The University Social Responsibility (USR) project team from Taiwan Tech, “Unbounded sustainability of urban mountain villages to co-cultivate Pi-shaped talents - based in Southern City, addressing transnational challenges, and deepening social responsibility.  (USUP)”, once again traveled to Upper Pisang Village in the Annapurna region of Nepal this summer (2025). The team carried out an international initiative focused on local revitalization and disaster education. This marks the fourth consecutive year of the project since the team’s initial field visit in 2022, demonstrating Taiwan Tech’s long-term commitment to social responsibility and global partnership development.

The construction process of the retaining wall in front of the Story Café.

Since the team’s first field visit to Upper Pisang in 2022, the Taiwan Tech USR team has launched a long-term collaboration with the local community. Through field surveys, cultural research, and ongoing dialogue with residents, the team has gradually built trust and established a foundation for partnership. This year’s project centers on revitalizing a century-old traditional house through the “Story Café” initiative, envisioned as a cultural hub connecting travelers with the heritage of the mountain village. Although restoration work is still underway, the team has completed several key improvements, including the construction of a new retaining wall in front of the old house, which is expected to serve as a shared rest area for both villagers and visitors.

The team takes a group photo in front of the Story Café.

In line with the old house revitalization, the team further promoted the organization and presentation of local tourism resources by installing new signposts and creating a guided map to enhance Upper Pisang’s visibility and accessibility. These efforts aim to help visitors explore the village more deeply and stimulate the local economy. At the same time, in response to the area’s unique mountainous terrain and scattered settlements, the team also planned evacuation routes and designated assembly points. They designed and produced a “Disaster Preparedness Brochure” to provide residents with essential knowledge on how to respond to earthquakes and other natural hazards, thereby strengthening community resilience.

Student team members hand-paint road signs.

In addition to its ongoing efforts in Upper Pisang, the USR team expanded its activities this year to the nearby Manang region, where they promoted earthquake preparedness education in local elementary schools. Through interactive games and group activities, the team helped children learn self-protection and emergency response skills. The team also visited two orphanages in Kathmandu, distributing supplies and inspecting facilities. At one of the sites, they continued last year’s collaboration by completing maintenance work on a staircase, demonstrating the USR project’s sense of responsibility and long-term commitment.

The team conducts a disaster preparedness education session at Manang Elementary School.

In terms of academic exchange, the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Taiwan Tech signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Civil Engineering at Kathmandu University last year. Prior to the team’s visit to Nepal this year, Ph.D. candidate Chen-Chieh Hsu spent a month there engaging in academic exchange. During his stay, he participated in research projects and delivered special lectures introducing Taiwan Tech’s research achievements in timber and hybrid structural systems, as well as promoting opportunities for international admission. He also established initial connections with the Department of Architecture at Kathmandu University, laying the groundwork for deeper bilateral collaboration in the future.

Taiwan Tech Ph.D. candidate Chen-Chieh Hsu from the Department of Architecture delivers a special lecture at the Graduate Institute of Civil Engineering, Kathmandu University.

The team extends special thanks to theJuJu MaMa Children’s Education and Care Association in Taipei for its continuous support over the years, particularly in facilitating cross-national communication. This year also marks the first collaboration with GO-IN Engineering Co., Ltd.

., whose representatives joined the team in the Pisang mountain area to assess local power conditions and jointly develop improvement plans with the USR team, working together to bring about tangible changes.

Through this cross-national field project, Taiwan Tech faculty and students not only deepened the international practice of the USR initiative but also embodied the core spirit of “people-centered learning and place-based education.” Moving forward, the team will continue integrating education, infrastructure development, and cultural preservation efforts, working hand in hand with local communities toward sustainable development.