National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) has once again put on display the outstanding achievements of its aerospace education initiatives. In the recently concluded “2026 Rocket Taiwan Cup” (RTC 2026), three rocket clubs from Fangliao High School and the National Experimental High School at Pingtung Science Park (NEHSP) participated under the mentorship of the NPUST University Social Responsibility (USR) team. Demonstrating professional expertise through the rigorous selection process, the team from NEHSP stood out in the intense finals of the competition to secure first place in the high school category. This moment of glory was marked by an award ceremony presided over by Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, with Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi also in attendance to celebrate and witness the fruitful results of Pingtung’s aerospace science education and youth talent development.
The competition was grand in scale, attracting a total of 71 teams and 859 young participants from across Taiwan, with only 21 exceptional teams advancing to the finals. The NPUST USR team, led by Professor Hudson Hsu, has long been dedicated to introducing university-level aerospace technology and engineering practices into high school campuses. Through systematic professional training, students were guided through rocket theory, structural design, component manufacturing, system integration and launch testing. This process of repeated refinement and teamwork comprehensively fostered the students’ problem-solving and real-time response capabilities. During the competition, NPUST collaborated with units from Pingtung University, I-Shou University, the University of Kaohsiung, and the Aeronautical and Astronautical Society of the Republic of China (AASRC) to set up multiple aerospace science outreach booths at the Pingtung County Stadium. Through interactive challenges and a rocket launch livestream party, teachers, students, and parents were able to engage with aerospace technology up close.
The victory of NEHSP is not only an honor for the student team but also a concrete manifestation of NPUST’s commitment to University Social Responsibility (USR). By extending higher education resources to high schools, NPUST will continue to deepen local aerospace science education in Pingtung and foster mutual prosperity between academia and local industry through educational development.
