To encourage demonstration of characteristics of and achievements in marine education and to promote mutual observation, exchange, learning, and applications among local governments, the Taiwan Marine Education Center was commissioned by the K-12 Education Administration to organize the selection of municipalities, counties, and cities with outstanding marine education promotion achievements for academic year 2019.

　　Selection was based on three major criteria: online platform, written report, and display of county/city-level marine education achievements. Five reviewers were recruited to evaluate the online platform and written report criteria. The selection period was August 1 to August 12, 2020 . In addition, the Taiwan Marine Education Center organized the 2020 National Marine Education Achievement Observation and Teacher Training Conference in Penghu County during August 19 to August 21, 2020. Five reviewers were invited to evaluate the criterion of display of county/city-level marine education achievements. This criterion was particularly fascinating in that it involved on-site display of marine education promotion outcomes by local governments as well as in-person communication with the reviewers, constituting an excellent opportunity for local governments to observe and learn from one another.

　　The selection meeting was scheduled for 7:30 pm on August 20, 2020 at the multifunctional conference room on the third floor of Four Points by Sheraton Penghu. After the scores of each reviewer were standardized, three local governments were awarded as being outstanding, five were awarded honorable mention, and five were recognized for their fine work (no substantive rewards). New Taipei City, Tainan City, and Penghu County received the “outstanding” award. The “honorable mention” award went to Kaohsiung City, Keelung City, Yilan County, Pingtung County, and Hsinchu City. Finally, Taoyuan City, Taipei City, Yunlin County, Kinmen County, and Hualien County won the “fine work” award.

　　The selected winners were honored at the closing ceremony of the event on August 21, 2020. Director Tien Ju-chun, from the School Construction and Environmental Education Division of the Education Department, represented New Taipei City and received its award on stage, where she shared the city’s achievements in promoting marine education. Tien mentioned that the promotion is based on the Blue Star Strategic Alliance of Schools comprising 33 schools, including the five marine education bases established this year, and the range of marine education implementation is gradually expanding. Representing Tainan City, Xishu Elementary School Principal Huang Huai-hui stated that the city has received much recognition for its long-term promotion of marine education based on the development vision of “embarking on scientific thinking to become a smart city and serving as Taiwan’s cultural heritage preserver.” Representing Penghu County, the organizer of the 2020 National Marine Education Achievement Observation and Teacher Training Conference, Fenggui Elementary School Principal Lin Yen-ling, noted the county’s endeavors in developing a diverse and knowledge-rich marine education curriculum in hopes of creating a close relationship between schoolchildren and the ocean, as the county is surrounded by the ocean. The principal also expressed how it was an honor to receive the “outstanding” award.