On May 7, Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction, along with Director Josef Kolosky of the Office of School Approval & Opportunity, visited Taichung City and met with Education Bureau Director Chiang Wei-min. Their visit included a tour of a local career exploration and experience demonstration center and a smart manufacturing center, offering them a closer look at Taichung’s efforts in educational innovation, career exploration, and smart manufacturing education. Director Chiang highlighted that the Education Bureau places great importance on international educational development and looks forward to exploring feasible models of cooperation with international guests.
Director Chiang noted that the Education Bureau provides annual subsidies for high school and vocational students to participate in short-term overseas study programs, and also supports outstanding teachers in pursuing full-time advanced studies abroad. These initiatives aim to expand global perspectives among both groups. During Superintendent Kirsten Baesler’s visit, tours were specially arranged to the Anhe Junior High School’s Career Exploration Center and Taichung Industrial High School’s Smart Manufacturing Center, offering a firsthand look at Taichung’s commitment to vocational education and fostering greater potential for future partnerships.
According to the Education Bureau, the delegation began their visit at Anhe Junior High School, where they explored distinctive programs in areas such as aesthetic environment renewal, arts education, reading promotion, and technical education. They also visited the career exploration center to observe students engaging in simulated workplace activities, including virtual broadcasting and news anchoring. The tour showcased how career exploration and self-fulfillment are integrated into education starting from the junior high level.
In the afternoon, the group visited Taichung Industrial High School’s Smart Manufacturing Center, where they observed students working in facilities such as the CNC five-axis machining center and the automotive and mechanical training workshops. These hands-on demonstrations showcased the school’s effectiveness in training students with both technical knowledge and practical expertise. The delegation also visited the Smart Manufacturing Center to observe a lesson involving AI-powered collaborative robotic arms. The center integrates advanced international equipment and technology with industry partnerships and professional courses, highlighting Taichung’s fusion of vocational education with cutting-edge manufacturing technology.
According to Chieh Chang-Jung, head of the Maker Club at Taichung Industrial High School, the 3D Maker Club centers its efforts on interdisciplinary projects. It combines three key elements: robotics contests, arts exhibitions on emerging AI technology, and volunteer maker initiatives in underprivileged areas, all aimed at promoting interdisciplinary learning and advancing the SDGs. Thanks to the resources provided by the Taichung Maker Center, the club now has access to practical machining equipment and dedicated maker space.
Superintendent Kirsten Baesler commended Taichung’s education policies and its strong execution, noting particular admiration for the city’s smart manufacturing programs, interdisciplinary courses, and active student involvement in society. She expressed hope for more educational exchange and cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. moving forward.