To promote the spirit of general education, Taiwan Tech invited several scholars to share ideas about the deepening of general education and social innovation on October 20, 2023. In the "General Education Professionalization" section, Professor Po-Hung Liu from National Chin-Yi University of Technology (NCUT) and Professor Wei-Chun Wang from Taiwan Tech delivered speeches. In the "Curriculum Planning" section, the Director of the General Education Center from National Chengchi University, Ai-Hsuan Ma, and the Dean of National Pingtung University, Rui-Lin He, and Professor Jing-Fang Li from National Changhua University of Education shared their perspectives. Under the theme of "Social Practice," representatives from three universities, Director Chien-Kuo Chiu from Taiwan Tech, Professor Shu-Juan Su from National Taiwan Normal University, and Team Leader An-Ming Zhang from National Taiwan University, discussed the development obligations and social innovation context in the southern area of Taipei.

Taiwan Tech hosts the South Side College, enriching students' humanities proficiency and cultivating different scientific and technological talents.

Taiwan Tech is hosting the South Side College and the ceremony for “More than the featherweight: Our Priceless General Education Courses.”

Before the commencement of the South Side College, the university held the "More than the featherweight: Our Priceless General Education Courses" award ceremony, an initiative designed to promote the culture of general education on campus and foster interaction between students and faculty. Inspired by the renowned Chinese poet Du Fu's words, "A letter from home is worth a thousand in gold," this event involved student voting and submission activities to recognize the passion and dedication of teachers in course planning and pedagogical practices. Moreover, it provided students with the opportunity to provide feedback based on their learning experiences, thereby showcasing the diversity of general education courses at Taiwan Tech. This endeavor underscores our university's commitment to continually enhancing the visibility of exceptional educational offerings, allowing the distinctive features of our general education program to shine.

The "More than the featherweight: Our Priceless General Education Courses" initiative involves students voting for the most popular and esteemed faculty member.

Professor Hsiu-Chin Hung of Taiwan Tech expressed her appreciation for receiving recognition through the "More than the featherweight: Our Priceless General Education Courses" award. She noted that this recognition serves as a tangible manifestation of student support, fueling her enthusiasm for teaching. As an instructor utilizing the English-medium instruction (EMI) approach for courses such as "Information Literacy and Media Literacy" and "Media and Society", Professor Hsiu-Chin Hung highlighted the transformative educational journey that both students and instructors embark upon, delving into the various roles played by media literacy education in different countries. She emphasized that general education is a dynamic and vibrant experience and process. In terms of curriculum design, she committed to continuing to implement the philosophy of Professor Chun-Ju Huang of National Chung Cheng University: "A specialization without general education is blind, and general education without a specialization is empty."

President Jia-Yush Yen emphasized that, in accordance with the ongoing trend of transforming university common education into distinctive colleges, Taiwan Tech has harnessed collaborative synergy with partner institutions to drive forward the "South Side College" initiative. This strategic move aims to deepen the university's involvement in the southern precinct of the city and collectively envision a dynamic future. The college featured three distinguished representatives from the National Taiwan University System, who offered valuable insights into the strategies employed for the localized development of the South Side. It is our aspiration that this exchange of perspectives will foster meaningful dialogue and enhance the collective impact of our endeavors.

The President of Taiwan Tech, Jia-Yush Yen, encourages students to become 𝝅-type people who combine professional skills with humanistic qualities.

Professor Po-Hung Liu, a lifelong distinguished professor at the Basic General Education Center from National Chin-Yi University of Technology (NCUT), elaborated on the two distinct interpretations of "professionalization of general education". While the common understanding involves integrating specialized knowledge from academic disciplines into general education courses, the second interpretation emphasizes the professional expertise of instructors aligned with humanistic principles, who merge their specific areas of expertise to develop general education curricula. This presentation focused on the latter interpretation, emphasizing the importance of aligning general education and curriculum with the principles of "Comprehension, Adaptation, Expertise, and Elegance" (通達、識變、理博、雅思), which are conducive to both general and liberal education.

Professor Wei-Chun Wang of Taiwan Tech asserted that "professionalization of general education" emphasizes the necessity of imbuing general education courses with a professional knowledge component rather than adopting a polymathic approach. She delved into a comprehensive exploration of "professionalization in general education" and the "construction and development of subject expertise" to illustrate how a music general education course can transcend traditional boundaries, serving as a platform to showcase professional knowledge and skills.

Professor Chien-Kuo Chiu of Taiwan Tech emphasized that through the University Social Responsibility (USR) program, the university introduces professionalization to general education in a balanced manner. This approach allows students to broaden their knowledge while utilizing both international and local resources, enabling the cultivation of the adaptive thinking and sustainability mindset essential for Taiwan Tech’s students to face the challenges of a constantly evolving global environment.

Professor Chien-Kuo Chiu from Taiwan Tech discussed the role of social engagement in harnessing the university's capabilities to connect with the local community.

Director Sy-Ying Li of the Center for General Education at Taiwan Tech highlighted the importance of seeking collaborative partners for further developing the surrounding South Side area. The South Side College, initiated in 2022, serves as a novel cross-disciplinary platform for dialogue. Building upon last year's theme of "Professionalization of General Education: Teaching and Practice," this year's focus on "General Education Professionalization" explores how courses can be systematically designed and aligned with core values. It integrates a spirit of social innovation to achieve comprehensive development. The ultimate goal is to cultivate Taiwan Tech’s students who possess both professional skills and a humanistic perspective.