This winter (2024), a group of skill-excellent students from Taiwan Tech (outstanding vocational skills competition winners) visited the mountain town of Miaoli, where they taught local teachers and students how to use 3D printing to design and create cultural and creative products. This hands-on maker event not only introduced the application of emerging technologies to Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial students, but also inspired rural students with the stories of Taiwan Tech’s skilled students, who, through perseverance and hard work, encouraged them to dream big.

Student instructor from Taiwan Tech’s Program of Applied Science and Technology, Li-Qi Zhang (left), returns to his alma mater to teach Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial students the principles and operation of 3D printing.

Most of the skill-excellent students from Taiwan Tech’s Bachelor Degree Program of Applied Science and Technology (Vocational Excellence Track) come from rural areas and entered Taiwan Tech through their outstanding performance in vocational skills competitions. Many of them are passionate about education or have a strong interest in teaching, often due to the guidance of a mentor who recognized their potential and helped them develop their skills. Inspired by these experiences, they aim to become teachers who, like their mentors, “never give up on any student”. They see passing on their skills as a mission, starting by giving back to their hometowns and helping others in their communities grow and thrive.

Former and current mentors reunited with joy, joking, “Our students have become great teachers”. From left to right: Taiwan Tech’s Professor Jia-Wen Hu, Taiwan Tech student instructors You-Xuan Liao and Li-Qi Zhang, National Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial Vocational High School’s Director Yong-Xiang Qiu, and Teacher Gao-Yong Lin.

Li-Qi Zhang, a Taiwan Tech’s Program of Applied Science and Technology, recalled his time at National Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial Vocational HighSchool, where his mentor, Teacher Gao-Yong Lin, said, “When Li-Qi expressed his wish to return to teach his juniors, I wholeheartedly welcomed it and offered him all the support I could. We mobilized everyone to help.”

With the support of Director Yong-Xiang Qiu from the National Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial Vocational HighSchool’s Electrical Department, Taiwan Professor Jia-Wen Hu’s involvement in the Ministry of Education’s Vocational Excellence Pilot Program, and assistance from You-Xuan Liao, a student from Bachelor Degree Program of Applied Science and Technology, who mobilized skilled students across various fields, the “Makers’ Spirit in Rural Communities” initiative arrived in the mountain town of Miaoli.

The Taiwan Tech service team was preparing for teaching and sharing, putting in full effort with multiple rehearsals.

The series of activities were divided into two main parts: “STEAM Makers” and “Story Enlightenment”. In the STEAM Makers hands-on session, the goal was to ensure that rural students had equal access to technology, reflecting the spirit of inclusivity and the “No one left behind” principle in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG4. The skill-excellent students served as instructors, teaching the latest technologies such as computer graphics and 3D printing. They guided rural students step-by-step to design and create cultural products. The completed 3D keychain designs were diverse, including maple leaves, dinosaurs, temple dragons, Pikachu, and fairies. The students’ creativity and execution were impressive, and many expressed a sense of achievement. Some even proposed innovative ideas, such as printing organs using cells.

In the “Story Enlightenment” session, skill-excellent students from different fields shared their personal stories of struggle, hoping to inspire local youth. Electrical assembly competitor Li-Qi Zhang shared, “If a person has no dreams, they’re no different from a salted fish. Only by daring to dream can you hope for a turnaround”. A sheet metal player, Zhi-Yun Zhang said, “I started training because my family was in design, but I found my passion through practice. When you’re interested, you’re not afraid of hardship. If you don’t give up, you’ll see results”. Mechatronics integration competitor Bo-Kai Huang expressed, “Life is full of choices. If you choose something, go ahead and try it. Persisting down that path will lead somewhere”. Mechatronics integration competitor Guo-Qi Luo added, “Don’t just rush forward to meet others’ expectations. Stop, reassess, and then set off in the direction you truly want.”

Taiwan Tech student lecturer Liao You-Xuan engaged actively with National Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial Vocational High School students using quiz-based activities and scenario storytelling in his teaching.

This session featured three CAD mechanical drafting competitors. Student Zhao-Yi Qiu stated, “Those with skills who use AI will definitely have better applications and potential. Skills are your solid foundation; you won't be replaced by AI.” Student Guan-Wei Liu believed, “Practice what you don’t know until you master it, apply what you know, and then learn something new. By continuously doing this, you'll keep moving forward.”

You-Xuan Liao, the main lecturer from Taiwan Tech, shared, “Do something you want to do, such as folk crafts, farming, or training as an athlete. As long as you are willing to work hard and do it seriously, one day it will become something you can be proud of.”

Professor Jia-Wen Hu from Taiwan Tech, who accompanied the team, expressed his satisfaction, saying, “Watching my students put in their full effort, practicing multiple times to prepare for this teaching and sharing session, and then confidently speaking on stage, makes me very proud.” Teacher Gao-Yong Lin from Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial Vocational High School encouraged the students to learn from these skilled Taiwan Tech competitors and find their own path based on their strengths. Director Yong-Xiang Qiu expressed his hope that such activities would continue to be held.

Through “STEAM Maker”, the young people in the mountain town were able to learn emerging technologies and apply them in their lives. Through “Story Enlightenment”, the inspiring stories of the competitors sparked empathy among rural students from similar backgrounds, motivating them to follow the examples set by these role models. In the future, athletes participating in the “Ministry of Education’s International Skills Competition Student Education and Employment Improvement Program” will also be invited to join this initiative, working together in “Skilled Excellence Hand in Hand - Lighting Up Dreams.”

At the Maker Movement event for rural areas, certificates of learning achievement were awarded, and Taiwan Tech faculty and students posed for a group photo with the teachers and students of National Miaoli Agricultural and Industrial Vocational High School.