Taipei Tech and Japan's Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) had the 2024 Sustainable Urban Development International Exchange Workshop, organized by Taipei Tech's Office of Research and Development and Research Center of Energy Conservation (RCEC) for New Generation of Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Sectors. A total of 26 freshmen and sophomores from kyutech School of Engineering, majoring in engineering, as well as architecture, collaborated and exchanged idea with 29Taipei Tech students.

Students from both schools engaged in cross-disciplinary learning, acting as urban observers to find sustainable urban innovations that can be applied in Taipei. They explored innovative concepts such as geothermal power generation and electricity-generating sidewalks. This exercise helped foster green thinking in these students.

Taipei Tech stated that the group visiting Beitou observed the relatively underdevelped geothermal power generation in Taiwan compared to Japan. They proposed a plan to introduce geothermal power generation to Beitou while revitalizing the local economy and tourism. This concept earned them the "Best Practice Award." The group visiting Jiufen drew inspiration from the abundant tourist traffic. Their proposal started out as electricity-generating sidewalks and progressed to the more feasible piezoelectric roads, earning them the "Best Sustainability Award." Another group proposed an improved wide-body elevated bus, with the goal of promoting electric bus while alleviating traffic congestion for commuters. This earned them the "Best Creativity Award."

Taipei Tech Dean of Office of Research and Development, Chuang Ho-chiao, encouraged all participating students to seize this opportunity to improve their English communication skills and expand their international networks. He also inspired everyone to use their professional knowledge and diverse perspectives with teammates, and propose effective solutions for urban sustainability. 

Taipei Tech Director for RCEC and Dean of the College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Chien Liang-han, pointed out that the workshop aimed to strengthen cross-disciplinary cooperation between Taiwanese and Japanese students. The workshop allowed students the opportunity to think about ways of implementing concepts such as renewable energy, waste management, recyclable containers, Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable transportation in various urban spaces like old streets, historical sites, transportation facilities, and pedestrian paths. 

The event organizer Assistant Professor Juan Yu-hsuan, of Taipei Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering, indicated that more than half of the participants are engineering majors. During the workshop, participants practiced design thinking and brainstorming with peers from difference disciplines to tackle real-world problems. Take waste management for example, students discussed the issue from the perspectives of available technologies, existing policies, educational approaches, and regional and national differences. The workshop planted potential opportunities for future international collaboration on sustainability and connected budding, cross-domain engineers in green technologies.

Chinese Resource：https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/4602442