The Engineers in Action (EIA) team from Taiwan Tech, as part of the University Social Responsibility (USR) Engineering Program, embarked on journeys during the summer of 2023. They visited indigenous tribes in Yilan's Dongyue, Surabaya (Indonesia), and Can Tho (Vietnam). Their mission was to enhance rural schools and community facilities and promote regional sustainable development. Through diverse interdisciplinary collaborations, they successfully transformed academic knowledge into tangible social contributions, cultivating students with international perspectives and a sense of social responsibility. Notably, this year's endeavors featured the inclusion of three high school students this year, aiming to root themselves in the community and involve more young talents, continuing the practice of university social responsibility.

The Taiwan Tech's Engineers in Action Program embarked on a mission to rural areas of Indonesia and Vietnam to assist in enhancing basic infrastructure.

This year marks the 7th year of the Taiwan Tech's Engineers in Action Program. While the program faced temporary disruptions in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic, it continued its collaboration with local partner institutions after the pandemic situation improved. These partner institutions include Indonesia's Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya (WMSCU), and Vietnam's Cantho University (CTU). Together with students from these universities, Taiwan Tech students worked on a series of specialized improvement projects in rural areas of Surabaya, Indonesia, and Can Tho, Vietnam. Taiwan Tech students leveraged their respective areas of expertise to implement a range of projects aimed at enhancing the local environment. These projects included crop planting systems, underground water system design and construction, circular installation systems for black soldier fly waste processing, rainwater filtration systems, sunshade construction for command posts, plumbing installations for toilets, and classroom wall murals. The collective efforts of the students aimed to create a better living environment for the local residents in these areas.

The Taiwan Tech team in Vietnam constructed corrugated metal roofs to provide shelter from both rain and sun.

The Taiwan Tech team in Vietnam painted the exterior walls of a primary school in An Yang with iconic symbols of Taiwan, including the Taipei 101 skyscraper, and traditional Vietnamese attire, the "ao dai".

Zhi-Yao Zhang, a senior from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Taiwan Tech, underwent a profound transformation unexpectedly after participating in the project in Can Tho, Vietnam. He expressed, "If you had asked me three years ago about my expectations for university life, I would probably have said it's just about getting through it without anything extraordinary. However, after this experience, I feel that my university years have been marked by something truly unique and meaningful. I've had the chance to meet a group of friends I never thought I would have the opportunity to know."

The Taiwan Tech students not only assisted in improving community facilities during their visit to Indonesia but immersed themselves in the local culture, delving into the traditional Indonesian musical instrument known as "gamelan."

Mr. You-Cheng Chen, a senior from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Taiwan Tech, shared his reflections on the experience. He admitted that before departing for the rural areas of Vietnam, he had held somewhat idealized expectations. However, upon arriving at the accommodation provided by the nearby residents of An Yang Elementary School in Vietnam, he had a wake-up call. He realized that he had been living a remarkably privileged life back home. Washing with a water dipper and using such small restroom facilities was a stark contrast to his accustomed lifestyle, leaving a profound impact on him. He found a newfound appreciation for everything he had, turning his previous words into genuine actions.

The Taiwan Tech's Engineers in Action Program doesn't limit its outreach to international rural areas but also extends its care to indigenous tribes within Taiwan. This year marks the fourth year of collaboration with Dong-Ao Elementary School in the Dongyue Tribe of Nan'ao Township, Yilan County. Taiwan Tech students worked on designing and installing micro-hydropower generation facilities, constructing a solar-powered aquaponics system, and organizing sustainable workshops. These efforts assisted community residents in repairing inoperative electrical appliances, enhancing their quality of life.

Taiwan Tech students assisted the residents of the Dongyue Tribe in Yilan in repairing damaged electrical appliances.

Taiwan Tech students carried out electrical appliance repairs in the Dongyue Tribe of Yilan County.

Under the leadership of Director Meng-Jiy Wang from the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Taiwan Tech's University Social Responsibility (USR) Engineers in Action (EIA) team embarked on a mission during the summer break. Initially, 34 faculty and students were invited to visit the indigenous Dongyue Tribe in Yilan. Subsequently, a team of 33 members, including 8 professors from various departments such as Materials Science, Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and a professor from YunTech, along with 22 Taiwan Tech students from departments including Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Information Management, Computer Science and Information Engineering, Industrial Management, Electrical Engineering, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering, and Architecture, along with 3 high school students, traveled to Surabaya, Indonesia, and Can Tho, Vietnam.