International House, Muslim Prayer Rooms on Campus Officially Open
NCUE is taking another step towards creating an international-friendly campus by establishing the International House (I-House), which was inaugurated on October 17, 2023. In addition to serving as the exclusive office for the Overseas Chinese Student Association (OCSA), an international student organization at NCUE, the I-House features Muslim prayer rooms and a simple kitchen. This allows Muslim students to perform their daily prayers and prepare halal meals, providing them with comfort for their studies and realizing NCUE's commitment to promoting multicultural care.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by President Ming-Fei Chen, Vice President Chien-Hui Lin, Dean Hon Man Lee of the International Office, Dean Chuan-Fu Keng of the Student Affairs Office, among other NCUE faculties and students.
President Chen mentioned in his speech that in recent years, with the declining birth rate and the government's New Southbound Policy, the number of students from Southeast Asia has continued to increase. They have shown excellent performance in school. President Chen hopes that more international students will choose NCUE for further studies and stay in Taiwan for employment after graduation, working together with Taiwanese locals for this land. Therefore, he expressed his support for the I-House and the allocation of funds.
The I-House is one of the two-story old faculty dependents' houses adjacent to the building of the Department of Chinese on the Jinde Campus. Its yellow and pink colors on the wall make the old house particularly striking. Besides housing the OCSA, the first floor includes two common areas, a simple kitchen, and a Wudu place, which enables Muslims to perform ablution before prayer. The second floor features two prayer rooms divided by gender, with directions to Mecca marked on the ceiling.
Muslims perform five daily prayers facing Mecca. Each prayer cycle includes making a conscious intention to pray, recitations of the Qur'an, and prostrations. Before praying, Muslims must perform ablutions, which is a ritual purification that involves washing the faces, hands, and feet under running water. In addition, the preparation of food should adhere to Islamic regulations. That's why the I-House is equipped with a simple kitchen for Muslim students to cook meals.
The long-anticipated I-House is now open. International Office Dean Lee expressed his gratitude to President Chen, Vice President Lin, and the General Affairs Office for their financial and technical support. Currently, NCUE has nearly 500 international students, with a significant number from Indonesia, second only to Malaysia. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population globally. Dean Lee stated that the establishment of the I-House is a result of NCUE's commitment to multiculturalism, and he looks forward to local teachers and students showing care for different cultures, integrating into this international campus, and igniting sparks of international exchange within the I-House.
Abizard Faraz Rauf, an Indonesian student at NCUE, was pleased to see teachers and students coming together to celebrate the opening of the I-House. It symbolizes the NCUE's commitment to fostering diversity and unity. He thanked everyone for creating a warm and welcoming environment for international students. He believes that the I-House not only serves as a place for personal reflection but also as a place to connect, share cultures, and ignite learning and growth for everyone, regardless of their country or background.
The I-House will make it more convenient for international students to organize events, share their experiences of studying and living in Taiwan, and discuss important matters in the future. Therefore, the OCSA greatly values this new, private, and quiet office space. They look forward to more international students joining this big family at NCUE with the establishment of the I-House.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by President Ming-Fei Chen, Vice President Chien-Hui Lin, Dean Hon Man Lee of the International Office, Dean Chuan-Fu Keng of the Student Affairs Office, among other NCUE faculties and students.
President Chen mentioned in his speech that in recent years, with the declining birth rate and the government's New Southbound Policy, the number of students from Southeast Asia has continued to increase. They have shown excellent performance in school. President Chen hopes that more international students will choose NCUE for further studies and stay in Taiwan for employment after graduation, working together with Taiwanese locals for this land. Therefore, he expressed his support for the I-House and the allocation of funds.
The I-House is one of the two-story old faculty dependents' houses adjacent to the building of the Department of Chinese on the Jinde Campus. Its yellow and pink colors on the wall make the old house particularly striking. Besides housing the OCSA, the first floor includes two common areas, a simple kitchen, and a Wudu place, which enables Muslims to perform ablution before prayer. The second floor features two prayer rooms divided by gender, with directions to Mecca marked on the ceiling.
Muslims perform five daily prayers facing Mecca. Each prayer cycle includes making a conscious intention to pray, recitations of the Qur'an, and prostrations. Before praying, Muslims must perform ablutions, which is a ritual purification that involves washing the faces, hands, and feet under running water. In addition, the preparation of food should adhere to Islamic regulations. That's why the I-House is equipped with a simple kitchen for Muslim students to cook meals.
The long-anticipated I-House is now open. International Office Dean Lee expressed his gratitude to President Chen, Vice President Lin, and the General Affairs Office for their financial and technical support. Currently, NCUE has nearly 500 international students, with a significant number from Indonesia, second only to Malaysia. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population globally. Dean Lee stated that the establishment of the I-House is a result of NCUE's commitment to multiculturalism, and he looks forward to local teachers and students showing care for different cultures, integrating into this international campus, and igniting sparks of international exchange within the I-House.
Abizard Faraz Rauf, an Indonesian student at NCUE, was pleased to see teachers and students coming together to celebrate the opening of the I-House. It symbolizes the NCUE's commitment to fostering diversity and unity. He thanked everyone for creating a warm and welcoming environment for international students. He believes that the I-House not only serves as a place for personal reflection but also as a place to connect, share cultures, and ignite learning and growth for everyone, regardless of their country or background.
The I-House will make it more convenient for international students to organize events, share their experiences of studying and living in Taiwan, and discuss important matters in the future. Therefore, the OCSA greatly values this new, private, and quiet office space. They look forward to more international students joining this big family at NCUE with the establishment of the I-House.
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