This winter, Niagara College provided top vocational high school students from Taiwan with an immersive learning experience in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and cutting-edge fields, combining global perspectives with hands-on learning.
The cohort of 22 students from Taoyuan, Taiwan, participated in the Customized Canadian Sustainability and Entrepreneurship Program, developed by Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education and Training.
Workshops included hands-on robotics activities.
Selected for earning top honours at the National High School Skills Competition in Taiwan, these students were among the top three winners in trades such as industrial metalworking, breadmaking, landscape design, apparel design, and other vocational disciplines. This outstanding achievement led the Taoyuan City Department of Education to sponsor their trip to Niagara College, recognizing their exceptional performance at the national level.
From February 2 to 15, the group participated in a range of workshops and hands-on activities across Niagara College’s campuses, covering not only sustainability and entrepreneurship, but also areas such as research & innovation, automotive technology, electronics, landscape design, hospitality, marketing, renewable energy, robotics, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI).
The sessions provided valuable experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to engage with NC faculty and staff who are experts in those fields.
“I believe the most valuable aspect of this training program is that Niagara College has put in great effort to integrate faculty, facilities, and curriculum planning tailored to our students’ needs,” said Hung-Chin Chen, Director of Student Affairs of the Taoyuan Municipal Zhong Li Commercial Senior High School. “The students have compiled their diverse learning experiences into final reports, which are truly impressive. I am very grateful for Niagara College’s dedication to the program.”
The program also included exciting activities such as a visit to the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology, a National Historic Site recognized as a civil and power engineering landmark. Additionally, students engaged in a sensory exercise at Niagara College’s School of Culinary Arts, where they had the opportunity to sample various grades and varieties of chocolate and to learn how to make truffles.
Students learned culinary techniques at the School of Culinary Arts.
The program’s culmination was a capstone project, where students had the chance to apply and demonstrate the skills and knowledge they had acquired throughout their time at Niagara College.
“It was rewarding to hear about their positive experiences, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Lisa Martin, NC’s Global Customized Training and Consulting Project Officer who led the development of the program. “I loved learning about how students were planning on applying the knowledge they gained in practical ways when they returned to Taiwan. This to me was a true testament of global learning.”
The initiative strengthened NC’s relationship with the City of Taoyuan, paving the way for future collaborations and reinforcing the college’s commitment to fostering global connections and exploring new avenues for educational exchange.
Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education and Training
Bringing together the expertise of a highly skilled NC team with partner organizations worldwide, Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education and Training proudly provides educational solutions designed to inspire sustainable global change. For over 20 years, NC has collaborated with global institutions to develop and deliver customized education and training programs as well as capacity building projects, empowering learners and global partners to achieve their goals. Building on this expertise, NC launched its official global education hub in May 2024. This resource leverages NC’s world-renowned education and training programs while also offering newly developed modularized global programs. Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Institute is committed to fostering impactful partnerships and advancing sustainable development through education.
