Hand in Hand: NCKU College of Social Sciences and Local High Schools Co-Create a Symphony of Self-Directed Learning-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

The College of Social Sciences at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) hosted the eighth edition of its integrative, practice-based course, “Leadership and Action,” with the “Leadership and Action—High School Student Learning Showcase” held on December 20. The event brought together 40 students from local high schools—including National Tainan Second Senior High School, TNSSH (臺南二中), Sheng Kung Girls' High School, SKGSH (聖功女中), and National Nanke International Experimental High School, NNKIEH (南科實中)—alongside 28 NCKU undergraduates. Through cross-disciplinary collaboration and exchange, participants demonstrated their learning outcomes.

The course collaboration began over the summer through a call for project proposals. NCKU faculty and students visited the three high schools to hold informational sessions. By September, 44 submissions were received, resulting in 13 selected projects that formed self-directed learning teams composed of both high school and university students. Over a three-month period, teams worked collaboratively under the guidance of undergraduates, enabling high school students to gradually become familiar with the structure of research projects. Participants enhanced their skills in literature review, data organization, and research methodology. This “hand-in-hand” collaborative model not only facilitated mutual learning between instructors and students but also demonstrated the practical potential of innovative teaching. Students extended their focus from personal and local issues to broader social concerns, strengthening both their interdisciplinary understanding and communication skills.

The showcased projects were framed from high school students’ perspectives. Many began with personal experiences and were further explored through in-depth interviews and surveys, aligning with the autonomous learning spirit and diverse, cooperative principles emphasized in Taiwan’s 108 Curriculum Guidelines. Topics ranged from current affairs—including the reopening of military trials, Tainan sidewalk planning, criminal psychology of copycat offenders, K-pop fan consumption culture, and bilingual/multilingual policy in Taiwan—to lifestyle issues such as specimen preparation, traditional Chinese medicine for stress relief, gender awareness in single-gender schools, microfilm production, diverse perspectives on school uniforms, willingness to pay for sneakers, and the relationship between commuting and learning outcomes. A total of 13 project teams presented rich and diverse content.

The results demonstrate that under the 108 Curriculum Guidelines, students have developed small-scale research projects with both depth and social relevance. They have systematically explored topics of personal interest while showing proactive concern for social issues. Over successive editions of the course, students’ presentation and communication skills have consistently improved, reflecting tangible outcomes of competency-based learning.

Among the top-performing teams, four students from NNKIEH—Jin-Hsuan Liu (劉菫軒), Chen-Hsun Li (李晨熏), Liang-Ying Lin (林亮穎), and Tzi-Yun Chiu (邱子芸)—guided by NCKU undergraduates Chu-Chiao Hong (洪楚喬) and Hao-Ming Liu (劉浩銘), presented their project, “Practical Applications and Challenges in Tainan Sidewalk Design.” The team drew on their daily commuting and walking experiences to investigate sidewalk regulations. They conducted field surveys comparing different sidewalk types and identified non-compliant areas, while referencing exemplary domestic and international cases. The team offered specific recommendations for sidewalk design, policy, and pedestrian and cyclist education, demonstrating the ability to transform everyday observations into systematic research and actionable social proposals.

Another winning team, composed of two students from SKGSH—Chian-Han Wang (王芊涵) and Pin-Fei Chen (陳品霏)—focused on gender and legal issues. With guidance from NCKU undergraduates Yi-Hsuan Tsai (蔡依璇) and Yan-Yu Tseng (曾彥瑜), they conducted thorough literature reviews to establish relevant concepts, designed a survey for a single-gender school, and analyzed the results using t-tests. Their findings demonstrated the reliability and validity of the survey design and prompted reflections on gender education and peer interactions in Taiwan, earning high praise from the judges.

Principal Yan-Hsu Lin (林晏旭) of TNSSH expressed gratitude for the sustained support from NCKU’s College of Social Sciences, noting that the event allowed high school and university students to learn from each other. He highlighted the evident growth in students’ skills and the initiative displayed in self-directed learning. Director Ru-Ting Chen (陳汝婷) of NNKIEH also thanked the College for providing valuable opportunities for learning and observation, emphasizing that the intensive semester-long engagement allowed students to immerse themselves in research and produce meaningful results. She encouraged students to recognize their own efforts, noting that the learning process itself is an achievement.

The showcase extended special thanks to NCKU College of Social Sciences Dean Chuan-Li Tsai (蔡群立), Associate Dean Chong-Fan Hu (胡中凡), Department of Economics Chair Chang-Ching Lin (林常青), Associate Professor Chi-Cheng Meng (蒙志成) (Department of Political Science), Associate Professor Wan-Ju Yeh (葉婉如) (Department of Law), and Associate Professor Yan-Lian Kuo (郭彥廉) (Department of Economics) for their guidance. Appreciation was also extended to high school staff—TNSSH Director Yi-Lang Tu (涂益郎), SKGSH Director Hui-Yu Yeh (葉惠玉) and teacher Meng-Ru Lin (林孟如), and NNKIEH teacher Yi-Ling Liao (廖翊伶)—for their support throughout the course.

The event highlighted undergraduates’ leadership and mentoring skills while providing high school students with scaffolded support to expand their perspectives on social issues. Through cross-disciplinary collaboration, students at different educational stages exchanged diverse viewpoints, demonstrating depth and richness in learning. The College of Social Sciences aims to continue serving as a bridge between higher and secondary education, nurturing future talent and enabling students to thrive and flourish. For more details, please visit the official website of the Social Data Science Program.