With sponsorship from the Ministry of Education’s University Social Responsibility (USR) Practice Project, NPUST’s Vice President for Administration, Wen-Ling Shih, has been conducting work aimed at “shaping cultural resilience and constructing sustainable economics within the Makatao tribe’s healthy agricultural industry”. Her project is designed to deeply cultivate the features of the local area while also extending care to young children. In May (2025), the project’s team worked with the NPUST affiliated kindergarten to hold a series of interesting and educational activities so that children could learn about the importance of local culture and healthy agriculture in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.
The day’s experiences were kicked off by Professor Po-Lun Hou from the Department of Wood Science and Design with a unique ceramic print making activity, during which the youngsters kneaded, pinched and shaped clay in an amazing burst of concentration. After this, teacher Chia-Chun Ku from the Research Center put on a “Rice Party”, showing the young students how to knead glutinous rice balls, wrap fillings, and press them into molds to make traditional Hakka red tortoise cake. After the fragrant cakes came out of the steamer, Associate Professor Hsiu-Tsu Chen from the Department of Fashion Design and Management used a creative “Clay Photo Frame Decoration” activity to unleash the children’s imagination and creativity. The finale was organized by teachers from the Department of Biotechnology, who brought two fascinating scientific experiences that explored the mysteries of life by looking at “Cell Division” and “Genetically Modified Frogs”.
In addition to the experience activities put on by the teachers, NPUST alumnus company Benison and Co., Ltd., the Department of Aquaculture, and the Department of Plant Industry arranged a “Rice, Fish & Vegetables Let You Fall in Love with Food” activity to help children understand healthy eating, the sources of food, and the hard work that takes place behind every bite of food we take. After the activities came to an end, the children’s reluctance to leave was a clear reflection of the work and care that NPUST puts into its USR programs. These programs, which have also been received with enthusiasm by alumni entrepreneurs, are a product of the energy that the university is investing in the future of children and its desire to irrigate the roots of culture and the nourish the buds of education in the hearts of the young.
