Hungkuo Delin University Partners with Qingxi Rotary Club to Empower Rural Hualien Communities Through Professional Expertise and Social Good

Rural education requires long-term commitment and relies on cross-sectoral resources. Hungkuo Delin University, through its University Social Responsibility (USR) regional revitalization program, joined forces with the Taipei City Qingxi Rotary Club to enter Ruisui, Hualien. By integrating digital devices, campus beautification, and hospitality services, the university transformed academic expertise into practical actions tailored to local needs, broadening learning horizons for rural students and demonstrating how industry-academia collaboration can become a driving force for regional revitalization.

Two decades of deep engagement have built strong trust within indigenous communities, enabling meaningful collaboration between universities, schools, and local tribes. Assistant Professor Tsai Hsien-jung from Hungkuo Delin University’s Department of Hospitality Management has served rural and indigenous communities for over 20 years. Guided by the philosophy of teaching professional skills to students and then empowering them to serve locally, he leads students in participating in the Ministry of Education’s USR program, applying classroom knowledge directly in community service. His dedication earned him recognition as a 2026 New Taipei City SUPER Teacher.

Professor Tsai has long collaborated with Lu Mu-Yi-Yi, principal of Hegang Elementary School in Hualien County, gradually establishing trust among the university, school, and tribal communities. This time, both parties facilitated a connection with the Qingxi Rotary Club, integrating corporate resources, philanthropy, and school needs to transform rural service from one-time donations into a long-term model focused on sustained engagement, talent development, and mutual well-being.

On August 1, the Qingxi Rotary Club launched its charitable initiative, providing 25 refurbished computers to students across four schools: Hegang Elementary, Wuhu Elementary, Ruisui Elementary, and Ruisui Junior High. The donation event attracted over 50 students, parents, and teachers who gathered to witness technology resources entering rural campuses.

These devices were prepared with assistance from Rotary member Yang Cheng-ning, General Manager of Hua-Ching Information Enterprise Co., who utilized corporate equipment upgrades to refurbish old machines—expanding memory, adding wireless network capabilities, and pairing them with child-friendly monitors and keyboards. This gave retired equipment new educational value and lowered the barrier for rural students to access digital tools.

Forty members and family members of the Qingxi Rotary Club, led by President Cheng Kai-chung—CEO of Jiwei Jisi Advertising Company—painted the exterior walls of a food-and-agriculture classroom under scorching heat. Working in shifts for six hours, they applied modern designs fused with indigenous cultural motifs onto the walls, transforming a once-dull space into a culturally distinctive learning environment.

The mural design was created by Ouyuan Branding & Design Company, with paint materials generously donated by Rotary members. During the event, Principal Lu explained that an Amis tribal house on campus had been damaged by typhoons but remained unrepaired due to insufficient resources. Upon hearing this, several Rotary members immediately offered help, opening pathways for future restoration efforts and deeply moving the entire school community.

Hospitality and catering services for dozens of attendees were fully managed by Hungkuo Delin University’s hospitality students: Zhou Ling-fei, Zheng Yi-hua, Qin Yu-qiao, and Gu Ci-min. From ingredient sourcing and cleaning to cooking and plating, the students handled every step themselves, turning their academic training into impactful service for the charitable event.

To allow Rotary members, school staff, and community residents to enjoy freshly brewed coffee, the students roasted coffee beans at their campus beforehand, packed portable kettles, grinders, filter cones, paper filters, and cups into luggage, and transported everything from Taipei to Ruisui, Hualien. On-site, they ground beans individually, performed hand brews, and also prepared cold drip coffee based on preferences—showcasing meticulous service and the professionalism of future hospitality leaders.

Professor Tsai emphasized that rural service goes beyond delivering supplies; it’s about understanding local needs and building relationships that last. Through this experience, students learned teamwork, communication, and adaptability while gaining personal growth from exposure to indigenous cultures and lifestyles.

From refurbished computers and campus murals to hospitality services, Hungkuo Delin University and the Qingxi Rotary Club combined diverse expertise to support rural Hualien. This cross-domain collaboration not only delivered tangible resources to children but also showed university students how their professional skills can create social change—embodying the university’s mission of 'cultivating virtue in individuals and extending grace to society.'