Hualien, Taiwan – A Community Service Program (PkM) team from Yogyakarta State University (UNY), which included Dr. Nikenasih B from the Mathematics Study Program, in collaboration with the Department of Applied Mathematics, National Dong Hwa University (NDHU), successfully organized the “Workshop on Strengthening Data Analysis and Mathematical Modeling for Indonesian Students at the National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan.” The event took place from September 22 to 24, 2025, at NDHU, Taiwan, and was conducted in a hybrid format, despite the challenges posed by Typhoon Ragasa.

The workshop aimed to enhance the data analysis and mathematical modeling skills of Indonesian students. Interestingly, the participants were not limited to Indonesian students studying at NDHU but also included online participants from the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) of the Republic of Indonesia.

Day 1: Institutional Cooperation and Introduction to R Software

The event opened on Monday, September 22, 2025, with a significant agenda item: the signing of an Implementing Arrangement (IA) with the Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics, NDHU. This agreement is expected to serve as a foundation for closer academic and research collaboration in the future.

The workshop then commenced at A307 iMac Classroom, Department of Applied Mathematics, NDHU. The session began with a pre-survey to assess participants’ familiarity with the R software, followed by material presented by Ezra Putranda Setiawan, M.Sc., from the Undergraduate Statistics Program, focusing on an in-depth introduction to data analysis using R.

Day 2: Typhoon Ragasa Challenge and Online Session

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the PkM activities faced a natural challenge. Due to Typhoon Ragasa, the Taiwanese government mandated the closure of schools and offices in the Hualien area.

To overcome this obstacle, the organizing team quickly adapted by switching to a fully online format via Zoom. The main topic of the day was Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), delivered by Prof. Kismiantini from the Undergraduate Statistics Program. Participants learned two primary approaches: covariance-based SEM and partial least squares (PLS), both implemented using R programming. The session was further enriched by discussions of recent published studies as examples.

Day 3: Introduction to Mathematical Modeling

By Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Typhoon Ragasa had subsided, allowing the workshop to resume offline. The session began with an introduction to the fundamentals of mathematical modeling and its procedural steps, delivered by Dr. Nikenasih Binatari from the Mathematics Study Program.

This was followed by a deeper exploration of dynamical systems applications, focusing on two classic cases:

• Logistic Growth Model, and

• Lotka–Volterra Predator–Prey System.

Closing: Appreciation and Collaboration Prospects

The workshop concluded on Thursday, September 25, 2025, with evaluation and follow-up discussions. Prof. Wei-Ying Wu expressed deep appreciation for the initiative and extended special thanks to Prof. Kismiantini for organizing a successful workshop featuring Prof. Kismiantini (Statistics Program), Dr. Nikenasih (Mathematics Program), and Ezra Putranda, M.Sc. (Statistics Program).

Highlighting the significance of the event, Prof. Wu stated:

“This event not only enriched Indonesian students at National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) with valuable statistical and mathematical insights but also established a collaborative bridge between Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) and NDHU.”

Beyond knowledge enrichment, this visit also opened doors for future collaboration opportunities, including graduate study programs and joint research initiatives, thereby strengthening the strategic partnership between the two institutions.