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Feature Story
- Publish Date：2025-04-04
NYCU's Cross-Disciplinary Course “Things We Learned from Animals” Explores the Bond Between Humans and Animals
Exploring Animal Healing: In the 'Things We Learned from Animals' course, students engage with therapy dogs, gaining insights into animal-assisted therapy and reflecting on the value of life.
By Hsiu-Cheng Faina Chang
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According to the "Humane Care of Laboratory Animals Annual Report 2022" released by the Ministry of Agriculture, the total number of laboratory animals used in Taiwan in 2022 exceeded 4.4 million. In our pursuit of excellence in research, have we ever considered the experiences of these laboratory animals when we make incisions? As humanity continually pushes the boundaries of knowledge, are we also losing touch with the essence of life? Reflecting on the significance of animals' existence and reevaluating the value of life could be an important topic within university education.
In the cross-disciplinary GE course ‘Things We Learned from Animals,’ offered jointly by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), and National Chengchi University (NCCU), animals are considered as a medium to enhance our understanding of life and establish connections across various fields of study. Animals are not only human companions and subjects of student learning but also invaluable guides in self-discovery. This course connects various fields with animals, allowing students to experience the healing power of animals firsthand. This leads them to view the impact of animals on humanity from different perspectives and deeply reflect on the value of life.
The Shared Vision of Three Universities: Animals from a Cross-Disciplinary Perspective
The course ‘Things We Learned from Animals’ originated from nearly two decades of academic collaboration among three universities. Reflecting on the initial design of the course, Professor Yi-Hsuan Lee from the Department of Physiology at NYCU, who was the Director of Academic Affairs at the time, remarked, "How to design a general education course that spans across three universities and caters to the interests of students from all three? Eventually, we found that 'animals' was the most resonant topic. The Directors of Academic Affairs at Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA) and National Chengchi University (NCCU) fully supported the idea and even expressed a desire to attend the classes themselves." NYCU's professional background in medical and life sciences, TNUA's focus on arts education, and NCCU's strong foundation in the humanities and social sciences provide a unique interdisciplinary perspective to the course. Since its launch in 2022, the course has covered fields including life sciences, physiological medicine, cognitive psychology, philosophy, and performing arts, all with a humble and open attitude to understanding animals.
In the cross-disciplinary GE course ‘Things We Learned from Animals,’ offered jointly by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), and National Chengchi University (NCCU), animals are considered as a medium to enhance our understanding of life and establish connections across various fields of study. Animals are not only human companions and subjects of student learning but also invaluable guides in self-discovery. This course connects various fields with animals, allowing students to experience the healing power of animals firsthand. This leads them to view the impact of animals on humanity from different perspectives and deeply reflect on the value of life.
The Shared Vision of Three Universities: Animals from a Cross-Disciplinary Perspective
The course ‘Things We Learned from Animals’ originated from nearly two decades of academic collaboration among three universities. Reflecting on the initial design of the course, Professor Yi-Hsuan Lee from the Department of Physiology at NYCU, who was the Director of Academic Affairs at the time, remarked, "How to design a general education course that spans across three universities and caters to the interests of students from all three? Eventually, we found that 'animals' was the most resonant topic. The Directors of Academic Affairs at Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA) and National Chengchi University (NCCU) fully supported the idea and even expressed a desire to attend the classes themselves." NYCU's professional background in medical and life sciences, TNUA's focus on arts education, and NCCU's strong foundation in the humanities and social sciences provide a unique interdisciplinary perspective to the course. Since its launch in 2022, the course has covered fields including life sciences, physiological medicine, cognitive psychology, philosophy, and performing arts, all with a humble and open attitude to understanding animals.
The 'Things We Learned from Animals' course brings together NYCU, TNUA, and NCCU, combining life sciences, arts, and humanities to deepen students’ understanding of the role animals play.
From Theory to Emotion: The Heartfelt On-Site Experience of Animal Therapy
The icebreaker in the classroom has become one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of the course. When the therapy dogs take a lap around the classroom, randomly picking students to answer questions, this design helps students from different universities feel more at ease and encourages them to establish a connection through the animals. In addition, students can observe how therapy dogs respond to various clients, including those with special educational needs (SEN/SEND) and individuals in psychological counseling, further understanding the practical applications of animal-assisted therapy (AAT).
Students interact with therapy dogs during the icebreaker session, fostering connections across universities and gaining insight into animal-assisted therapy.A teaching assistant shared that even the most serious students, during their interactions with the therapy dogs, couldn't help but smile, with some students even exclaiming, "I've never been this happy before!" Tian-Yi Chang, a junior in the Department of Civil Engineering at NYCU, interacted with therapy dogs during class and began to pay closer attention to the psychological needs of pets. She realized that pet behaviors often mirror their owners' emotional states, which led her to significantly change how she treats her pets. Yu-Cheng Lin, a freshman in the electrical engineering department, experienced his first close encounter with animals through this course. Afterward, he not only learned how to interact with animals but also began to reflect on whether he was suited for pet ownership.
Prof. Lee also shared an interesting experience: "Although the teaching assistant for this course volunteered, he was afraid of dogs. However, using the toy shovel to feed the therapy dog, he eventually gained the courage to pet a Chihuahua!" Grace Liu, the Animal-Assisted Therapist who led the session, recounted her most poignant experience. During one interaction with a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), she observed the child gradually moving closer to the therapy dog. At one point, the child even stepped into the dog's shoes to empathize with it. "The power of animal-assisted therapy may be much greater than we imagine," she smiled.
One teaching assistant overcame their fear through interactions with the therapy dogs, eventually gaining the courage to pet one by using a toy shovel to feed it.
This course emphasizes not only feeling the healing power of animal-assisted therapy but also guides students to reflect deeply on various ethical issues surrounding it. Animal-assisted therapy is a reciprocal relationship built on mutual respect and understanding. Questions such as, "How can we ensure the well-being of therapy dogs?" and "How do we prevent animals from being "objectified"? These questions urge students to consider animals' perspectives and deepen their respect for life. Furthermore, through interactions with animals, students learn how to face the challenges at different stages of life—whether it's interpersonal relationships, emotional management, or even issues of life and death—making this a profound life education.
At the end of the interview, Prof. Lee reflected deeply: "This course not only demonstrates the limitless possibilities of animal-assisted therapy but also highlights the students' growth and transformation through interactions with animals. Animals are not merely beings to be cared for; they are companions for the human soul. In this course, each student, through their communication with animals, plants the seed of respect for life." While animals' language may be difficult to fully understand, this kind of life education should continue to deepen, allowing more people to recognize the value of animals and learn how to coexist with all forms of life. After all, every living being in this world deserves to be treated with gentleness, and animals are the best teachers to help us learn this important lesson.
