Panel Discussion on Integrating the “Spotlight Taiwan” Learning Model into Teaching: Faculty Gather to Explore Opportunities for Collaboration

Reported by Wu Yu-chieh, Campus News

The General Education Center of National Chengchi University (NCCU) held a panel discussion on the integration of the “Spotlight Taiwan” learning model into teaching on the 24th, inviting faculty members from various departments to explore potential avenues for future collaboration between NCCU and the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation. The goal is to incorporate the experiential practices of Spotlight Taiwan into academic activities.

Origins of the Collaboration

Since 2009, the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation and NCCU’s Department of Radio and Television have jointly launched the first “Spotlight Taiwan,” calling on university students to “serve with one hand and document with the other.” Participants are encouraged to spend 15 days during the summer in rural and Indigenous communities, providing local services while documenting stories across Taiwan through film and writing.

Growth of the Spotlight Program

Kao Shih-wei, Deputy CEO of the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation and an alumnus of NCCU’s Graduate Institute of Radio and Television, shared that the idea for Spotlight Taiwan emerged from his desire to give back to his juniors during a return visit to campus. Inspired by the concept of service learning, he integrated the Foundation’s 89 “Good Neighbor Digital Centers” across Taiwan to create opportunities for students to live and serve in unfamiliar communities.

Since then, the program has continued to expand—growing from a collaboration with a single department at NCCU to partnerships with universities nationwide. Now in its 16th year, Spotlight Taiwan attracts hundreds of students from across different disciplines every year.

Service as the Core Focus

Unlike typical foundation service programs, Spotlight Taiwan emphasizes “service first, documentation second.” Documentation is merely one method of presentation, not the ultimate goal. Students plan and implement service activities based on the actual needs of local residents. Prior to departure, the Foundation provides training in essential skills such as field research, community interviews, and the production of local gazetteers. During the program, students apply their individual expertise to engage deeply with communities, giving voice to local issues while also discovering their own social impact and personal growth.

In an era of interdisciplinary knowledge, the complexity of contemporary problems can no longer be addressed with traditional thinking. “Every problem has corresponding solutions, grounded in the knowledge we have accumulated. Yet the traditional classification of knowledge can no longer bear the weight of today’s complex environment,” said Dean of Academic Affairs Lin Chi-ping. He further noted that NCCU’s efforts in University Social Responsibility (USR) and experimental education align closely with the philosophy of Spotlight Taiwan. By participating in the program, students experience problems firsthand, discover solutions, and integrate the natural, humanistic, and intellectual worlds within themselves—expanding their perspectives and reshaping their personal values.

Advantages and Challenges of Integrating the Program into Curriculum

Currently, several universities are in discussions with the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation about condensing the Spotlight Taiwan experience into academic courses. NCCU’s Department of Radio and Television, Chinese Culture University’s Department of Chinese Literature, and National Pingtung University’s Department of Special Education already offer related collaborative courses. These courses shift the execution of the program to the university level, with instructors guiding students through “mini-spotlight” projects. This allows students who cannot participate in the full program to learn how to apply their skills in community service. Associate Professor Wang Ya-wei of the Radio and Television Department noted that students’ limited perspectives often result in highly similar topics; therefore, in addition to technical skills, courses should also teach sociology, anthropology, and other subjects to guide students toward a broader perspective in the field.

Dean Li Wei-lun of the X Experimental College believes that the long-standing knowledge and practical experience of Spotlight Taiwan serve as a model for universities. As a hub for cross-disciplinary, self-directed learning and resource sharing, the College hopes to leverage the Foundation’s valuable experience to further collaborate and develop related courses—allowing students to clarify their identities through learning-by-doing while cultivating a spirit of goodwill. Lin Chi-ping added that NCCU’s active engagement in experimental education, sustainability, and interdisciplinary learning has positioned it at the forefront of innovative teaching in Taiwan. The university will fully support internal teaching units in developing collaborations with the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation.

Associate Professor Lan Mei-hua of the Department of Ethnology offered a different perspective, noting that the value of Spotlight Taiwan lies in the integrity of the full participation process. Compressing it into a two- or three-day course may hinder the original goals and effectiveness of the program. Furthermore, community service should be initiated and carried out by students themselves, with the university providing opportunities rather than all resources. “If the work is meaningful and feasible, resources will naturally follow,” Lan said. Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Development Hsu Chih-chien added that, at this stage, it may be more practical for the university to first select suitable experimental courses and then align them with the Foundation’s training resources.

Future Prospects

Ma Ai-hsuan, Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of the General Education Center, shared that the Center plans to implement an “N+X” credit course model next semester, serving as a bridge between formal coursework and fully self-directed learning. The “N” component provides students with the foundational knowledge required for fieldwork, followed by the “X” project, in which students independently execute their own initiatives. She believes that under this framework, collaboration with the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation allows students who have not yet participated in Spotlight Taiwan to gain field experience without compromising the integrity of the overall curriculum. Additionally, it increases students’ chances of standing out in the Spotlight Taiwan selection process.

Wang Ya-ping, Assistant Executive Director and Director of the University Social Responsibility (USR) Office, noted that NCCU is strong in the humanities and social sciences, and considers “visual literacy” an essential secondary skill for students. While students’ visual storytelling abilities have improved over the years, their problem-awareness still needs to be strengthened. NCCU also has over 200 Indigenous students, including approximately 60 Indigenous graduate students. Previous research often addressed community issues solely through written theses; combining these efforts with visual media would enhance their impact. Furthermore, since NCCU’s USR initiatives are deeply engaged across multiple ethnic communities, the Office can assist in connecting the Foundation with potential sites or facilitating the implementation of new thematic projects in the future.