From August 26-27, the Smart Mechatronics Bachelor Degree Program at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) held a “Benevolence Education Little Dragon Camp.” Led by Professor Hudson Hsu’s USR team, the event was a collaboration with the Benevolence Education Development Association and Kaohsiung’s Gangshan Elementary School. It was held at the school’s Wanli branch and attracted 30 students from across Kaohsiung.
The camp’s curriculum was developed in collaboration with the Air Force Institute of Technology, which provided education on national defense and aerospace technology. The program was designed to balance both physical and intellectual activities, helping students build character and technological literacy. The initiative highlights NPUST’s commitment to the practice of University Social Responsibility (USR) within local communities.
Cultivating Character and Technical Skills
The camp’s core mission was to promote character education and technological literacy under the guiding principle of “Rooting in Science, Upholding Character”. The curriculum integrated a variety of activities to achieve this goal including moral storytelling for character development and simulated flight and drone soccer for technological literacy. The program successfully showed students the importance of good character while also allowing them to experience the fun of technology.
A Collaborative Approach to Learning
Professor Hsu stated that the camp was fortunate to have guest instructors, including a team from a National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) popular science project led by Associate Professor Chia-Wei Hsu from Chinese Culture University. The Benevolence Education Association also provided professional instructors.
Lieutenant Colonel Li-Kai Liu from the Air Force Institute of Technology introduced concepts of national defense and aerospace technology, linking technology applications with national security awareness. This provided a diverse and enriching experience for the students.
Professor Hsu emphasized the importance of using “character” as the first guide for navigating the technological world. He explained that students first learned foundational values like filial piety, respect for teachers, and following rules. Then, they moved on to hands-on activities with drones and simulators to develop essential skills like focus, cooperation, and responsibility. The ultimate goal of this USR project is to transform these values into tangible actions and provide children in both rural and urban areas with a safe and friendly environment to learn cutting-edge technology and develop attitudes which will positively impact their families and communities.
