YunTech’s Longtan Road Summer Mango Season Begins: Faculty and Students Gather for a Fun Mango-Picking Challenge

As summer arrives and the campus mangoes ripen, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) held its “International Faculty and Student Mango Picking Challenge” on May 6. Organized jointly by the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of International Affairs, the event invited faculty and students to form teams and participate in a fun competition that combined local特色 with cross-cultural interaction and health promotion.

The event took place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. along Longtan Road in front of the Second Building of the College of Humanities and Applied Sciences. Conducted as a team competition, each group could include up to five participants. Teams were required to create their own mango-picking tools using materials provided by the organizers and complete the mango-picking challenge within a 60-minute time limit. The team that harvested the largest number of mangoes was declared the winner. In addition to tasting freshly picked mangoes and experiencing Taiwan’s mango culture firsthand, winning teams also received cash prizes and gifts, making the event both entertaining and culturally meaningful.

YunTech noted that the mango trees lining Longtan Road were planted in 1969 and have stood on campus for nearly 60 years, becoming a shared memory for generations of students. From blossoming to fruit-bearing, the mango trees symbolize students’ growth and accumulation of experiences throughout their university years. Holding the event during mango season, just before graduation, carries a sense of tradition and blessing. It allows faculty and students to relive the joy of mango picking while giving graduating students an opportunity to strengthen friendships and create warm, lasting memories of campus life. Continuing the spirit of previous Mango Festivals, this year’s event further integrated local cultural elements into campus life while providing more opportunities for interaction and exchange among local and international faculty and students through an innovative competition format.

The event also incorporated concepts of health promotion and the practical application of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Through lively outdoor activities, students were encouraged to relieve stress, improve physical and mental well-being, and develop teamwork and problem-solving skills. The university hopes that activities such as this will continue fostering a friendly, diverse, and vibrant campus environment, enabling students to create meaningful and unforgettable university experiences beyond the classroom.

Fruitful results from the Mango Picking Challenge

YunTech’s Longtan Road Summer Mango Event brings together local and international faculty and students

Students enthusiastically picking mangoes

Mango-picking competition in action

Students creating their own mango-picking tools

Organizing Unit: Office of Student Affairs
Dean of Student Affairs: Prof. Lan-Tung Lin
Contact Person: Chin-Ying Chen
Tel: +886-5-534-2601 ext. 2301