Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Osaka Institute of
Technology Jointly organized the 2017 STUST-OIT International PBL Program on Robotics Hand-on Exercises
Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan, held the one-week 2017 STUST-OIT International PBL Program on Robotics Hand-on Exercises which was to be co-organized alternately by the two universities each year after 2017. This year it was organized by the Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, with the theme of RBL Robotics. The program was for teachers and students majored in the Department of Electrical and Mechanical, who were mingled and divided into two groups of international robot practice. The students needed to design robots for a relay competition, with a battery as the baton for each robot to pass to the other around the racing run. The highest score would be the best. This was extremely demanding for brainstorming and co-operation during the implementation in the program.
【President Chien Tai (center in front) and teachers and students of both Osaka Institute of Technology and Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology.】
Robotics is now an emerging area to which most countries in the world are committed. In the development of robot technology, Japan is one of the world's best. Taiwan has been actively cooperating with Japan in recent years; for example, Foxconn Technology and Japan's Softbank has been jointly developing Pepper Robots, producing and marketing their robots to the world in return of a heated response. Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has worked with Foxconn Technology over the past two years in developing a robot system that can help patients with their meals by brain-computer-interface, with a total funding of NT$ 8 million. In 2016, STUST was given sponsorship by the Ministry of Education to help implementing the integrated of intelligent robots for carriage, with a fund of NT$ 4.45 million. This shows that Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has been actively and strongly committed to the field of robot applications for many years and has had excellent results. The program was conducted by the 8-student team led by Prof. Yoshida Ichiro from Osaka Institute of Technology and the 11-student team led by Prof. Ming-Shian Wang, Chairman of the Department of Electronic Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology. They worked together on robots on an international basis and had fruitful results.
【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Osaka Institute of Technology co-organized the 2017 STUST-OIT International PBL Program on Robotics Hand-on Exercises.】
【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Osaka Institute of Technology co-organized the 2017 STUST-OIT International PBL Program on Robotics Hand-on Exercises.】
PBL is a learning model that is highly valued by universities and research institutes at home and abroad, given that it can help students build up the ability of students to think and solve problems independently. In the course of learning, students must work together through teamwork and cooperation to complete the set goals. The PBL process is designed to break away from the traditional top-down model in which students are taught in a class by the teacher in the classroom. Instead, the students must set their own goals and plans via group work, play each individual role and take up division of labor, and analyze and propose solutions through cooperation to attain the target. Such an international learning process also needs to increase the learning in language communication; through a very short period of time, students can develop their leadership and capacity in cooperation and communication through international exchange.
【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Osaka Institute of Technology co-organized the 2017 STUST-OIT International PBL Program on Robotics Hand-on Exercises.】
【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Osaka Institute of Technology co-organized the 2017 STUST-OIT International PBL Program on Robotics Hand-on Exercises.】
President Chien Tai of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology said that in such international PBL program, students are the protagonist; in particular, in the learning process, students need to cross the border of school difference and work together to learn. In addition to the limited materials, equipment and components, there is the time limit to their implementation of ideas. They have to work together in many ways, including setting goals, drawing, brainstorming, effectively using resources, independently thinking and cooperating, and finding creative alternative to standard learning. Together, students can build up their ability to solve problems and develop their English communication. In recent years, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has been promoting international activities, on the one hand to strengthen the international vision of students, on the other hand to enhance students' international communication and communication language skills through internationalization. President Tai said that his English is not good, but he would grasp every opportunity to bravely speak English. To encourage students, he reminded them not to be afraid of speaking English; as long as they are willing to, they could make it after a long time, especially by way of such an All-English learning activity.
【President Chien Tai of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (left) presented gifts to Prof. Yoshida Ichiro (right) of Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan.】
【President Chien Tai of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (left) presented gifts to Prof. Jicun Mian (right) of Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan.】