Since 2020, Taiwan Tech has been actively involved in post-earthquake reconstruction efforts across several remote regions of Nepal. In July this year, under the "Taiwan Tech – USR Beyond Borders" initiative, Professor Hsiao Po-Chien from the Department of Construction Engineering led a project team of 13 students to a remote area in Nepal. Their mission was to construct a handmade pathway for a local orphanage, enhance the surrounding environment, and engage in cultural exchange activities such as teaching Chinese to the children at the orphanage. 

Taiwan Tech students explain the path building techniques with the children of the orphanage.

Chinese language lessons for the children in the orphanage were part of the program

The Taiwan Tech team collaborated with the Jhu Jhu Mama Children's Education and Care Association. The original plan was to rebuild a collapsed slate house into a storytelling house in the village of Pisang. In 2023, the team had completed an on-site survey, and after returning to Taiwan, the students spent a year meticulously planning the engineering and space design.
However, this year’s plans were disrupted by continuous heavy rain, which washed out the roads leading to Pisang. For safety reasons, the Taiwan Tech team altered their itinerary and instead traveled to Pharping, a suburb southwest of Kathmandu. There, they constructed a natural, safe, handmade pathway for the local orphanage, Bodhichitta Development Society, demonstrating Taiwan Tech's active commitment to international community service.

To prepare for their trip to Nepal, Taiwan Tech students visited the Old Jiaping Tribe in Pingtung in June, where they learned pathway construction techniques from the Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association [link](https://www.tmitrail.org.tw/). In Pharping , the  Taiwan Tech team  worked hard to level the slope, handle gravel and slate paving, using traditional Paiwan techniques - one of Taiwan’s aboriginal communities - to build slate steps connecting the orphanage area with the driveway. However,Tsai Tsung-Han, a student from the Department of Construction Engineering, noted that the geology in Nepal was very different from that of the Old Jiaping Tribe. Despite their preparation, the team encountered numerous challenges, such as balancing aesthetics and durability. Ongoing discussion and decision-making was required to adapt to the local situation. Man Bahadur Adhikari, the director of the Nepal orphanage, expressed special gratitude to the Taiwan Tech team for their assistance and praised the students' professional abilities and friendly attitude. 

The Taiwan Tech team paved the handmade pathway at the orphanage entrance, allowing children and teachers to safely travel between the orphanage area and the driveway

Taiwan Tech student offers one-to-one Chinese language tutorial 

In addition to on-site service, the Taiwan Tech team visited Kathmandu University and Tribhuvan University for academic exchanges. The Department of Civil Engineering at Kathmandu University is renowned in the field of water resources. The team explored the university's facilities, including the learning tunnel and physical models of dams and bridges, to gain insights into hydropower practices. Tribhuvan University is notable for its long history and comprehensive experimental facilities. The visits to its structural and hydraulic laboratories were particularly impressive. 

Group photo during the visit to Kathmandu University

Taiwan Tech students are introduced to a dam model at Kathmandu university

A group photo at Tribhuvan University

Taiwan Tech students are introduced toCentrifugal Pump Test Rig  at Tribhuvan University

To foster mutual research, student exchanges, and USR (University Social Responsibility) cooperation, Taiwan Tech plans to sign faculty or department-level MOUs with both universities, laying the groundwork for future cross-border collaboration.Taiwan Tech will continue to encourage faculty and students to engage in international cooperation projects. Professor Hsiao Po-Chien remarked, "I am pleased to see Taiwan Tech students fully enjoying hands-on experiences in a new environment, showcasing their abilities in local engineering design and implementation." He also expressed hopes to return to Pisang next year to complete the storytelling house project and expand the service area to other regions of Nepal, promoting cross-cultural exchange and enhancing students' sense of social responsibility.

For the Taiwan Tech students, this project under the "Taiwan Tech – USR Beyond Borders" initiative was a truly valuable learning experience, sharpening their civil engineering skills and broadening their international perspectives. By transforming classroom learning into real-world action that benefits a local community, Taiwan Tech demonstrates its commitment to cultivating "π-type talents". It strengthened students' professional skills (π left pillar), liberal arts literacy (π right pillar ), and international communication  (crossbar), fostering innovative and socially responsible technological talent.

More information on Taiwan Tech USR projects (in Chinese)