Open AccessGansu Studio: "Plug-in" rural school unit for rural China
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
revista asia américa latina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2524-9347
DOI - 10.33177/6.2
Subject(s) - studio , general partnership , outreach , unit (ring theory) , government (linguistics) , china , engineering , sociology , business , economic growth , political science , psychology , mathematics education , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , finance , economics , law
Gansú ‘Plug-in’ Studio was a community outreach projectbased in China developed over a course of 2 years (2014-2016). Itproposed a complementary approach of education to improve qualityof learning in primary schools in rural areas. The premise for thework was to engage higher education institutions such as UNNCand primary education institutions, such as HEPAN, by exchangeof resources, (e.g. physical or human - staff and students as well ascontexts as real opportunities for learning). It worked using design asa tool for development and environmental awareness. It worked inpartnership with industry and government institutions and it involvedover 120 students and 15 staff from 5 different areas (Architecture,Product Design, Environmental Engineering, Film Studies andEnglish/Education). Through interactive workshops with academicsand industry practitioners, UNNC students were guided to realisetheir ideas through innovative design and sustainable engineeringsolutions, also developed their communication and team workingskills for real to help rural education and community development. Meanwhile, pupils and teachers in rural areas could developsufficiently as their urban counterparts through this connected learninghub. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the processes andoutcomes of Gansu Studio. The Plug-in Gansu Unit was designed tobe the first net positive energy rural school building in China producingan estimated 18304 kWh/year of renewable energy to the schooland reverting back to the county grid an annual extra clean energy2304kWh/annum upon completion. An estimated 22 tons of water peryear would be also saved.