Running for your dreams from in-depth experience of regional life: Southern Taiwan University
of Science and Technology held the 3th “Run for Your Dream” Achievement Exhibition 

To stimulate students' enthusiasm for independent learning, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology opened the "Run for Your Dream" program, which allows students to make their own learning plans and realize their dreams. This year, for the first time, the "Little Dream Backup Plan" was integrated into the Teaching Excellence Program, becoming the pilot plan of the "Run for Your Dream." Financial assistance is now also given to plans that are not yet fully mature, hoping that the planning teams can have the opportunity to realize their dreams. It is also expected that with the enforcement of "Little Dream Backup Plan," teams can grow to be able to made better plans in the future. The “Run for Your Dream” Achievement Exhibition was shown from October 21 to October 27, 2015, at the first floor of the library building. This year, 6 teams were given funds to make their dreams come true during the summer. Their achievements cover a wide range, including regional cultures, community developments, etc.

【Introduction to “Run for Your Dream” Achievement Exhibition】

Mon-Ting Pon, a student of Department of Hospitality Management, implemented his "This land and the Things It Taught Me" dream plan. During the time he implemented his, he went deep into the aboriginal life of Lanyu, and his outstanding performance made him able to participate in the 2014 “Run for Your Dream” plan. This year, working together with his classmates Yi-Ju Chen, Bo-Yu Chan, Shi-Ying Wang, and Jun-Wei Ye, Pon formed their team—"Wild Tea—What has it to do with Guansai?” He returned to his hometown, becoming deeply concerned with local farmers, encouraging them to cultivate their farm in a friendly way to the land, helping them with product packaging and developing, and marketing the wild tea of his hometown. With such in-depth experience of rural life, living in old houses and eating local natural food, they harvested the wild tea in the mountain and felt the beauty of the land with their hearts.

【"Wild Tea—What has it to do with Guansai?”】

“Sunrise from the East Coffee Workshop," another team for “Run for Your Dream,” found the gap between the urban areas and rural areas before they began to help farmers marketing their produces. They promoted the top quality coffee of Dongshan District through a series of activities, and finally their coffee made a comeback. During the period of their in-depth experience and implementation, they visited a lot of local coffee farmers in the rural areas, having talks with them for a deeper understanding of the problems, plights, and industrial issues there. They also collected farmers and worked with Dongshan Coffee Association and organized a meeting to discuss how they could work together and what could be the future direction of Dongshan coffee. Thanks to the fruitful experience of their implementation, this team was asked to be stationed in STUST’s counseling IQ Space and thus became an entrepreneurial team in September this year.

【"Sunrise from the East Coffee" team】

Every team in STUST "Run for Your Dream" strives to make its dream come true. They have been growing with their experience obtained from their fighting, going far beyond their initial objectives, and, as the most valuable thing, realizing their dreams after they running for their dreams with incredible perseverance.