Hosted by the Ministry of Labor, the regional competition of the 52nd National Skills Contest last week attracted 180 entries competing in 35 categories. CYUT students won six trophies in 3D Digital Game Art, Aircraft Maintenance, and Industrial Design. Winners from all regions will compete for the national championships.

Students of Information Management (Syu Jie-Ling, Lee Hsin-Yu, Li Yi-Han, and Li Chih-Yi) swept the board in the 3D Digital Game Art category, winning first, second, third, and fourth place. Their effort paid off handsomely. The threshold in creating 3D digital games is relatively high, involving a wide range of skill sets from conceptual design of game characters to making animations. It usually takes two to three years to learn different software. Game artists integrate their creativity, technology, and geometry skills in designing captivating animated experiences.

Judges in industrial design emphasized capability in integration, design analysis, and the integrity of the design product. Lai Jhe-Wei, who won third in this category, was grateful for the advice and support from CYUT. It was his first time joining a national competition. "The school trained our design thinking, analytical mind, and design capability in product functions and appearance, aided by 3D model drawing and disassembling. My project supervisor inspired me a lot in entering the national finals," he said. 

The Department of Aeronautical Engineering hosted the aircraft maintenance regional competition for the first time. Examination sites were set in the well-equipped new aviation building. Wang Ming-Che from the aeronautical engineering won third place in this category. He performed well in four main parts: lock-wire practice, sheet metal riveting, aircraft wiring check, and removal/installation of aircraft hydraulic tube and engine fuel nozzle. Wang has been a regular winner of skill competitions since high school. He appreciated the solid training provided by CYUT. Besides classroom training, students in aeronautical engineering also need to train for three hours a day after school to strengthen their practical skills in preparation for this competition. It was never easy.