To help freshmen better understand university life and their surrounding environment, Ming Chi University of Technology (MCUT) has incorporated a small-group “Environment and Action: Field Study” module into its required general education course The Way of University. The module encourages students to step outside the campus and into nearby communities, learning about local contexts through direct observation. On October 12, the course invited Ms. Hsueh-Mei Kuo—an educator long dedicated to Meining doll culture and craftsmanship—to guide 25 students on a field trip to the Taishan Doll Museum in Taishan District, New Taipei City. Through guided tours and hands-on activities, students gained a deeper understanding of the region’s industrial transformation.

　　Inside the exhibition hall, students learned about Taishan’s former role in Taiwan’s export-oriented manufacturing boom and how the Meining Factory became a well-known toy production site during the country’s period of rapid economic growth. The museum houses a diverse collection of dolls from Europe, the United States, Japan, and other countries, showcasing different cultural styles. Several volunteers—local residents who once worked at the Meining Factory—also shared first-hand memories, allowing students to see how the industry shaped community life and collective identity.

　　During the activity, Ms. Kuo taught students how to design and sew simple doll clothing. Through this hands-on experience, students developed a real sense of the precision and patience required in early factory production. Many reflected that only after hearing residents’ stories and making the items themselves did they truly understand the labor and history behind the local industry.

　　The Way of University is not just a general education course— it is a practical curriculum that helps first-year students grasp the meaning of learning and the social contexts that surround them. Through fieldwork, reflection, and engagement with the local community, students are encouraged to consider their own roles and responsibilities within society. MCUT plans to continue deepening its partnerships with local organizations and expand action-based learning opportunities, hoping that students will develop the ability to observe their environment, understand society, and respond to emerging challenges early in their university journey.

中文：明志科大新生走入泰山　踏查美寧文化館揭開在地產業記憶
This article is simultaneously published in the 42th edition of the SDGs E-paper.