited each booth, chatting warmly with students from different countries, learning about their culinary stories, cultural backgrounds, and preparation efforts. The atmosphere was vibrant and heartwarming. He concluded that the World Carnival not only showcases NCCU students’ respect and enthusiasm for multiculturalism but also represents the university’s continued commitment to promoting international exchange and celebrating the fruits of its efforts.
The 2025 NCCU Food Carnival came to a spectacular close on May 14, kicking off with an energetic performance by the Indonesian student group Fourever, who delivered a dynamic K-pop medley, followed by a traditional dance presented by students from the Turkish Language and Culture Department. The atmosphere was festive and full of excitement.
One of the most anticipated moments—the Best Booth Awards—was also announced during the event. Evaluated by a panel of judges based on food flavor, booth design, and overall presentation, this year’s first prize went to the Thai Students Association’s booth “泰忙了”, followed by Indonesia’s booth “印尼爽爽點”, the booth of Vietnamese Student Association, and Malaysia’s booth “Oi 打包！” taking second through fourth places respectively.
In her speech, NCCU Associate Vice President for International Cooperation, Dr. Jhih-Syuan(Elain) Lin, expressed gratitude to all faculty and students for their enthusiastic participation. She encouraged everyone to make the most of the beautiful weather by visiting booths and sampling international delicacies. With a campus enriched by students and faculty from all over the world, she emphasized that this was a rare opportunity to explore global cultures—starting from the taste buds—and reminded everyone to "support them generously with your NT dollars!"
The carnival concluded with a heartwarming performance by Baya（小林航）, a multilingual (Chinese, English, and Japanese) NCCU alumna and current professional singer. His warm and powerful voice brought the event to a touching close, as students and faculty, regardless of age or nationality, swayed together under the early summer sun—ending the celebration on a perfect note.