Premier Jiang Yi-huah has instructed Minister without Portfolio Tsai Yu-ling to help the Ministry of Education (MOE) come up with a plan and seek funding in two months to set up in senior high schools a 3D printing education project.
The Premier is acting on the the advice of Minister of Science and Technology Chang San-cheng that modern design stresses the use of 3D printing technology, access to which by senior high and vocational school students early on can help stimulate interest in innovative designs.
The Premier has demanded the MOE to examine whether the 2014 budget for senior high and vocational education suffices for students to broadly use 3D printers. The ministry says there are several schools on the island that already have 3D-printing curriculum and the equipment.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), a 3D printer can cost tens of thousands to millions of NT dollar, but having such equipment can inspire senior high and vocational school students to work on innovative designs. Ministry officials point out that 3D printing is technologically mature now globally; for instance, the government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has transferred the technology to the Aurora Group, which has commercialized the technology.
Jiang's decision to foster 3D-printing education at senior high and vocational schools has been applauded by the island's industries, which have long criticized the government's education policies in recent year for not meeting industrial needs.
The Aurora Group points out that as tooling molds are relatively costly for students working on creative designs, 3D printing can help to reduce such costs.
Kinpo Electronics Inc. feels that unlike many electronics industries, 3D printing is an industry that can operate without following standards created by international heavyweights like Microsoft and Google, providing Taiwan the opportunity to develop an industry and standards, software, and even components by itself. (KL)
