Rural Regeneration: "Universities Collaborating with Elementary Schools" to Develop Characteristic Curriculum and Create a New Blueprint for Rural Areas

Publisher: Ministry of Education, Taiwan

In order to achieve sustainable development in rural education, culture, and economy, the Ministry of Education, through the National Education Agency, has commissioned National Sun Yat-sen University to implement the "Taiwan Rural Elementary School International and Regeneration Program" since the 108th academic year. With 7 rural elementary schools as platforms and the collaboration of 10 universities, the program aims to revitalize the rural economy by introducing the concept of future imagination-based local regeneration and integrating characteristic curriculum from rural schools into an international context. This not only enhances the quality of rural education but also creates opportunities for local regeneration.

According to the National Education Agency, this program involves collaboration between universities and elementary schools. By designing a 3-day-2-night characteristic curriculum in collaboration with 7 rural schools, the program includes designing community tourism itineraries and assisting in marketing local specialties and scenic spots. The goal is to introduce innovative momentum into the rural economy through positive word-of-mouth and social media promotion by tourists.

Taking the example of Xinguang Elementary School in Hsinchu County and their "TAYAL" characteristic curriculum, the school, located in a remote tribe in Jianshi Township, focuses on the theme of Tayal tribal life in Xinguang and Zhenxi communities. They integrate mathematics, science, and social studies knowledge from grades five and six with organic farming, forest observation, and Tayal art and culture. This allows the public to learn in the unique natural environment of the community and, through hands-on experiences, integrate textbook knowledge with ancestral wisdom. Students are encouraged to think about future life and the preservation of natural ecology 20 years from now, stimulating their interest in learning.

The team from Fu Jen Catholic University focuses on local regeneration in Xinguang community. They combine Xinguang Elementary School's characteristic curriculum with tribal tourism and Tayal mythology, creating a real-life puzzle-solving package. Through game stories set in various locations and the natural landscape, participants, including international students and parents, gain a deeper understanding of Xinguang tribe and Tayal culture. They also utilize LINE for online guidance, which not only increases interaction with players but also provides relevant knowledge about the scenic spots or solutions to encountered situations. In the future, online registration for the school's characteristic curriculum will be available to make it more convenient for international tourists to visit Xinguang tribe.

The National Education Agency emphasizes that through the collaboration between universities and elementary schools, the program aims to make rural school curricula interesting and unique to each locality. The goal is to attract more international students to participate in the program, and university teams can collaborate with community residents to establish social enterprises, assisting in local industrial transformation and enhancing competitiveness for sustainable development. This will create internationally recognized cultural characteristic communities.

Rural Regeneration: "Universities Collaborating with Elementary Schools" to Develop Characteristic Curriculum and Create a New Blueprint for Rural Areas.