The “NPUST Deepens Local Literary and Artistic University Social Responsibility (USR) Co-creation for Intergenerational Learning Fun” held its 2021 Higher Education Deepening “Mobile, Cultural Narrative Practice Project” results presentation today (10/28) at the Xingnan Village Office in Neipu Township. The project primarily focuses on cultural stories related to eating, where “mobile” signifies the fluid relationships of identity, ethnicity, memory, and skills. Coordinated by Research Fellow Gu Jia-Jun from the NPUST Research Center during the 109 academic year in collaboration with the “Chinese Literature” and “Interview Practice and Cultural Writing” general education courses, the project spanned across Xingnan Village in Neipu Township and the Shengli Star Village Park in Pingtung City. It involved students in unraveling stories, understanding local culture, and creating interactive teaching materials. The event invited NPUST President Dai Chang-Hsien, Director Huang Ding-Lun of the Pingtung County Government Labor and Youth Development Department, and featured a hands-on experience where university students and seniors interacted, creating a cultural fusion of creativity and community wisdom.
President Dai Chang-Hsien commented, “Diet is a very representative characteristic for various regions, not only strengthening regional connections but also transcending geographical limitations and historical boundaries. Thanks for organizing this meaningful event. The students who participated documented their experiences through practical work and video presentations. I hope the students not only gain a lot but also understand the essence of local culture.” Director Huang Ding-Lun of the Pingtung County Government Labor and Youth Development Department stated, “Through the gathering of different age groups to jointly create meaningful activities with memories, I wish the event a smooth and successful conclusion.” Research Fellow Gu Jia-Jun added, “Dietary experiences construct one’s taste sensations along with the mobile relationships of studying, working, marrying, and traveling. This project documented and translated different aspects of dietary customs from various villages.”
Liao Xiu-Qin, Chairperson of the Xingnan Community Development Association, expressed gratitude: “Thank you to NPUST for holding such a meaningful results presentation. Through students’ interaction and sharing with local elders, the community elders become more lively, and local culture can be more widely promoted.”
NPUST provides a platform for teachers to implement university social responsibility projects, allowing classroom knowledge to extend beyond the campus into the surrounding life. The university also hopes to introduce students from other places to the local culture of Pingtung City and Neipu Township. The current project, which focuses on the life stories of two villages, Shengli Star Village and Xingnan Village, invites industry experts to share practical experiences in radio hosting, picture book writing, and advertising copywriting. With a humanistic perspective, the experts lead students to cultivate interview and writing skills in Chinese and general education courses, enhancing students’ learning outcomes beyond textbooks. The university incorporates interdisciplinary knowledge, creating the board game “Wandering Food Light – Board Game Fun Meeting,” the microfilm “Charming Village,” the picture book “Granny Fan’s Rice Balls,” and the illustrated book “Wonderful Rice Cake” using local stories. These works in the “Village Series” were developed through mutual discussions in video conferences, allowing students and teachers to learn about the evolving history of Shengli Star Village or understand local customs and beliefs through landmarks like Xingnan Village’s Jingtzi Pavilion and Bogong. In particular, the book “Wonderful Rice Cake” records the 8,000-word transformation of Teacher Zheng Yu-Mei’s work, highlighting her endless creative challenges and spirited fighting morale, making it highly readable.
The results exhibition held at the Xingnan Village Office aimed to provide teachers, students, and local seniors with the opportunity to share beautiful memories. The hands-on activities related to local rice dishes were a joyful intergenerational experience, representing an important platinum social goal in NPUST’s promotion of sustainable development. By entering the community and co-creating memories with residents, the university tightly integrates local friendships with the school, embodying the true essence of university social responsibility.
