Comics develop and dreams emerge: the 2015 Achievement Exhibition of Personnel
Training Program in Comics Industry and Lectures of Masters, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture.

【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology hosted the "2015 Comic Stars" personnel training program in comics industry. Photo: on-site participants, VIPs, executives, and students.】

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology hosted the "2015 Comic Stars" personnel training program in comics industry on September 3th, which published the results of the opening ceremony and was held in Tainan cultural and creative park. Works by painstaking, wonderful students were shown in Tainan Cultural & Creative Park (September 3th- 7th).

【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology hosted the "2015 Comic Stars" personnel training program in comics industry. Photo: on-site participants, VIPs, executives, and students.】

In order for the personnel training of domestic comics industry to take root and to get a good and long-term development, the Ministry of Culture offered the "Personnel Training Program in Comics Industry" for industry talent as a cultivation plan. It openly called for participants who have been trained on comics, hired online practitioners and lecturers, and planned on courses combining theory and practice, thereby encouraging professionals to develop and enhance the quality of their works.

【President Tai (left) of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Der-Li Chen (Editor in Chief of Tsang-Hun Publisher), and Yu-Chien Ching (trainee) with her work— "Yu Ling"】

The program officially launched on April 11th. In a period of more than four-months, trainees encountered many bottlenecks and challenges. The 100 participants came from different backgrounds, including zealous art students, part-time models, overseas students who returned home for their dreams, and professional nursing students who gave up their jobs just for their love of comics. They gathered in one place just for their enthusiastic perseverance on this road. "On the road" is a documentary film that depicts the unknown stories of these trainees, which invites you to participate in their dream and feel their pure hearts for comics!

【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology hosted the "2015 Comic Stars" program. President Tai visited trainees and appreciated their co-authored work, "Awakening at the Moment."】

In addition to showing students’ works, the achievement exhibition also invited from Hong Kong cartoonist Wun-Jai Lau and two cartoonists from Japan to closely shared laughter and tears in their creative works. In order to strengthen the follow-up activities and to promote the use of student works, at the end of the exhibition, the exhibition will be moved to the Kaohsiung Software Park Exhibition, inviting professionals in cultural-creativity, software, animation firms to exchange their ideas. After the exhibition, participants’ outstanding works will be assembled into a collection.

The Ministry of Culture said that this program is given the purpose to create a series of incubation and mentoring. It is desirable to provide aspiring domestic cartoon industry excellent artists to have a space for their publication, supported by the government and academia -industrial cooperation with the parties. We should look forward to the future of Taiwan's original comic footing and it advancing to a broader stage.

【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology hosted the "2015 Comic Stars" program. Photo: Trainee Yi-Lin Chun and her work, "Princess in Acropolis."】

President Tai of Southern Taiwan University of Science said that this year STUST first has the opportunity to host the training program. It is also the first real binding power of education to cultivate Taiwan's comic talents. Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has been engaged in education for nearly 50 years; it has been elevating the students' vocational aptitudes in a helpful direction. The School of Digital Design was founded 10 years ago for training students in design, art, creative games and other personnel from teaching and learning. We also know that the comics and fiction are the source of all kinds of creation, which are the fundamentals. Taiwan has been focused on current cultural and creative industries about movies, about games, and about the strength of these animations