2026 Nepal Project Implementation
Updated: Oct 15
In 2026, the faculty and student team from the Department of Civil Engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), led by Associate Professor Po-Chien Hsiao and comprising 10 students, embarked on their continued mission to Upper Pisang in the Manang region of Nepal. Following years of meticulous structural rehabilitation, design, and community engagement, the Pisang Story House officially celebrated its soft opening, marking a transformative milestone from an abandoned stone ruin into a permanent cultural hub and community center.
Integrating engineering expertise, place branding, and digital media, the team advanced community revitalisation through multifaceted initiatives:
Interactive Photo-Check-in Signposts & Gamified Scavenger Hunt: The team designed and installed durable metal information signs across key landmarks. Operating as a scavenger hunt, visitors capture photos framing both the signpost and the scenery to redeem local rewards, successfully promoting village attractions and driving local business vitality.
Digital Travel Hub & Social Media Platforms: A comprehensive "Pisang Tourism Website" was launched alongside official social media channels (Instagram and Facebook) centered on the Story House, overcoming mountainous geographic barriers to connect the village with global travelers.
Comprehensive Video Documentation & Media Outreach: The team filmed and produced a series of immersive cultural documentaries and travel guides spotlighting traditional attire, local cuisine, eco-tourism sights, the journey behind the Story House, and an ascent documentary of Pisang Peak.
Sustained School Disaster Risk Reduction Education: Disaster preparedness workshops continued at local elementary schools, utilizing gamified modules to instill vital earthquake response postures, emergency kit preparation, and structural hazard awareness among students.
Long-Term Structural Inspection & Humanitarian Outreach: The team revisited local orphanages to assess the structural integrity and maintenance needs of previously built handcrafted stone retaining walls and pathways, while spending quality time engaging with and supporting the children.
Concluding the expedition, the NTUST team returned to Kathmandu University for in-depth academic discussions, engaging in technical dialogues and outlining future collaborative projects and institutional partnerships, cementing the enduring educational ties between Taiwan and Nepal.
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