National University of Tainan (NUTN) continues to advance place-based education through its University Social Responsibility (USR) initiative, "Teaching for Rural Communities: Building the Qigu Rural Education Hub 4.0." On May 12, 2026, the project partnered with Guangfu Experimental Elementary School, Sangu Elementary School, and Dujia Elementary School in Tainan to organize an immersive field-learning program. The activity brought students, teachers, and parents to the Annan and Beimen districts, where they explored the region's milkfish industry, coastal agriculture, and local food culture through hands-on experiences, deepening their understanding of the communities in which they live.
The program began in Chengxi Community, Annan District, at the Milkfish Learning Center, where participants learned about the biology of milkfish, aquaculture practices, and the traditions of Taiwan's coastal fishing villages. Students also experienced the traditional practice of counting fish fry, gaining firsthand insight into the precision and concentration required in aquaculture while appreciating the rhythms of local fishing life. They later created milkfish-themed shrink-plastic crafts, transforming local cultural elements into personalized souvenirs that reinforced their connection to Tainan's coastal heritage.
The learning journey continued in nearby watermelon fields, where students discovered how the region's sandy, saline soil supports distinctive agricultural products. Through guided interpretation, they learned about the local tradition of watermelon pickles, made from young watermelons removed during cultivation to improve crop quality. Participants also sampled milkfish ball soup with pickled watermelon, experiencing firsthand the local philosophy of seasonal, locally sourced cuisine while exploring the relationship between agriculture, food, and everyday life.
In the afternoon, the group visited Tian Mama Chang-Ying Seafood Restaurant in Beimen District to learn about environmentally friendly aquaculture and sustainable fish farming practices. Through presentations by local practitioners, students discovered how the milkfish industry is embracing ecological stewardship and rural revitalization while preserving traditional livelihoods. The visit also included a hands-on DIY milkfish wrap workshop, where participants prepared creative dishes and learned about the nutritional value and culinary uses of different parts of the fish. Local refreshments—including herbal stevia tea, brown sugar tapioca pearls, and grass jelly desserts—further introduced students to the diversity of Tainan's regional food culture through a multisensory learning experience.
Professor Yin Ouyang of the Department of Education, the project's principal investigator, explained that the Qigu Rural Education Hub 4.0 has long focused on connecting rural education with local culture and community resources. Through field studies, experiential learning, and place-based activities, the project encourages students to understand their hometowns by engaging directly with local industries, traditions, and ways of life.
By integrating the resources of universities, elementary schools, and local communities, the program extends learning beyond the classroom and helps students develop a stronger sense of place, cultural identity, and environmental awareness.
Through its USR initiatives, NUTN continues to strengthen partnerships between higher education, local schools, and community industries, demonstrating how universities can contribute to sustainable regional development while creating meaningful learning experiences that connect education with real-world challenges and opportunities.