The Department of Business Management at Chung Yuan Christian University places great emphasis on cultivating students’ international vision and cross-cultural communication skills. Each summer, the department actively arranges overseas internships to enhance students’ competitiveness in a globalized environment. From August to September 2024, business management students participated in a 33-day internship in Okinawa, Japan, focusing on regional revitalization. Through hands-on experience, they deepened their professional skills and gained a better understanding of the core concepts of sustainable development and regional revitalization, laying a solid foundation for their future international careers.
During this internship, Chung Yuan Christian University students collaborated with the regional revitalization organizations FOOD REBORN and Coconova, participating in the planning of various activities. They assisted in designing local festivals and experienced the integration of local industries and market demands by selling Okinawan Shikuwasa products. Additionally, the students helped film promotional videos to support local creators’ services. Notably, they operated a pineapple fiber extraction machine developed by Professor Tsai-Wang Chung from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Chung Yuan University, learning how to transform pineapple leaves into reusable resources, thus exploring new possibilities for carbon reduction and a circular economy.
FOOD REBORN, driven by the vision of a “waste-free future,” promotes the sustainable development of creative industries. It provides equipment such as DTF printers, inkjet printers, and computerized sewing machines, encouraging creators to utilize eco-friendly technologies to transform their ideas into high-quality, sustainable products, thus reducing production waste. Student Chen Tsai-Ling shared that the most memorable experience was participating in a Taiwan-Japan cultural exchange event during the Ogimi Village festival. Using cards featuring Taiwan’s Taipei 101 and Okinawan landmarks, the interaction with local residents not only enhanced their appreciation of the village’s vibrancy but also successfully promoted greater understanding of Taiwanese culture.
The local revitalization organization, Coconova, focuses on promoting Okinawa’s economic and community development by integrating resources, innovative strategies, and cultural exchanges to revitalize the local economy. Chung Yuan’s business management students organized a Taiwan-Japan food event under the theme of “Love for Hometown,” using Okinawan ingredients such as black sugar and Shikuwasa to make pearl milk tea and braised pork rice, allowing local residents to experience authentic Taiwanese flavors. They also incorporated social media marketing to showcase Taiwanese food culture. Student Chen Tsai-Ling mentioned that, at first, they thought selling the products would be easy, but after two attempts, they finalized the best approach. This process made them deeply appreciate the importance of communication and language, while also gaining a better understanding of cross-cultural market operations and management.
The internship results presentation for Chung Yuan Christian University’s Department of Business Management was held on September 6 at Coconova, drawing numerous distinguished guests. Among the attendees were Kaori Taira, General Manager of FOOD REBORN, Yukihiro Kitano, head of Coconova, and representatives from the Okinawa IT Innovation Strategy Center, who all came to show their support. From Chung Yuan University, Chief Sustainability Officer Wang Yu-Chun, Vice President for Industry-Academia Collaboration Chiu Yu-Ching, and Director of the Office of Sustainable Governance Lee Ming-Yen were present to witness the students’ hard work and achievements. Representatives from the Okinawa IT Innovation Strategy Center expressed great admiration for the students’ innovative performance and look forward to further collaboration in the future.
Chung Yuan Christian University stated that since the establishment of its Department of Business Management in 1967, it has grown into a renowned institution for management education both domestically and internationally, with a strong emphasis on fostering cross-cultural exchange and cultivating a global perspective. This Okinawa internship program exemplifies the university’s commitment to internationalized education, and the experience and skills students gained will be invaluable as they pursue careers in international management. Moreover, Chung Yuan has demonstrated excellence in its University Social Responsibility (USR) initiatives, actively promoting sustainable development, regional revitalization, and social responsibility. Through diverse community engagement and industry-academia collaborations, the university continues to make a positive impact on society, deeply rooted in local development.
