The Intelligent Regional Design and Service Research Center at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) held the “Intelligence in Wugu: Kaitai Zunwang VOL.3 — Taiwan-Japan Three-University PBL Field Research Workshop” from August 24 to 29, 2026. Professor Ueda Ken and Assistant Professor Aoki Hironobu from Chiba University in Japan led a group of students to Taiwan to join YunTech faculty and students in conducting field research in Nanjingcuo, Shigui Creek, Lianfang, and other areas of Dounan Township. Through field visits, cultural experiences, and discussions, participants explored local folk culture, traditional crafts, and industrial development, deepening Taiwan-Japan youth’s understanding of and collaboration on local issues.
YunTech and Chiba University have maintained a close international sister-university relationship for many years, with ongoing collaboration in areas including local innovation, design, and technological research and development. Building on previous Taiwan-Japan exchange initiatives, this workshop adopted PBL (Project-Based Learning) as its core approach, bringing faculty and students from both countries into local communities to discover their unique characteristics and challenges through fieldwork. Through joint research and discussion, participants explored how issues related to folk beliefs, traditional performance troupes, and industrial culture could be transformed into design-thinking approaches and innovative proposals, further expanding the depth and breadth of international collaboration.
With a focus on folk culture, local craftsmanship, and local industries, the workshop featured activities including experiences of local folk beliefs and traditions, investigations into local culture and industries, and analysis of local points of interest and the development of design proposals. By participating in folk activities associated with Kaitai Zunwang in Wugu, faculty and students gained a deeper understanding of traditional beliefs, rituals, and traditional performance troupe culture. Starting from residents’ daily lives and the historical context of the community, they also explored the connections between folk beliefs and the local community.
For the local cultural and industrial research component, Taiwan-Japan faculty and students visited communities throughout Dounan to learn about traditional rural culture, local history and culture, traditional industries, and agricultural development. Through field visits and interviews, they explored local characteristics and development processes related to rice-based food processing, conventional farming practices, and community development. Direct interactions with local residents, industry practitioners, and community organizations enabled participating students to observe and identify the distinctive qualities of the area in greater depth.
The workshop also guided participants in analyzing local points of interest and encouraged Taiwan-Japan students to organize and interpret the local characteristics identified through their field research, while considering how design and innovation could be used to present and communicate the area’s unique appeal. Through collaborative learning across countries, universities, and disciplines, students exchanged perspectives on observing and understanding local communities and explored design concepts that reflected local characteristics and had potential for practical implementation.
The event brought together a Taiwan team led by YunTech Vice President Hwang Shyh-Huei and a delegation from Chiba University led by Professor Ueda Ken and Assistant Professor Aoki Hironobu. The workshop also received strong support from various sectors of Dounan Township. Dounan Township Mayor Shen Hui-Hsun, Mayor Shen’s wife Ou Yueh-Hsiang, Social Affairs Section Chief Lin Yu-Chieh, and Wang Wan-Lai, Chairman of the Chinese Wugu Kaitai Zunwang Association, joined the participants for exchanges and discussions. Their participation demonstrated the collaborative capacity of local government, community organizations, and universities in advancing local initiatives and international exchange.
The Intelligent Regional Design and Service Research Center emphasized that regional revitalization and social engagement cannot be achieved by a single university or discipline alone. They require the participation and collaboration of universities, local communities, industries, and international partners. Through this Taiwan-Japan three-university PBL field research workshop, the process of “entering local communities, discovering their unique qualities, thinking together, and developing proposals” enabled young people from Taiwan and Japan to learn in authentic local settings while extending international exchange beyond the university campus and into local communities.
Looking ahead, the Intelligent Regional Design and Service Research Center will continue to use local communities as learning environments while integrating international exchange, design expertise, and social engagement. It will further deepen collaboration with international partners, including Chiba University, through ongoing field research and co-design initiatives. These efforts will cultivate young people’s abilities in cross-cultural communication, local observation, and problem-solving while jointly exploring new possibilities for the preservation of local culture, industrial innovation, and sustainable development.
Participants Experience a Traditional Lion Dance Performance by a Local Folk Performance Troupe
The Local Industry and Culture Team Interviews the Chief of Jingxing Village
Professor Ueda Ken and Assistant Professor Aoki Hironobu from Chiba University Offer Fruit as an Offering
Taiwan-Japan Workshop Participants Pose for a Group Photo at the Red Altar
Organizing Unit: Intelligent & Local Design Service Center
Unit Director: Hwang Shyh-Huei, Director
Contact Person: Chang Yi-Chen
Telephone: +886-5-534-2601 ext. 2870
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