In order expand international exchange activities and promote food and agriculture education, the University of Guam and several schools in Taiwan organized the 2025 Taiwan Agriculture Tourism Experiential Exchange. As part of the activity, on January 10th and 11th, participants visited Pingtung to get a look into Taiwan’s unique culture of leisure farming. Members of the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) Office of Continuing & Extension Education and Bachelor Program in Scientific Agriculture organized the tour for the visitors, giving them a new look at international exchange prospects and approaches to food and agriculture education. The first stop for the visitors from the University of Guam first was the Angel Garden Leisure Farm, where they had an in-depth exchange on the topic of agriculture and tourism. While there, they also toured the vibrant American-style wedding decorations in the garden, and got a feeling for the clever way in which the venue integrated aspects of diverse cultures into agricultural tourism.
In Pingtung, NPUST also arranged a visit to Ming Chuan Organic Leisure Farm, founded by alumni Wu Jianming and Hsieh Mei-Lin. The farm, which was once engaged in traditional agricultural production, later made a transition to organic farming and ecological tourism. For the visitors, it was an excellent chance to witness one of the school’s successful cases of promoting diversified agricultural practices and innovative business models. During the time at the farm, teachers and students from Guam took part a DIY pineapple cake making activity, and got a feel for the advantages of NPUST when it comes to practical operations and the integration of alumni resources. Afterwards, Director Ke-Chung Peng of the NPUST Bachelor Program in Scientific Agriculture arranged for students from his department to host a reception dinner at one of the schools practice orchards. Through lively conversations and T-shirt exchanges, members of the two schools enjoyed a solid time of exchange and narrowed the distance between each other. While at the campus, the visitors from Guam also visited NPUST’s prestigious Wildlife Shelter Center, and listened to the stories of the animals which were bred and abandoned due to human carelessness. The Guam students were so deeply moved that they decided to make a donation to help with the conservation efforts. At the end of the exchange, the visitors from Guam had a chance to experience the entire process of making chocolate at the Cocoa Classroom in the Smart Agriculture Center. Starting with Taiwan’s local cocoa beans, the participants gained an in-depth understanding of every step in the production process from the field to the table. All in all, the exchange activity was fruitful for both sides, fostering a deeper friendship and richer academic connection between the teachers and students of the two countries. It was also a chance for NPUST to apply its strengths in the area of international cooperation, and to share its approach to diversified practical learning and innovative development, as it continues to promote the country’s development vision of “prosperity for the island’s south through smart sustainability”.
