Nanhua University’s Department of Natural Biotechnology continues to advance the Ministry of Education's "New Southbound Talent Cultivation Project." From January 12th to February 12th this year, a seven-member cross-disciplinary student team traveled to Chiang Mai and Lamphun Provinces in Thailand. There, they embarked on a month-long immersive learning and exchange program, integrating local culture, community economics, biotechnology expertise, and sustainable development concepts. The students delved into topics ranging from agricultural resource recycling and ethnic minority cultures to community business management, exploring a key question: "How can agriculture create a future for local communities?"

This project is based on Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) policy. Local communities have already developed their own "BCG models," which are comparable to Taiwan's regional revitalization models. The goal is to explore how agricultural development and regional revitalization can, through circularity, encourage young people to stay in their hometowns to start businesses or find employment, and how the BCG policy can promote ecological balance, organic farming, and a circular economy. The students combined Taiwan's experiences in agricultural innovation and sustainable development, approaching the topic from various angles including the recycling of biological resources, value-added processing of agricultural products, the preservation of ethnic minority cultures, and the management of community enterprises. Students were challenged to think critically within real-world contexts: "Beyond just production, what kind of future can agriculture create for local communities?"

Professor Jun-Hong Lin of the Department of Natural Biotechnology and Dean of the General Education Center pointed out that through this initiative, students engaged in collaborative learning, co-creation, and mutual benefit with the community. As a result, they gained a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of the green circular economy and sustainable development through issues related to environmental change.

University President Chin-Hsung Kao stated that in the face of global climate change and challenges in agricultural transformation, universities should play a role in integrating knowledge and guiding values. He emphasized that Nanhua University will continue to focus on sustainable development, deepen connections with Southeast Asian partners, and cultivate professionals with both international perspectives and social concern. The goal is to enable learning to truly connect with the land, making the land itself the best classroom.