Vocational Trainer / University Lecturer / Interior Designer / Renovation Engineer / Carpenter / Doctoral Student in Industrial Education(TVET)Since childhood, I've worked alongside my father in the construction and renovation industry, learning carpentry and project management. I pursued my education while working, attending vocational school, night college, and eventually earning a master's degree through a professional program. I also dedicated over a decade to weekend classes at cram schools to further my expertise.Throughout my career, I've felt a sense of frustration and limitation within the interior design industry. The apprenticeship system for training skilled tradespeople, whether in masonry, electrical work, carpentry, or painting, is severely outdated. My own learning experience involved an informal apprenticeship where knowledge was passed down orally or through demonstration on the job site. There was no structured curriculum, and learning opportunities depended entirely on chance. Possessing technical skill and the ability to teach that skill are two distinct things. The classroom environment I envisioned was often replaced by a chaotic worksite with shouting and insults. Additionally, the shortage of skilled workers inadvertently benefits some tradespeople, as it ensures job security and discourages them from fully sharing their knowledge.After years in interior design, I was fortunate to transition into teaching. I currently serve as a contract trainer and lecturer at various institutions, including the Ministry of Labor's Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli Branch, the Veterans Affairs Commission's Vocational Training Center, and private cram schools. I aim to bridge the gap between practical industry skills and theoretical knowledge found in textbooks, creating structured and systematic teaching materials that encompass both. Upon joining a vocational university as a lecturer, I became even more aware of the disconnect between academia and real-world practice, as well as the limitations of the education system and my own abilities. Last year, I enrolled in a doctoral program in Industrial Education at National Taiwan Normal University to deepen my understanding of vocational education and contribute to its advancement.Eros Chen ^____^