According to the results of the 4th selection of exemplary cases of universities contributing to rural revitalization announced recently by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, Taizhou University’s submitted case, “‘Mountains & Seas Rendezvous, Poetic Homestays’—Taizhou University’s Collaborative Practice of Boosting Villages through Cultural Tourism,” was successfully selected. This marks the second consecutive year the university has received this honor, reflecting high recognition of its rural revitalization efforts and demonstrating the effective implementation of its strategy for symbiotic development with the local region.
Facing challenges such as transforming rural culture, coordinating stakeholders, and retaining talent, the cultural tourism integration team described in the case helped local villages develop industry standards covering service quality, health safety, and visitor experience for wellness tourism and homestay services. They organized training programs to upgrade agritainment facilities, guided homestays in applying for provincial “Gold/Silver Homestay” certifications, and promoted standardization and quality improvement in cultural tourism projects. The team also conducted in-depth research into the cultural heritage of the Eastern Zhejiang Tang Poetry Road, Buddhist and Taoist cultures, and local medicinal herb resources, providing valuable insights for driving the growth of the rural cultural tourism industry.
In recent years, TU has actively leveraged its strengths in talent, research, and disciplines to address the rural revitalization needs of mountainous counties. It has dispatched science and technology specialists, culture specialists, and rural revitalization service teams to work directly with agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and villages. Support provided includes agricultural product packaging design, brand strategy, technical consultation, disease prevention guidance, e-commerce live-streaming training for farmers, and establishing online sales channels to boost incomes. The university also contributes to beautiful village planning and construction, and works to preserve and rediscover local traditional culture and intangible cultural heritage, injecting new vitality into comprehensive rural revitalization.
Art and Design students excel in Zhejiang Industrial Design Competition
A team from the School of Art and Design, Taizhou University, achieved outstanding results, winning one first prize, two second prizes, and nine third prizes at the 2025 China Design Award Competition (Higher Education Track) concluded recently. Their winning entry, “Light Following Bag,” claimed the top award, fully demonstrating the exceptional design capabilities and contemporary spirit of TU’s students.
Competition Venue
Under the careful guidance of instructor Ma Jinjin, the team comprising Chen Yubing, Mao Mengting, and Guo Ruting closely followed the competition theme, conducting thorough research into social needs. Their award-winning work, “Light Following Bag,” is an innovative design for storing pet waste bags that addresses the difficulty of cleaning up after pets in the dark, seamlessly blending human-centered design with technological innovation.
Display of the Award-Winning Work
Participating Students and Instructor
This significant first prize not only recognizes the team’s months of hard work and exploration but also represents a fruitful outcome of the School of Art and Design’s long-standing commitment to the talent cultivation model of “Promoting Learning through Competition” and “Integrating Industry and Education.” The school is dedicated to providing high-quality platforms for innovative practice, encouraging students to apply theoretical knowledge to design projects, hone their skills through practical experience, and enhance their overall competence.
This achievement has greatly inspired the creative enthusiasm and drive of both students and faculty at the school. It proves that Art and Design students possess the ability and strength to shine on provincial and higher-level competitive stages, bringing honor to the university. Moving forward, the School of Art and Design will remain true to its founding mission, strive for excellence, continuously deepen teaching reforms, strengthen its core academic development, and cultivate more high-quality design talents equipped with an innovative spirit, practical ability, and social responsibility, contributing the wisdom and strength of “Taizhou University Design” to regional economic and cultural development.
