The first Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp of STUST was successfully completed recently. This preparatory camp was organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of STUST. Prof. Chi-lian Wang and Prof. Zheng-yuan Li from the Bilingual Teaching Promotion Center, Prof. Fang-li Lin from the Department of Applied English, Prof. Jing-yi Zheng from the Department of Information Communication, and other teachers collaborated on an interdisciplinary basis to developed creative ideas and proposals with freshmen from 11 different departments in the two-week intensive program, enriching local history, data analysis, visual presentation, and other key capabilities. Together teachers and students created a rare cross-domain experience and learning outcomes.

【A group photo of the achievement presentation for the first Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp of STUST. 】

The first Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp of STUST borrowed from the block school system planning. Under the framework of two general courses—"Day Reading Tainan Playing Materials" and "Local Cultural Creation Learning," information literacy, humanistic and social practice literacy, and SDGs were linked to learning activities. Students were brought to the West Gate market, interviews, storytelling workshops, cloth industry and circular economy, InDesign workshops, and classes taught by experts and professionals invited from different industries to cooperate in teaching. The students were therefore able to see the diverse possibilities of professional practice combined with local concerns. On the final day of achievement presentation, the students presented their learning outcomes as creative proposals and transformed the field visit materials, questionnaires collected and analyzed into brochures, websites, and documentaries with rich content, interesting and amazing.

【The first Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp of STUST used SDGs board games to guide students to understand the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.】

Sin-yu Tsai, a student from the Department of Business Management, STUST, said that she felt the warm human feelings and profound cultural heritage of Tainan through visiting the market in West Taiwan, and she realized the importance of preserving the local culture. It is a very rare experience for our students to try multiple exploration courses, such as website construction, story writing, video shooting and data analysis, within two weeks. Growth and change are not limited to students. This time, the four teachers cooperated to solve the difficulties students encountered and to provide feedback in different professional fields. They deeply realized that an individual can only initiate limited innovation and that it takes the cooperation, support, and encouragement of teachers to create a warmer, more diverse teaching experience.

【Students of the STUST Summer Preparatory Camp were discussing creative ideas and proposals in groups.】

Prof. Da-fu Huang, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, STUST, said that the experience of this pre-camp can expand students' vision of college life in the next four years and also develop more confidence in their majors. He hoped that this successful experience would lead the follow-up literacy to the earning activities of different fields in a more exciting direction.

【The Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp used the marshmallow challenge icebreaker game to quickly develop their teamwork and tacit understanding among students.】

Deng-maw Lu, President of STUST, said that the number of new students in higher education has been decreasing year by year, while STUST is actively planning more solid curriculum design that meets students’ need in their diverse and interdisciplinary learning, assisting students in acquiring core competencies, integrating people orientation and life exploration into humanities and social sciences, and deepening students' sense of community and belonging. It is hoped that the students will transform their enthusiasm for learning and innovative energy stimulated by this prerequisite camp into nutrients for their growth in the next four years.

【A group photo of teachers and students of the Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp were stepping into Shennong Street in the West Gate Market by the lead of the tour guide.】

【Students of the Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp focused on knowledge and skills of learning data processing from invited teachers.】

【 Students from Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp of STUST went to the West Gate Market to interview the owner of a cloth store.】

【A group photo of teachers and students from the Literacy-Oriented Freshman Summer Preparatory Camp of STUST were visiting the Chi Mei Museum.】