Teach to design: helping students make good use of their talent in pursuit of their dreams, Chun-Ren Chen from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology
won the Best Teacher of the Year Award

According to the latest announcement of the Ministry of Education, Professor Chun-Ren Chen from the department of Visual Communication Design, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, was on the List of 2016 Best Teachers of the Year Award, becoming the best college teacher of the year in the designing category. Chen graduated from the Department of Industrial Design of National Yunlin University of Science and Technology and acquired his Master and PhD from the Institute of Industrial Design of National Cheng Kung University. He once served in the patent review board of Intellectual Property Office, where he obtained his professional license in patenting. Over more than 10 years in teaching, Chen has never stopped making improvement on his curriculum design, diversified his curriculum to stimulate students' creativity, encourage students to think and explore as much as possible rather than to have answers directly from his instruction. He has won 5 Best Teacher Awards at STUST and helped students win a lot of domestic and international design awards. Last year, Chen was awarded the International Award for Outstanding Inventors Hall of Fame by Vice President, which affirmed his professional performance in designing. This year he was awarded the highest honor for the teaching job with this Best Teacher Award.

【Professor Chun-Ren Chen from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (right) guided his students to the gold medal in the International Exhibition of Invention.】

Chen showed special thanks to his parents for their love and support; his parents taught him by their examples and words, which has been the paradigm of his educational work and made him convinced that a good learning attitude is more important than learning skills. In addition, the great family atmosphere has given him the indispensable positive force he needs at work. He is very grateful to Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, which, in the face of low birth rate, stops to create a good learning environment to make teachers continue to grow. Faced with declining birthrate, he believes that teachers can work on more refined teaching activities

【Professor Chun-Ren Chen from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (right) guided his students to the German Red Dot Design Award】

Chen pointed out that designing is fun, but one has to first find the passions for designing before she can show her creativity to the ultimate extent. Today the environment for higher education in Taiwan has changed dramatically over the past ten years, affected by such factors as low birth rate, greatly diversified enrollments, changes in the mainstream industries, etc. College students constantly face greater academic stresses and employment pressure. He therefore stressed the very first establishment of student self-confidence before talking about how to learn effectively. In addition, Chen has found that many students feel confused about their future. Teachers have to respect every student’s expectation for personal development, listen and encourage them, and give them professional advice. This can help students clarify their interests and expertise and make them understand how to further take advantage of their talent in pursuit of their dreams.

【Professor Chun-Ren Chen from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (right, front row) and graduates】